Effects of Spinal Alignment to Spasmodic Dysphonia

My last post ended with me hearing about this healing bed that works mainly by aligning the spine with the use of healing mineral stones.  Having heard that they give free trials, I decided to check it out.

When I arrived at the address stated in the flyer, I almost turned back - because the whole hall was jam-packed with people - mostly senior citizens.  Luckily, there is a separate room for first timers. But even that had a queue, so I had to wait outside for a couple of minutes.  I could hear a seminar/talk being conducted by a nurse regarding the benefits of the machine.

She was holding a doctor's sample skeleton, but it was just the spine.  It looked like this:

Doctor's plastic spine from Google

The nurse bent the "spine" towards the right.  As the spine was leaning, she pointed to the right side of the spine where the vertebrae are stacked together.  She then pointed to invisible nerves and blood vessels that are now pinched on the right side.  "If the spine alignment is wrong, there will be impingement of blood vessels.  And if the blood vessels are pinched, there would be less blood nutrients that can go to that particular organ ... "

By that time, I was imagining nutrients about to go to my vocal cords but are stopped because of vertebral impingement.  Or, I was thinking, perhaps if she's incorrect about the blood flow/blood vessels having a relation to vocal cord function, then nerve impingement could still be there.  So nerve communication could still be hindered.

Later on I found out that the Cervical Spine C3-C7 or the mid to lower neck areas are the ones that have nerves or blood vessels that are connected to the vocal cords.


Anyway to cut the story short, I tried it for about 12 to 15 consecutive days, liked it and bought the machine.  I also had scoliosis and upper back and neck pain so since the immediate effect was that of back pain, I decided to buy one and continue using it.  It was expensive though.  It costs about USD3,000 which is a lot of money here in our country if you convert it to Philippine peso.  But then, that's the way it is, medical relief comes with a price.  But it is worth it, for me.

The name of the machine is Nuga Best.  It's basically a bed with jade rollers.  You lie on it flat on your back and the roller goes up and down the spine massaging the back.

It wasn't hard for me to believe in the good effects of spinal alignment because I have been exposed to chiropractic in my teenage years.  And as for the jade stone rollers, because I know that jade stones have energy-giving properties.  I am half Chinese.  My grandmother made my sister wear a jade bracelet from China and somehow she noticed that she had been healthier when she was wearing it.  She contracted most of her illnesses after her bracelet broke and she didn't have it replaced.  She's back to wearing one.  It might be superstition for some, but I believe there is a scientific mineral composition explanation to it.

Well, I've been using the Nuga Best bed for 2 years now and it still helps my spine.  I'm not sure if it is this or the specialized voice therapy that has helped with my voice.  I did both in conjunction.  But perhaps the combined effect was synergistic.  I was re-training my voice with therapy and Nuga Best was helping solidify the new voice and heal the muscles and ligaments of the vocal cords.

My Spasmodic Dysphonia and the Provincial Life

No voice = No income.

When I stopped earning, it was too expensive for me to live in Makati City (one of the Philippines' cities with the highest cost of living).  Therefore, I went back to my hometown, Tuguegarao.  

I'd have to admit, I wasn't too happy going back to the province -- the fields, rivers, caves, the cattle.  Yes, it does sound calm and serene, but I was in my mid- to late 20s!  I wanted to live in the city!  I loved my job!  I was getting paid really well and I've just recently been promoted!

Who dares to say that losing your voice is only a minor thing?  Don't we use our voices to order at restaurants, tell the cab driver where we're going, order water delivery, reply to the bank teller?  I know, they told me I can just nod and sign.  But it'll still be pretty awkward.  I tried, but then I get this weird look from the bank teller -- thinking that I'm either a snob or dumb.  I can't exactly blame them, anyhow.  My actions were kind of strange, not speaking.

So... when I arrived in my hometown, I shut myself in at home.  For 3 months.  Going out only for groceries and to go to church.

During that time, I was researching on other ways to get well.  I was looking up Dr. Morton Cooper, following his YouTube videos, learning about Connie Pike, Mike White's breathing techniques, and the rest of the SD treatments I've posted (link: http://voicecuresuk.blogspot.com/2012/09/spasmodic-dysphonia-therapies-reviews.html ).

One day, I saw a flyer about this miracle healing bed that supposedly cures a lot of ailments.  It says that the treatment is mainly about slowly aligning the spine (they use healing stones to do it which should add to the healing, I was told) and therefore releasing pinched nerves and other blockages so that the blood and nutrients would reach those specific organs that ails you -- so I was thinking my vocal cords now.  I also saw there's a free trial for it!

.... Running out of blogging time.  It's a Sunday and we have family lunch!  More about the bed on my next post ... 
  

