WeAreFibro.org - The Social Support Network for People Living with Fibromyalgia

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I stumbled onto a new therapy Myofascial Release  Work

.http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_massage/public/default.asp

One session and I felt relief. I was skeptical.  I will follow up with my future visits.

Found a practioner thru FMA 

 http://www.fmaware.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7208&news_iv_ctrl=-1

2 months ago

Cheryl

Hello, no Sheri it is the knots in my muscles that tighten up over there years. I am postmenapausal so I no longer have PMS. I went into early menapause yrs ago, maybe due to adenaral gland not working right. I go for blood tests on Wed. morning for that.

5 months ago

Sheri (falling feather)

I very much believe that our outlook as well as those that surround us affect us profoundly so we must surround ourselves by those that are positive influences be they friends, family or our doctors and care takers. We already have so much that is taken from us that we do not need the negativity to pull us down.

And Satin I have tried the aqua therapy and loved it but like you I cannot continue because of the cost.  They have warm pools at the Y but I can't drive to get there so it is a catch 22. I so loved the warm pools and the relief they gave. I can only imagine what those hot mineral pools would be like, Teri!

Cheryl you speak about the knots in your muscles - are they trigger points from MPS? If so I have some info on them that may help.

Breath control helps wth so many things and there are form of movements like Qi Gong that work with the breath and the affects on the systems or pranayama alone has many benefits. I am not sure where everyones beliefs lie, but it all works with chi, our body energies.

6 months ago

Satin Glass

yes I believe yoga as well as other things can help besides pain meds.  Auqua therpa (spelled wrong) is a good one for me but not the cost.

Satinglass

6 months ago

Cheryl

I was reading all the posting and Emily you mention something I have never herd of. Deep breath and hold until it gets uncomfortable 5-10sec, and repeat that this increases the CO2 in your bloodstream. I had always thought that the burning pain we get was do to lactic aid build up in our muscles and that we need more oxygen.

I'm excited about this group and hope to learn and relearn alternative ways to help improve our quality of life. I have had massages in the past which felt good, and PT to work out the hard knots in my muscles. I'm glad I ran across this group.

6 months ago

Teri

Hi Sheri,

I'm so glad you opened this group.  I have always believed in integrative medicine.  I also was a very active *emphasis on active* person, going on three years ago now.  Kickbox, pilates, etc... but am now so bad that I find only walking and slight yoga poses all that I am left to. 

Massage is left to the day.  Depending on what my body is feeling.  I live near Calistoga, CA so sometimes I go to the mineral pools.  I find them soooo comforting and great therapy for my muscles.  You can swim in the 102 degree waters.  I also was seeking treatment at a rehabilitation center in Kentfield CA which is well reknown for targeting people with FMS.  They move you slowly and go with what your limitations are.  It's always good to seek people who know and/or have studied FMS.  I am a vigilant person in seeking the right team of people to surround me.  I think that the mental aspect helps as well.  Having read so many peoples bios, I realize the Doctors, caretakers and any therapists of any sort have such a profound effect on our outcome. 

7 months ago

Sheri (falling feather)

Hi Emily,

I find massage to be good and bad - it is wonderful while going on and for about a day (if I can be touched) but it does send me into extra pain afterwards. Yet I do have to have it done as I have horrible MPS and the trigger points in my shoulders and back have to be massaged out or I feel like I want to die. I have not tried acupuncture for it yet but I have heard that it works well as a trigger point therapy.

I also found that a good B-complex vitamin works and it is the Nature Made sublingual. I get alot more benefit out of the sublingual that a regular tablet. It gives me that added boost I need to get through the day.

Before my symptoms hit hard I used to do power yoga, kickboxing and cardio six days a week but the fibro has taken away the use of my legs so it makes any of thoe hard (on top of the loss of strength, etc). My legs are like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz and I never know what they are going to do. I cannot do yoga too much now as it requires good balance and consistent strength and like you said, the benefit is during and can exacerbate the fibro after. But I have had success with gentle stretching and I can do most Qi Gong - I love Qi Gong when I can do it.

Learning pranayama (control of the breath) has so many benefits and I will try to add a discussion about it.

Thanks for posting!

7 months ago

Emily

I find massage to be very helpful. I've heard yoga can help but it doesn't do a whole lot for me except while I'm doing it. I also exercise EVERY DAY for at least 30 minutes. Sweating helps as does the endorphin rush. It's the one thing I would say has done the most to help me have some kind of life. I only do cardio at the moment because I've found that lifting weights tends to worsen my symptoms. I also found a B-complex vitamin that works for me. It took me years to find one that I could tolerate. It's called Super B-Complex by NatureMade. You can buy them in bulk at Costco but they have them at drug stores as well.

I do get acupuncture treatments which I've found helpful but I really need to get them twice a week in order to be really beneficial and I just can't afford it.

There's also a breathing technique that I learned from a life coach which does tend to calm me down if I'm feeling really tense and anxious. First, you exhale completely then hold your breath. Don't inhale until you become uncomfortable (about 5-10 seconds). Then inhale and repeat. It forces the carbon dioxide to build up in your blood sort of like breathing into a paper bag when you hyperventalate.

7 months ago