Relieving shoulder tics

[ilovedogs]

Ds has had a shoulder tic on and off(mostly on) for the past 4 months. I can't seem to find any triggers but really haven't done any modifications either to his diet or otherwise. I took him for skin testing for allergies and the only allergies that showed were from trees, weeds, plants from outdoors. He has had food allergy testing and was skin tested for many foods, as well all coming up negative.

 

He is going to be 14 next week!! He started tics the day he turned 9, almost like a biological switch was turned on. For the most part his tics are minimal and don't bother him too much but these shoulder tics have caused a great deal of discomfort in his neck and upper back. I've taken him for massages, have him do epsom salts baths, use magnesium oil on his back, massage him nightly, etc but nothing really provides relief. I'm sort of at a loss, and was hoping for some other suggestions. I haven't been on here in a while. I currently have joined an essential oil company and am experimenting with oils for him for his ADHD and tics.

 

Hope everyone here is well!

 

Thx

 

Bonnie

[Chemar]

Hi Bonnie

 

Have you considered a NUCCA chiropracter? (http://www.nucca.org)

When my son had a shoulder tic, it was related to his cervical vertebra, including the atlas, being misaligned and once the gentle realignment was done, the tic resolved. NUCCA chiros are very gentle and careful and highly respected in their profession

[ilovedogs]

Hmm, I forgot about that Cheri. I'll have to see if we have someone around here. I've been using our massage therapist at the club and she does a relaxed form of deep muscle relief, kind of like Reikki, but it doesn't seem to help him. I noticed that these tics got worse when he started working with a personal trainer and she got him working on balancing the upper back muscles, strength training, chest stretching, etc. I also have taken him for regular chiro adjustments too.

 

He did mention that his tics get worse when he eats sugar, go figure. I can't believe that he is so observant of his own body, though. It's so great to see him mature and learn about his body and what makes him tick(no pun intended), LOL. Other than his struggles with school work and ADHD stuff, he's really doing quite well. I also noticed that he's been ticcing more since the braces went on back in April, maybe that has something to do with it because the braces are re-aligning his jaw and face muscles.

[Chemar]

Bonnie

if the braces are made of metal (ie not the invisalign kind) he may also be ticcing as a reaction to that! ....we have had numerous reports here about braces triggering tics for whatever underlying reason.

 

Sugar also does seem to be a tic trigger in excess, and for some, even small amounts.

[ilovedogs]

Well, the closest NUCCA chiro is about an hour away. You'd think for as big a city as Phoenix is that I'd be able to find someone closer. Funny, but today was his 14th birthday and he just started a few new facial tics that I've never seen before. I remember when he turned 9 and THAT DAY he started tics, it's been exactly 5 years and I don't feel any closer to a solution for him. Of course, it didn't help that he had 4 sugar cookies, 2 cupcakes, and a Hershey's bar today! UGH! He knows that sugar is a trigger for him, along with the birthday excitement, LOL!

 

And, yes, I considered that the braces were triggering something. He has a terribly huge overbite and will have the braces for probably another 18-24 months. I am hoping that once they are off, and his jaw gets aligned properly that some of the tics will minimize.

 

He seems very sensitive to the magnesium oil. What have you found is the best supplement for magnesium and should I give calcium with it? Also, ds is sensitive to zinc and I was wondering how important zinc was, too?