 

Losing my Corporate Job Completely

Previously, I mentioned that my company granted me 6 months of sick leave, unpaid of course. I took that time to rest and focus on my voice healing. When the time came for me to go back to work, I still couldn't speak that well, and I feared that getting back into the swing of things would stress my vocal cords too much. My boss was truly generous for she offered me another 6 months of extension.



Fast forward to the end of that 2nd 6 months, I knew and felt in my voice that I cannot go back anymore. At least not when I'm not confident that my voice would stay even under pressure. And I don't want to shortchange my employer by going back, getting a good salary and being just half as effective (my work includes talking 70% of the time). So I had to officially resign.

It was a really depressing season for me. The uncertainty about my health and now the added uncertainty about my career. I was wondering how people with disabilities cope. I was thinking perhaps people who had their disabilities at a young age or since birth were much more likely to be able to adapt. It was especially hard when one has such high expectations of oneself. I used to be so goal-oriented, success-driven. I took failures very badly.



I guess since I have a Type A personality, and I've come face to face with something that makes me feel like it's not within my control -- I get upset!! That's how I felt.

Since then, I've learned to adjust. I'm still a Type A personality, I couldn't change, or... I don't know. Is it possible to change one's basic trait or predisposition? But all I know is that I'm still the same, I am still goal-oriented. I'm still driven to succeed. But there's a change in my thinking. At the way I approach things. I've learned the power of letting go - when needful. I still believe in working hard, but now I work hard outwardly but with internal peace. Striving, but with a happy attitude. And although I now have 65-75% of my voice back, I continue to adopt the "internal peace" demeanor. Somehow, it has helped me more than I thought it would.

Just the other day, I rode on a tricycle. The driver didn't hear me clearly and asked me to repeat myself. I felt frustration building up within me but I remembered to let it go. So I took a deep breath, relaxed my shoulders, and tried again. Thankfully, he understood what I said this time.

Looks like removing internal frustration, and just letting things be ("So what if he didn't understand me? I'll just repeat what I said. Simple as that.") somehow allowed my voice to get out from my throat.

Voice Exercise - Extoning

I realized there may be others who are not familiar with Extoning. Or how to Extone. It's a term used by voice therapists which means to make a sound while breathing out.

It's like doing the one in the picture but with CLOSED MOUTH while letting the hum or sound go out.

The partner of Extoning would be Intoning. Which is making sound while breathing in. That comes later on in the voice exercise program.

Voice Teacher Alma Vajas would be a good instructor who can teach the basics of Extoning/Intoning and how to do them properly. I didn't learn from Alma, though. I learned from my online mentor who is her student. And the Smolover book also has a CD where you can hear the audio demonstration.

All the best - to all SD patients!

Smolover Voice Technique - for Spasmodic Dysphonia

I've decided to post here the 1st exercise I've done, which was the most effective method I've tried so far. It's from the Smolover Method.

I haven't been able to email back to most of the email queries I've received, sorry!! I'm getting married and moving to a different city exactly a month from now, and I didn't know there needs to be a lot of preparations to be done!

Better if I post my experiences and share here. Kindly just add me here or input your email address under Follow by Email so you'll receive updates :-)

There are some who said they do not wish other people to know that they have spasmodic dysphonia. So I won't include them here. But I also cannot promise to answer your queries if you want me to email you back one by one and privately.

Hi Diane Ryan - It's too bad that the Smolover book became out of stock! But no worries, you can do the exercise I'll be posting below. You can begin with this. It seems like a small thing, but it made a world of difference starting small!

Hi Syed - Alma Vajas already replied to my email! Well, not her but her recommended voice therapist. Her name is Terry. She does Skype sessions at USD90/session. If you're interested, just comment here and let me know.

Hi Cathy Lynn - I'm not sure now if I was able to reply to your 1st email! I think I did, but sometimes it turns out I only replied in my head.. The Chinese herbs I took helped my voice by lessening my acid reflux. I know I've read materials that say acid reflux has no effect on SD. But in my case, I think it has an effect. It's not the main cause, but since I already have existing SD, I could feel my acid triggering my loss of voice. But I think Pariet could give you the same anti-GERD effect.

Hi Peter - I hope the book helps your brother! Wait, which book are you referring to? At any rate, all of the books I bought were helpful: Connie Pike's, Dr. Cooper's and the Smolover book.

Hi Andrea - I bought the Student Version of Sing&See. It was helpful for doing Dr. Cooper's technique, especially at the start where I needed to find out my normal pitch and see if I'm talking within that pitch range. Although as I've progressed, I couldn't take the Sing&See with me anywhere. It'll be funny if I'm talking to a friend and I was attached to my laptop to see if my pitch is correct. ;D Although I did that with a good friend, explaining to her what I'm doing. :-) I'm using a real piano keyboard now with my continuing exercises because I can already detect which key I'm talking in/humming in.

