Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Patient case study - Epilepsy week (18 - 24 May)

Hannah Williams (aged 27) tells her story.

“Doctors always argue that they see osteopathy as black magic, that it isn’t a valid method of treatment. They need to start to believe. I’m a great example. The consultant I was seeing has quoted that it might work for some people but not a valid treatment.”

Hannah had had epilepsy for about 12 years before she saw an osteopath. She started on Epilem, for a few months then changed to Lamotrigine. In addition, Hannah was given Clobozam to prevent the fit turning bigger as it would knock her out.

“My fits got worse for about a year which meant I had 3 serious fits throughout the year and one smaller one every month it was at this stage that I started seeing a local osteopath.” http://www.osteopathy.org/

“I had a seizure that hurt my back and after about a week of pain I went to see an osteopath called Hector Wells. He thought I had been in a crash as one side of my body was "jammed" particularly my C1 and C2. He did some work on my shoulders, diaphragm and back.”

Over the course of a year he freed this jam and in the process my seizures cut down from one a month to the odd one.

Although my osteopath wouldn’t discuss my medication needs, I decided to come off my medication as I felt the osteopathic treatment was controlling the seizures.

Historically, I had always had my biggest seizure in Dec/Jan since day one of the epilepsy and 2005 was the 1st time I had missed it in 10 years.

Hannah hasn’t had a fit since August 2005 – the day after her wedding. She has now been off drugs for three years, has had driving lessons and currently rides a motorbike. She puts her health down to osteopathy.