Bailey learned alot this season about the refs, checking, control, and being a team player. He did endure a concussion mid season that gave him headaches, dizziness, and some behavioral issues during the following weeks. Even though we didn't know at the time it was a concussion, since he was never unconscious at that moment, his behavior over the next week told us alot. He had to sit out a few games because of his physcial actions during a game following his injury, which in all reality was for the best both physically and emotionally. He was able to rest and refocus from... I hate hockey and wanting to quit, to allowing his brain to heal and getting back to a sport that he loves. It all worked out and he finished the season more controlled.
His team had a good weekend the end of January at Fergus Falls , and they won 3rd place in the tournament.
Next year he will begin skating as a Bantam, and I always worry about him in such a physical sport, as it definatly is getting more physical. So if you could say some prayers that he continues to have fun, learn, and stay safe I would appreciate it. This hockey mom loves hockey...but when it's your child out there getting hit, all I can do is pray.
He has been seeing a chiropractor for his migraines since the end of September. He was weaned off his medication and stopped seeing the neurologist in June. He had a few more severe migraines over the summer months, although, all in all his headaches were coming less often, which is why the decision to take him off the meds and see how he does. There was no medication that he was on that seemed to help much and the last one he was on, seemed to help the most, but it caused him to loose his appitite and not gain weight. He was on such a small dose at the end and getting less headaches overall, so the timing seemed right to get him off the drugs.
He started the chiropractor after I had been seeing one from my car accident. I had the idea in my head far before my accident, but I wasn't sold on the idea that it would help. After going to the chiropractor for the first time in my life and seeing the effects and how he drasticlly helped me, I decided to give it a try for Bailey. It has been amazing and I have learned alot about Bailey's migraines in general (and in detail), and what is causing them. He has been going mostly on a monthly basis for the past 6 months (more often in the beginning), and his migraines have significantly lessened even more. He has had a few related to hockey, but that has been it. The last 2 months he has had none. It's been wonderful. I trust my chiropractor and think he is amazing. It has been an added benefit to be seeing a chiropractor during hockey season as well. Bailey is once again gaining weight and went from a steady 85-86lbs to 95-96 plus pounds in less than 4 months. He's at 41st percentile for weight, and 43rd for height (as of Jan 14, 2011)
Even though chiropratic adjustments have been working wonders, it was a process. His neck (occipital bone, at the base of the skull) was out of alignment. I have reasearched it some and some from what the chiropractor has told me, his migraines have possibly been from being out of alignement already at birth. He was diagnosed at age 4, but that doesn't mean it wasn't present before. The bone out of alignment presses on nerves and blood vessels near the head and neck causing pressure and headaches.
He did have a difficult birth where they tried to use a vacuum and forceps for delivery, without success. He was stuck in the occiptial posterior position and slightly sideways, which is his head down, but facing up towards my stomach. Ideal position is anterior, which is head down, face down. I experienced alot of back labor, which is also sometimes a cause of baby in posterior position. It also has a higher occurance of assisted delievery and c-sections.
His difficult birth, I have learned is a "possible" cause of his migraines. Of course we can't be certain at this point. Since he has never been adjusted over the last 12-13 years, going to a chiropractor for 6 months seems to be a easy solution to a lifetime (Bailey's lifetime) of frustration and pain. I wish I would have known sooner. It so far, it has taken only about 6 months to keep his neck in alignment to avoid the pressure on the nerves and blood vessels whereas the drugs worked only off and on for over 2 years just covering up the true issue.
For the first few months of chiropractic treatments, we found that the occiput would come back, because it was used to being in that position for so long. I think we are finally on our way to a headache free exsistance for Bailey. I think a chiropractor would be beneficial for him long term anyway with his history and his choice of sport. In the world of chiropractic drugs are not the answer to any issue. They focus on the body and how it can heal itself, and I have truly become to believe that. Diet and lifestyle can also lessen the occurance of disease and cancer in the future. Prevention is the key.