Hi Lynn - I paid Dr. Cooper USD500 for the 30 minutes over-the-phone consultation. Hope you were finally able to get in touch with him!

Hi Ruth - I was thinking that in your case the book I'll be sending you would help only a bit. It discusses the theories and has some exercises, but they're mainly relaxation techniques. But they can only help so far. If ever you'll get a book, I suggest the Smolover book. I'll be transferring to Manila next month. If we have time, we can meet up in our place (if we do get to find a place to live in!!). I'll be bringing my piano-keyboards there, so I can show you how to do the exercises.

If I may have missed your email, my apologies. You can contact me or our other fellow SD patients here. It is good to share experiences and results.


So finally, here is the 1st exercise I did under the Smolover exercise. I did not edit my Pastor-mentor's email anymore:



Dear Misty,

The exercises in the book by Dr. Smolover start out very advanced. For the first one only extone. Sit relaxed in a quiet place. You need a piano keyboard, or I use a computer keyboard. Gently extone, think tiny. It is in the tiny that you will grow little by little. Start out as low as you can and go up to as high as you can. Take a couple minute break and then start up as high as you can and bring it down. Do this two or three times. When you reach as high as you can, try to go two notes higher. It will be hard, and it is work.

What you are doing is stretching the ligament by going up. You are also aligning it in order for it to make sound. This is the first exercise. Do this six days a week and take one day off.

Notes:
1. Don't worry about the quality of the sound as yet, just make pitch. Sound is made from your ligament so if there is sound your ligament is working.

2. In the beginning make sound any way you can. Little by little it will get better.

3. try to stay relaxed when making sound, though this may be hard.

4. The theory is like lifting weights. It takes time to get back in shape and it will take time for the exercises to work, but stay with it.

5. Do not worry about doing something wrong, just work your voice.

Hope this helps.

Dr. Morton Cooper - Stop Committing Voice Suicide book review

This is my 1st book of Dr. Morton Cooper's. Its subtitle is "Common Symptoms of Voice Suicide - Voice Misuse and Abuse." No bookstore in the Philippines sell this so I ended up buying it online. It has 11 chapters covering the ff. topics:

1 - The Shocking Truth about Voices
2 - Medicine in Wonderland
3 - De-Mystify and De-Medicalize
4 - All the Presidents' Voices
5 - Voice Suicide: Whatever Happened to Voices?
6 - Speaking of Kids
7 - Hope for Hopeless Voices
8 - Change your Voice, Save your Life
9 - The Madness of Medicine
10 - What You May Not Know about Voice and Speech
11 - How to Get a Voice that Really Talks for You

Dr. Cooper previously had I guess mild spasmodic dysphonia and he treated himself.

In this book, Dr. Cooper addresses the common things we do with our voices that he says damages the vocal cords. One of them is having the wrong pitch, especially having it too down in the throat. There might be some truth to it -- because about half a year before my voice went downhill, I had been subconsciously (alright, maybe not too subconsciously) imitating the voice of my colleague. She's one of my seniors. Very pretty, really smart... and she just had this authoritative, deep voice. So, perhaps ther might be some truth to Dr. Cooper's theory, at least in my case.

Another thing Dr. Cooper mentions in this book is that GERD or acid reflux has nothing to do with spasmodic dysphonia, and he gave examples of why he believes this to be so. He also gives steps on how to find out your correct pitch. He gives natural spasmodic dysphonia exercises and also spasmodic dysphonia breathing exercises. He also teaches about facial resonance, so that voice amplification is done, helping the little sound coming from the vocal cords.

Dr. Cooper doesn't agree to having botox for spasmodic dysphonia. I think it's very brave of him to be vocal about his stand.

Overall, this is a good book to read when you have spasmodic dysphonia or any kind of voice problem and you're looking for alternative SD treatments.

Spasmodic Dysphonia Therapies Reviews

I have not been posting for a while, been busy with my shop..

But I've been receiving emails asking me about my experiences with different treatments and therapists. So I felt it better to post about my experiences regarding the usual queries.

"Hi Misty! Who is your recommended voice therapist?"

"What's in the Chinese herbs?"

"Where did you have your botox? Did it work?"

About the CHINESE HERBS = I don't know what's in them. Looks like twigs and barks. I would recommend them if you have GERD or if you feel that your spasmodic dysphonia is triggered by acid reflux. But I've found out that they have the same effect on me as the medicine Paiet. So perhaps you could take that instead.

