The practice is recognized by the American Medical Association, and Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.), who receive training similar to medical doctors, are accepted as AMA members.
In my very first visit with a D.O., she discerned that my body was far out of alignment: my collarbone was twisted, my left shoulder blade was pulled inward, and my hips were uneven. I had lost half an inch of height due to the misalignment of my body. She immediately got to work making gentle adjust- ments to start bringing me back to center. Over the next forty- eight hours, I noticed a marked improvement in my tinnitus—the reverberation began to dissipate. This gave me hope for recovery, something that is absolutely essen- tial to any healing process.
In addition to making manual osteopathic adjustments, my doctor also suggested certain energy heal- ing techniques I could practice daily. She recommended the book Energy Medicine by Donna Eden, a pioneer of bringing this ancient medicine to the West. From this book I learned about energy pathways and patterns in the human body, how they get blocked, and how to use the energy in one’s own hands to restore them to balance. These techniques have benefitted my health in ways I never thought possible. In addition to these healing modalities, I also began to practice meditation, calling to mind all the positive future outcomes of my healing journey and repeating optimistic affir- mations that described what I wanted to accom- plish. All this bundled together yielded significant results. It is true that my recovery was painful, but I felt I could endure any amount of pain in order to regain my health.
Today, my
tinnitus is down to a manageable level and I am confident that I can continue to improve. I still receive adjust- ments from my D.O. and am working toward making my body as symmetrical as possible. I want to encour- age others who are seeking treat- ments for tinnitus
to consider the whole body when looking for a solution to this ailment. I would also like to stress the importance of maintaining a positive, open mind, even when things look bleak. Never let anyone convince you that there is no hope for you—there is always hope.
Editor’s Note: Theresa’s story is being shared as a personal anecdote of one patient’s experience with osteopathy. There is currently insufficient peer-reviewed research to validate efficacy of osteopathy as a reliable treatment for tinnitus. The evidence base is slightly stronger for cases of somatic tinnitus, in which the perception of sound is generated by physiological functions in the body.
“Today, my tinnitus is down to a manageable level and I am confident that I can continue to improve. ...I want to encourage others who are seeking treatments for tinnitus to consider the whole body when looking for a solution to this ailment.” — Theresa Cameron
Summer 2014 | Tinnitus Today 13
PATIENT STORIES
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