Expert: Thomas Sabalaske DO - 9/7/2008

Question
Hi Doctor,

I have been going to a DO, but I have a hard time talking to doctors, so that I why I am emailing you. What is a DO doing when he places his fingers in different places on the skull and then leaves them there for what seems like minutes applying a bit of pressure? Every time he does that I have severe headaches for days, and even though I normally have some headaches, these ones are unreal. The headaches were not the reason I went to him to start with. What is the purpose behind the "Doctor Spock on Star Trek" routine, and why does it cause more severe pain?

Thanks so much for your time.
vicki

Answer
Hi Vicki, thanks for writing me.  What your doctor is performing with these actions is called cranial osteopathy, which is a gentle treatment of the soft tissues of the skull that affects the movement of the entire head and the fluids inside of it also.  The soft tissues that are on the outside of the skull are directly connected with those on the inside through the sutures or "cracks" that are normally seen in the skull anatomy.  By gently manipulating this, you can allow for more normal motion and bio-mechanics.  IF you want a more in depth definition, I would suggest this web page.

http://www.cranialacademy.org/cranial.html

It is common after any osteopathic treatment to experience some mild soreness which is called a treatment reaction.  BUT in your case with the severe headaches after treatment, I think either the physician is using a little too much squeezing forces, or that particular part of the treatment may not be for you.  I would just let them know what is happening the next time you are there, and they should be able to alter their gameplan and treat you with better results next time.  If they are unwilling to listen, or continue to perform treatments that are worsening your symptoms, then it is time to find help elsewhere.

On a final note, you really have nothing to be afraid of when talking to doctors.  The more information you give in an open and honest manner, the easier it is for us to figure out how to get you better as efficiently as possible.  Again if your physician does not communicate well with you, you should search for one that can.   

Good luck, I hope you fell better soon.  Tom