Re: physical therapy breakthrough

[Guest guest]

--- " janieandshawn " wrote:

>

> I walked out of

> the office without my cane (which I've done before but the pain

> returns before the day ends). Today I'm still walking without my

> cane and with hardly a limp!

So glad to hear this, Janie! I'm a big believer in the power of

physical therapy - given the right therapist. It's the only thing

that's kept me walking while the surgeons have only made things worse

and worse.

And I know Bennie is a big believer in myofascial release too - she's

always saying how much good it does her.

I'm sure it depends on the source of your pain as to whether it would

help or not, but since everyone who is in pain suffers more pain

because of tightening up our muscles to " guard " against the pain, I'm

sure it couldn't hurt! Deep-tissue massage in general does a lot for

my overall well-being, even though my problems are due to spinal cord

injuries and not muscle-specific diseases like Fibro.

Again, just so glad you're finding some relief! I hope it keeps up!

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

--- " janieandshawn " wrote:

>

> She did myofacial release on my hip for 35 minutes. I walked out of

> the office without my cane (which I've done before but the pain

> returns before the day ends). Today I'm still walking without my

> cane and with hardly a limp!

>

>

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you that something has finally

worked to relieve your pain. Please keep us updated about how well it

keeps on working.

Thanks for sharing your news,

Lori

[Guest guest]

   Myofascial release has been pure heaven for me.  My PT is an expert at it and

has been a key player in keeping me on my feet, sort of, but at least out of bed

or a wheelchair.  Devan Starlynal (?), MD wrote a great guide to myofascial pain

syndrome (MPS) re the technique based on Dr Janet Travell's work on trigger

points that develop in muscles, the areas of referred pain that they cause, how

to release them and how to stretch the fascia which is a kind of membranous

blanket that covers the body between the lowest skin level and the muscles and

organs.

  

I have MPS along with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Ehlers-Danlos and severe spine

issues and it can be hard to cope with since almost all of them one way or

another cause these trigger points to develop and while once released they won't

re-occur in the same spot again, they often will keep on constantly re-appearing

elsewhere on the same muscle over and over again.  For the past 6 almost 7 years

the majority of physical therapy has been trigger point and it is an enormous

relief of the pain that for some reason, pain meds just don't seem to do much

for.

  

Unfortunately, our state PT Board has recently come out with a policy of

stopping PTs here from treating us chronic patients, insisting that PT services

are provided with a discharge plan in place and therefore patients must be

discharged after some reasonable amount of time - something like a year or so. 

In essence PT is for rehab only. 

However, I was in PT for well over a year after my knee surgery before we gave

up on restoring full use of it and the quad muscle years ago. 

Anyway, they say we have to go to massage therapists for treatment although

since the vast majority have no training in it and since they aren't covered by

insurance, I guess people like me are now out of luck.  Ain't that always the

case with us chronic folks?

M

[Guest guest]

Cheryl in AZ wrote:

> -

> I'm sure it depends on the source of your pain as to whether it would

> help or not, but since everyone who is in pain suffers more pain

> because of tightening up our muscles to " guard " against the pain, I'm

> sure it couldn't hurt! Deep-tissue massage in general does a lot for

> my overall well-being, even though my problems are due to spinal cord

> injuries and not muscle-specific diseases like Fibro.

>

> Cheryl,

My therapist does both light, deep, and manipulation. My injuries are

also

due to spinal cord and sacral iliac injuries from an auto accident.

This is the one thing I did not understand when I first met my

therapist.

Even thought my injuries are in the bones of the spine, sacral iliac,

and coccyx, muscles hold these in place and are all around them

My therapist has straightened (gently) out of alignment areas and

my sacral iliac joint.

When I went to the chiropractor years ago, they were too harsh

and even though it felt better, it was bone against bone manipulation.

So the therapy I receive is more than the deep tissue massage, she is

trained

in the whole alignment, muscle, and nerve ending attachment.

It is more of a negative resistant response to release spasm and

determine

the point of pain and help evaluate the cause.

Just needed to clarify that the physical therapy I receive is for other

than

muscle specific.

