Testimonial from a Fibromyalgia Patient
A Personal Story About Fibromyalgia
I want to share with you my success story with the treatment of fibromyalgia. As a person who had fibromyalgia and as a massage therapist who has treated people with fibromyalgia, this story is important to me on a personal level and on a professional level. The impact of fibromyalgia on my life has been intense and long term. My story of contending with widespread pain for most of my life is similar to most other people with fibromyalgia. My pain began when I was a child. In fact, I cannot remember being pain free in my right leg. Because pain became a way of life for me at a very early age, I continued to be active. Pushing through the pain, I took part in athletic activities of all sorts from track and field and cross-country running to basketball and softball. Although, I wasn't the star on the teams, I enjoyed the activities and always knew that I needed to stay active in order to be healthy. Like many other people with fibromyalgia, the medical profession had little help to offer me when, in desperation, I would request some assistance in understanding the pain. I felt the pain as a tightening, strangling sensation in my legs, arms, neck, and head. I felt as though I was tuning out parts of my body because of the pain. I developed allergies to foods and to certain substances in the environment. I was experiencing heavy irregular menses. I had frequent migraine headaches. My digestive system functioned sluggishly. I understood that I was developing a high level of toxicity throughout my body. In 1992, after doing a lot of research myself, I was directed to a rheumatologist who diagnosed my pain as fibromyalgia. She was sympathetic as she explained that there was little that could be done except to take antidepressants to aid with sleep, to eat a well balanced diet and to exercise regularly. I had always been the 'health nut' as far as eating and exercise was concerned, so, I continued with much the same regime in that regard. I complied with taking the antidepressants for about two months. Then I decided that my life was not being enhanced by the foggy thinking that came with the antidepressants. I opted for taking ibuprofen to help deal with the pain. I was taking a maximum dose of ibuprofen just to eliminate enough pain so that I could function. For several years, I have also received regular massage and chiropractic treatments. It was becoming increasingly difficult to work and keep my home running smoothly. In 1998, I had major surgery. Instead of being back to work in the customary six to eight weeks, I had to take several months off work. Then, gradually, I increased my workload as I was able to. By January 2000, I was able to see up to ten clients a week. This might not sound like much of an accomplishment, but I was gradually becoming stronger after months of reduced ability. Always interested in learning different techniques, in February 2000, I registered in a course in myofascial mobilization. I love learning and threw myself into the course with my usual enthusiasm and need to know. My instructor was so positive about the benefits of Myofascial Release as a treatment for people with fibromyalgia. After completing the course, I decided that I would test his skills. I booked some appointments for treatment. I have never looked back. Little did I know how greatly this would change my life! On a personal level, I have experienced profound healing. On a professional level, I have gone on to take several courses in Myofascial Release techniques. I am elated at my increased mobility, increased stamina, and decreased pain. I laughingly say that the manufacturers of ibuprofen miss me, as it has been months since I have needed regular pain relief in the form of a pill. Since I have had such resoundingly positive effect from the John Barnes' Myofascial Release Approach, I want to share some information about the treatment and how it works. I will start by sharing my new understanding of what fibromyalgia is and what fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, headaches, menstrual pain and PMS have in common. First, let's look at the fascial system of the body. Fascia is a tough, continuous web of collagen, elastin, and a gelatinous ground substance which forms the connective tissue surrounding and infusing, separating and connecting every structure of the body right down to the cellular level. It gives our body shape and mobility. It provides a system for the exchange of information between all the structures of the body. It needs to be mobile and fluid for optimum body function. " Therefore, malfunction due to trauma, poor posture, overuse, infectious disease, or inflammation can bind the fascia down causing abnormal pressures on these structures. This greatly influences the cell's ability to respirate, eliminate and oxidate, thus restricting the cell from receiving good nutrition and proper waste removal."1 Fascia has the tensile strength of over 2000 pounds per square inch. Fascial restriction has the potential to exert enormous pressures on the body's structures. We consider fibromyalgia to be restriction of the fascia that connects all the structures of the body. We can, then, see how the symptoms of intense and widespread pain and cognitive impairment are produced." when a person with myofascial restrictions lies down to rest or sleep, the tightness of the myofascial restrictions do not allow the muscles to elongate properly. Therefore, this "straight-jacket" of myofascial pressure and tightness does not allow the person to rest properly by entering into the deep "delta state" necessary for rejuvenation. These people never seem to catch up and become chronically fatigued. Lying down with unyielding myofascial restrictions can also compress joint surfaces, the discs that lie in between the osseous structures, which can then exert excessive pressure on nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. This scenario explains why so many people wake up exhausted with increased pain, headaches, spasm, and stiffness; this becomes a vicious downward cycle, slowly worsening over time."2 The good news is that the fascial restrictions can be effectively treated by a therapist skilled in the Myofascial Release, Myofascial Unwinding, and Cranio-Sacral techniques. The therapist's highly developed palpation skills are used to assess and to treat the patient. The treatment of the fascial restrictions is done using a gentle form of prolonged stretching which relies on the feedback received by the therapist through the patient's tissues. As the therapist responds to the feedback from the client, the direction of stretch, the amount of force used and the duration of the stretch are altered. By responding to the subtle changes which occur in the tissue tension during release, the therapist is able to work with the patient, instead of on the patient. With Myofascial Unwinding, the therapist eliminates gravity from the system. The patient, guided by the therapist, then allows the body to move into positions of past trauma, which allows for a safe, gentle and natural release of the holding patterns. Cranio-Sacral therapy uses the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid to determine where there are restrictions. The treatment protocol is a series of techniques using a light hands-on approach to assist the hydraulic forces in the Cranio-Sacral system to encourage the body's own healing and strengthening abilities. The treatment plan is individualized to suit each patient's personal needs. This treatment addresses the cause of the problem to eliminate the symptoms. Myofascial Release allows the body to make permanent structural changes so that you can resume a healthy active lifestyle. Healing is a process. A therapist trained in the John Barnes' Myofascial Release Approach will facilitate you in your healing process. Anyone with chronic pain is no stranger to the concept of 'hanging in there'. The journey to good health may not be easy, but, I can assure you that it is much easier to persist on the path to healing than to maintain the path of pain and dysfunction. I encourage you on your journey.
References: John F. Barnes, P.T., Myofascial Release, the Search for Excellence, 1990 John F. Barnes, P.T. and Rehabilitation Services, Inc., t/a John F. Barnes, P.T. Healing Ancient Wounds: The Renegade's Wisdom, 2000 Rehabilitation Services, Inc., t/a Bryan Kuss, RMT, Myofascial Mobilization: Introduction to Myofascial Release, Lecture Notes John E. Upledger, D.O., F.A.A.O. & Jon D. Vredevoogd, M.F.A. Cranio-Sacral Therapy, 1983; Eastland Press For further information direct your inquires to: Shirley Ann Richards, RMT Box 802 Kelvington, SK, Canada SOA 1WO |