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

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

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

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.

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.