Myofascial Release is defined in Wikepedia:

Myofascial Release is a form of soft tissue therapy which includes, but

is not limited to, structural assessments and manual massage techniques

for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia,

integument, muscles, and bones are applied with the goal of eliminating

pain, increasing range of motion and balancing the body. The fascia is

manipulated, directly or indirectly, which allows the connective tissue

fibers to reorganize themselves in a more flexible, functional fashion.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

, janieandshawn wrote:

>

> She did myofacial release on my hip for 35 minutes. I walked out of

> the office without my cane (which I've done before but the pain

> returns before the day ends). Today I'm still walking without my

> cane and with hardly a limp!

>

Janine,

Be sure you keep going for follow up and there is a good self myofascial

release manual that i downloaded from the web.

I hope that you continue to do well and the myofascial release has been

a

lifesaver for me also.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

Hi , Lori, Bennie and Cheryl,

Thanks for sharing my joy! I just walked up and down the mall

without having to use a wheelchair, cane, or even having to sit and

rest. I'd really given up hope that I'd ever get better.

I really appreciate the definition of myofascial release that was

posted. I didn't even really understand what my PT was doing.

During my first exploratory hip surgery (9 months after the car

accident), my surgeon missed the ruptured ligament. When he finally

did my second surgery (8 months after), I'd been walking on that

ruptured ligament for 16 months. I can understand how my muscles,

fascia, etc., would be knotted up!

I still have other pain-related health issues, but being able to walk

comfortably seemed like a luxury I'd never attain.

I can't wait to show my PT next Thursday how well I'm doing!

You all are so encouraging. And please know that I am praying that

you can get some pain relief also.

Take care, Janie

[Guest guest]

janieandshawn wrote:

> During my first exploratory hip surgery (9 months after the car

> accident), my surgeon missed the ruptured ligament. When he finally

> did my second surgery (8 months after), I'd been walking on that

> ruptured ligament for 16 months. I can understand how my muscles,

> fascia, etc., would be knotted up!

Janine,

My myofascial therapist said she would love to see these stretches and

techniques used every

time people have surgery to prevent scarring.

I had multiple abdominal surgeries and she has been working on my

" bikini " scar that had

a shelf on it and was hardened. I couldn't believe the relief it

brought to my back and the ability for me

to suck in my gut so to speak.

I always had a hard time holding my stomach in and the traditional

physical therapy

exercises, I couldn't do. They would tell me to concentrate on sucking

my abdomen

in to strengthen my abdominal muscles to strengthen my back.

Until the scarring was softened, I couldn't do this so now I can at

least,

" Suck in my gut and put that chest out " as my drill sergeant used to

say.

Keep up the good results ! Bennie

[Guest guest]

kmabba wrote:

>   Unfortunately, our state PT Board has recently come out with a

> policy of stopping PTs here from treating us chronic patients,

> insisting that PT services are provided with a discharge plan in place

> and therefore patients must be discharged after some reasonable amount

> of time - something like a year or so.  In essence PT is for rehab

> only. 

>

> However, I was in PT for well over a year after my knee surgery before

> we gave up on restoring full use of it and the quad muscle years ago. 

>

> ,

I have never had the problem you brought up and chronic pain

patients can " re injure " sites that they go to therapy for. This is

how

my doctor writes my prescription.

I do not think that physical therapists can refuse to provide

therapy to chronic patients because of a PT board. In the thirty

something

years in the medical field, I do not believe this.

People with bursitis, arthritis, and other conditions have atrophy

through out their lives that require lifelong care. Every physical

therapist

has to re evaluate after each course of therapy and request additional

therapy.

My previous physical therapist told my previous doctor she could

not give me any more " massages " . She thought that working on

a treadmill, doing abdominal crunches, and gym work is what I needed.

So I could see where a physical therapist that

didn't understand the condition could prevent care being given.

WIth my myo fascial relief, I did not need as many

appointments so I will continue to interview the physical therapists

and go

to those who know what is really wrong with me and treatment needed.

I am glad I have physical therapists that know how to request

treatments to get insurance to cover it. Bennie

[Guest guest]

>

>Ain't that always the case with us chronic folks?

>

> M

>

,

We truly need an advocate in Washington that can help the chronic pain

sufferers get the treatment we need.

Maybe if we pray hard enough, the Senate could get struck with varying

types of chronic pain! I say it's worth a shot to help us out.

Lori