Anyone heard of this or tried it...it is a therapy using eye movement that simulates a state similar to REM sleep.  I'm willing to try it-for therapeutic purposes, but am real concerned about REM-like states-as that is when I get hit at night...indeed I knock myself out every night to avoid this state.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks y'all and PFDAN
kathy

ARe you talking about teaching yourself or paying someone who specializes in EMDR?  According to a friend of mine, who is a psychologist, anyone can learn the technique.  EMDR is used primarily in a counseling situation.  Based on what I've read, I don't *think* it would help with ch,since EMDR more related to the psychological realm than the physical realm.

Looks like it might trigger headaches though

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way down in the comments on the above post is this, "4. I find this treatment causes my headaches to become more prominent during the course of the sessions. I do not see my headaches increase with other forms of therapy however; I may get a small spike".


Carolyn

I have a close friend whose therapist is using it on him for a psychologically therapeutic treatment in counseling, and it's not doing him any good for that...

but my therapist is also trained in it, and I've asked him about it; he says that it's not effective for everyone, and that you have to be like a level four or five "certification" in the technique for it to be useful on people with chronic pain.

But that's "regular" chronic pain; he doesn't think it would help CH pain at all.   :(

EMDR is used in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I understand it has a good success rate with that. I have never heard of it being used to manage pain.

Ellick.

Thanks for all your responses.  Was going to try this for my PTSD-and conducted by a very well qualified therapist.  My concern was about it triggering a cluster-looks like it might...

PFDAN y'all
kathy

Hi  Kathy

I am trained in EMDR.  I used to be a therapist in a clinic and used EMDR with patients with trauma histories. Its been awhile though since I've used it.   I have not been trained to use it for people with Chronic pain -  the patient doesn't actually fall asleep but the movement or light bar whatever the therapist uses ( some therapists use taps, finger movements , light bar etc )  replicates in the patient the eye movements assoc with rem sleep.  This is when a person is able to process thru experiences.  There is also some cognitve related questioning that occurs after the sequences of tapping, movements etc.

I certainly could see why you may be concerned about triggering a CH,  but I am having a hard time deciding whether the risk is great or minimal.  

Also,  at the time I was trained in EMDR there were only two levels of training not 4 or 5 as someone else suggests-  it certainly  could have become a more prevalent type of treatment that it was  8 years ago when I was practicing it.

Definitely be sure you have a   competent therapist as you indicate and one that you feel safe with  as it ( the EMDR technique)  is different from 'talk' therapy and sort of difficult for patients at first.  It can be highly effective for some patients

Ask your therapist more about the actual  REM state with EMDR and what you could expect from that.  That may help.

I wish I could be of more help.. As a CH and a therapist you'd think I would of thought of that connection but I go 4 years in between cycles and sometimes when they are gone for so long  you sort of forget they exist....

At any rate... Good luck to you

Kelly





edited  to add
  Headaches are a common symptom in individuals diagnosed with PTSD - so I am not surprised if a patient says they have a headache after emdr as it is intense  , and more than likely will  bring about tension as you are processing information that is likely very painful but has been safely tucked away for some time-  Things sometimes feel worse before they are better.

I have the same concern. Being treated by an EMDR specialist, but not to the EMDR stage yet. Cluster-free for 2+ years and don't want to risk it, but it doesn't seem like the cluster-inducing mechanisms are there. After all, we have REM sleep each night. It's only when in the battles with the beast that REM time becomes a nightmare.