About my BOTOX = I had it mine done by the leading ENT doctor in the Philippines. He has a clinic at St. Luke's Medical Hospital in Manila. I was told he is the expert in botox treatments for the vocal cords because he has done most of the botox injections for spasmodic dysphonia patients in the Philippines. Did it work? Unfortunately, not for me.. I truly envy those who are receptive to botox treatment! They at least got some faster relief.

About REGULAR VOICE THERAPY = I've had about 2 to 3 months of regular voice therapy. And I would agree with those who say that traditional speech or voice therapy DOES NOT WORK on spasmodic dysphonia. At least not in my SD. It works well on vocal cord paralysis, etc. But somehow I have yet to hear or an SD patient who responded well to regular voice therapy.

Now for the expert voice therapists concentrating on spasmodic dysphonia... If you have SD, I'm sure you've come across these names in the industry:

About DR. MORTON COOPER = His main theory is that spasmodic dysphonia is caused by using the wrong pitch (too low or too high from your normal, natural voice). He has lots of testimonies of cures. yes, cures! You can find his videos in his YouTube page. I did 30 minutes of overseas phone therapy with him. He confirmed that I am doing thee right exercises. I got the exercises from his books. I bought 2 or 3 of his voice books. His professional fee is expensive, but if you have the money and you live in the United States, he guarantees a cure if you stay in his clinic for 8 hours a day for 4-6 weeks. I didn't go and opted for the phone therapy because I live in the Philippines and didn't have enough money for the full treatment.

About CONNIE PIKE = I had about 3 Skype therapy sessions with her. She was the first therapist who opened my eyes and gave me hope that even if botox didn't work for me, I can still try to do spasmodic dysphonia voice therapy. Breathing exercises and using the kazoo (pls refer to my previous blog posts). She's a good place to start off with if you want to look at natural ways of treating SD. Her professional fee is more affordable than Dr. Cooper's, although personally I believe Dr. Cooper's treatment is more targeted and effective. Connie's treatment involves more methods such as relaxation therapy and posture. But she is very nice and sweet and if you're in that depressed stage, she would be perfect to contact.

About ROGER LOVE = Nice book and CD to have just to help you break the usual monotone SD patients often develop. Helps you explore and feel comfortable about exploring your voice. I got this book and CD from Connie Pike.

About GARY CATONA = I have no experience with his methods because he replied to my email saying he doesn't treat ABductor SD. He does have a before & after voice recording of a patient he treated with ADductor SD. You can check his website for it.

About ALMA VAJAS = I'm doing her therapy now. For the past 10 months (since Nov. 25, 2011), I've been doing her therapy which is based on the Smolover method. The main thought of this therapy is to strengthen the vocal ligament; hence, controlling the spasms. At first, I didn't want to even try this because I felt it goes against Dr. Cooper's theory of putting the voice up in the "mask" but then I've gotten in touch with other SD patients who did this kind of treatment and it worked for them, so I gave it a try.

Actually, the method was initially designed for opera singers. But there were reports of the technique helping, even treating, SD. So Alma Vajas tweaked it and made it more effective for SD.

I can say for my case, her voice therapy is the most effective and doable. Effective - because I'm about 80% healed. I've gone out on an outing yesterday with a group of friends. And I was able to talk normally. I used to be unable to talk within a group setting. Doable - because it takes 1 hour a day, 6 days a week.

The funny thing about my treatment with Alma Vajas is that I have actually never (not even once) had a therapy with her. I've learned the therapy from two of her patients, a certain Pastor Jim Townsley (who had ADSd) and a Pastor from the US (who had ABSd). So it was more like I had Alma Vajas' therapy - INDIRECTLY. I did try to get in touch with her since August of last year (2011). But it seems she couldn't do therapy long-distance or she's busy. She's in the U.S. I called her and spoke with her daughter about 4x in a span of 2 months. Not counting the emails I sent. And she kept saying they'll get in touch with me once they are able to do Skype therapy. I waited for 3 months but no message came. In my embarrassment to call again (I don't want to be a pest), I resorted to looking for her patients to get their advice and feedback. That's when i got her therapy through the two pastors.

I actually felt slighted and ignored by Alma Vajas! So this is so not an advertisement for her character. But then, I can honestly say her method works. I love love love the Pastor from the US who has been my mentor and friend.

NOTE: Pls don't email him or bother him, he's very busy. I've only mentioned his name here because I want to thank and honor him. If you have queries, pls email me instead. I'll answer what I know.

Just an additional note: Amazingly, 2 days ago, I have received an email from a colleague of Alma Vajas saying that the Skype therapy is already in place and she's asking if I still want to have therapy. It's been 11 months now since I last heard from them! And I'm doing well in my therapy with the Pastor from the US... I'm not sure if I still need to have Alma Vajas' direct therapy! But perhaps I can just try... We'll see..