i bruise my arm due to TS, can anyone help?

[B_N123]

im 19 and have recently have been diagnoised with TS

 

i bruise my arm due to motor reflex ticks...and it is embarrasing

 

i was hesitant to take medication and so am taking B6 and B12 complex vitamins

 

i was just wondering if anyone knew any alternative remedies such as chinese herbal ones?

 

thanks

[Chemar]

Hi B_N123 and welcome to Latitudes.

 

it is good that you are taking VitB6&12, but there are also other supplemets that are VERY beneficial to help tics decrease.

of these, probably the most valuable are ALL the B vitamins, but especially the minerals MAGNESIUM taken in a combination with calcium and zinc.

Many people have found that adding the amino acid Taurine to this combo has an even more beneficial effect, and the whole thing is maximally optimimized by also taking the Omega essential fatty acids in the form of fishoil and or flaxseed, borage and evening primrose.

 

there are other supplements that are also helpful, and it is a good idea to take a pure multivitamin/mineral daily too.

 

There is a great article here on things that many folks find can trigger tics, and so, by avoiding these, you can also help to keep the tics down

http://latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm

 

If you start reading thru some of the threads here you will see many other natural treatments that have been helpful.

 

My son did use chinese herbs for a while, but actually gets more effect from the supplements. He has very big relief from tics when he has accupuncture/reflexology.

 

I am going to start a new thread here on some of the things that we have done to help him. he was on meds for a year with very nasty side effects and not much benefit. The alternative treatment has been helping him for almost 4 years now.

 

BTW, for the arm bruising, there is a great herbal ointment called Arnica that takes bruises away real quickly.

 

[Guest Jeff]

Hi B_N123, For our family, artificial colors and flavors in foods are a trigger. We have found that, by eliminating these from our diet, our tics are not an issue.

Good luck, and welcome to Latitudes.

Jeff

[B_N123]

hi, thanks for the advice

 

today i found out that FLAX SEED OIL is also something useful i may try that. i know it is 2 early to see weather the vitamins r working

 

i did ask my specialist whether diet can affect tics, but im not sure which ones do afect me

 

i do notice after eating meat such as lamb i tend to get worse

 

its something i have accepted now after denying it for many years. my only regret was that i wish i spoke to someone sooner! by now they may have reduced

 

just gets me down because even goin out on trains, its obvious people look at me, thinking wat is she doing? but its something that i have to live with

 

thanks for welcoming me, much appreciated, this site is very useful

[Claire]

Hi BN

 

The Omega3's in flax oil are helpful for many. But some do better with the Omega3's from fish oil (easier for their body to process). Yet some can't have fish oil. In other words, it is the Omega 3's and you might want to experiment with both. That is only part of the puzzle.

 

You CAN improve--at least I believe most can. Here is the info I just posted...

 

Claire

 

Hi to all,

 

We get so many questions like this and I think it would be great to have a reference link with ideas that we can paste in when they ask this question. Look at Sheila's medical help link--500 views in 3 months.

 

PLEASE ADD TO THIS THREAD YOUR OWN VIEWS/LINKS!

 

Welcome, and please know that we have all gone through, or are still going through the worries that you must feel for your child. We have learned from eachother here. The good news is that there IS a lot you can do to help your child! As you go through your journey, please share what works for your child so that others can benefit.

 

1. Most mainstream doctors don't know about alternate (non-pharmaceutical methods) of healing to minimize and potentially eliminate tics, as opposed to drugs to just try to treat the symptoms. If you don't already have a knowledgeable doctor, you will have better luck finding a doctor here:

 

Finding medical help

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565

 

2. Initial testing and treatment can run from $1000 to $3000 if you go this route. If you have PPO insurance, 50-70% may be covered. If cost is an issue, in general naturopaths may be less expensive than MDs. But the tests themselves (at the labs) are fixed costs--though if you pay in advance and then bill insurance you can save a lot. This does not include costs of supplements or restocking your kitchen shelves with different food if needed.

 

3. Tics can often go along with other comorbid conditions such as OCD, ADHD, delayed sleep, which can be more disturbing to the child than the tics. Improvement can often be seen across the other conditions also as the tics improvement. Usually a TS diagnosis is made after a year of multiple motor tics and vocal tics. There are other tic syndromes such as transient and chronic tic syndromes, whose symptoms are less severe than TS symptoms.

 

4. If you don't choose to use a doctor, then this site (and the internet in general) is a gold mine of information for ideas re triggers to avoid and healing. Much of the process is trial and error to see what helps your child, but most of the regulars have found substantial improvement. The more you understand, the more you can help your child.

 

5. Some natural methods some people here use (can be different combinations of below--not every method works for every child of course).

 

-Doing an elimination diet (per the Doris Rapp book "Is this your child") to remove common foods that kids can be sensitive to. Removal of Wheat/gluten, Milk/casien, corn, soy, eggs, peanuts....can all help, depending on the child. Different children will have different sensitivities, but many of our kids have some.

 

-Avoiding artificial color/flavors/preservatives (aka the Fiengold diet at www.feingold.org

 

-Avoiding sugar/corn syrup. (I personally think the sugar reaction can be due to yeast issues)

 

-Avoiding 'screens', e.g. computer/TV/gameboy/big screen movies. Try it for your child for a week straight (camping is a great time to try it), as the effect can be lingering and cumulative.

 

-Trying supplements, either via a customized program or from www.bonniegr.com

 

-HEPA air filter for mold, which can affect moods. Also dustmites for some.

 

6. Other medical conditions

..that can result in tics--we have threads on all of theses

Strep-PANDAS

Pyroluria

Gluten/Casein intolerance

Yeast/fungal overgrowth

Vitamin/Antioxidant deficiencies

Parasites

Mercury or other heavy metal toxicity

MT protein issues

 

 

7. Most of us here on Latitude consider 'drugs' less preferrable to alternative methods, as it doesn't treat the underlying issues and can have side effects. Virtually all of us think that asking a child to control the tics not only doesn't work but creates poor long term esteem issues and increases stress and thus tics. Loving acceptance in the home is so important.

 

8. Everyone is welcome to come here for support and understanding! Try to read key threads and ask questions.

 

9. Finally, most of us pray for help in finding the right path for our children. We believe that God has helped us here. We certainly respect that not everyone else feels that way however.