I have fibromyalgia and RSDS, what physical therapy can be done?

Question

What therapy can be done to provide pain relief from both diseases with out being to hard on one or the other disease?

Answer 1

Oh my, I am sorry! RSDS/CRPS (craps), to put it politely, sucks. I have RSD/CRPS on the right side of my body...mainly my right arm/hand and leg/foot. Fibromyalgia is no walk in the park, either. I'm saying this only to let you know I am not a doctor, only someone who can give advice based on personal experience.

Some of the best physical therapy I have experienced is Hydro Therapy. If you are hyper sensitive, it can take a bit of adjustment at the start, but is well worth it as the water is then soothing and allows you to do the exercises with a wider range of motion due to the support the water provides. You can do stretching, "walking", treadmill type exercising, etc all in a water tank to help with both conditions.

Along with that, there are gentle stretching exercises that your physical therapist should teach you to perform. Nothing strenuous, just gentle techniques to help keep range of motion in the affected area. In my experience, anything beyond these two treatments is too harsh. I could not handle the ultrasound system because of the hypersensitivity, but if you aren't that sensitive to touch, you may want to give it a try...same thing with the tens unit.

Good luck to you and I wish you all the best in your pain management!

Answer 2

Caufrico has the right idea...aquatic therapy is the ideal for someone with both of these conditions...I do recommend, you find a place that truely has a theraputic pool...one that is heated at least to 86 degrees.

Those with fibromyalgia ultimately benefit from getting into a cardiovascular exercise routine...this helps to regulate neurotransmitters that help regulate pain such as substance P and seratonin. Therefore, the water is a medium in which one can attain cardiovascular benefits, but without the stress and strain of traditional exercise programs...the heated aquatic pool may also be of benefit to the RSD.

Good luck

Answer 3

Sorry to hear that. I also have fibromyalgia and was told that physical therapy does not help. I have found that swimming, yoga, meditation and heating pads have greatly reduced my problems. The key seems to be to keeping your soft tissues flexible. If you stiffen up too much, the pain just gets worse. I hope that you find some relief. I know it can be a struggle. Best wishes.

Answer 4

Medication is important with chronic pain, its unfortunate but it does help.

Relaxation techniques are an important part of pain treatment. Deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis -- all these allow mind to help the body. Through regular practice, they help to reduce stress and promote relaxation, which helps with chronic pain relief.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese practice, has gained respect in Western medicine. The National Institutes of Health recognizes acupuncture as an effective pain reliever particularly for headache pain and back pain-- and suggests that the practice may help with other chronic pain conditions, including arthritisarthritis, fibromyalgiafibromyalgia, and muscle pain.

I am a clinical massage therapist and we are trained in giving light touch massage to treat fibromyalgia, so find an acupuncturist and a clinical massage therapist

Answer 5

Physical therapy will make your Fibro worse. When you have Fibro you lack the "growth hormone." This is what the body produces to "repair" the small rips and tears that ALL of our bodies go through in the course of everyday life. When you do something like physical therapy you will cause your body and muscles to "tear" more then usual and since the growth hormone doesnt work w/ us it will cause you more pain the "gain!" So DONT go the physical therapy route!

Ask your doctor about what medications that you can take to help with this. You DONT have to take narcotics! Unfortunately that is what I have had to go to and I wish I hadnt b/c now I cant STOP taking them (its a vicious cycle). So unless its absolutely UNBEARABLE PLEASE try not to start that cycle!

There are a lot of anti-depressants like Lyrica that will help with pain. Also anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers may help. Another non-narcotic pain medication that you can try is Tramadol (otherwise known as Ultram).

Unfortunately another thing that goes along w/ having Fibro is that your body chemistry is a LOT differant from those without it and you may find that you have a difficult time finding medications that work for you. For example for ME, I am allergic to anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and steroids. Sleeping pills keep me awake and Narcotics have very limited effect on my pain level. That makes the choices VERY slim pickings for me! My doctor and I have FINALLY come to a good regiment that works which includes Ultram, Oxycodone (which work against the ultram so I have to switch between the two), Depakote and Rozerum. It took a good 5 years to finally figure out how my body would repond to things and to find a "workable" solution to my pain! Like I said, narcotics barely do anything to me, yet a benedryl will knock me out cold! LOL

Good luck w/ your pain and I really DO feel for you!

Answer 6

I have both of the conditions you do. I'm a retired director of Naturopathic medicine and I have written a very extensive article on Fibromyalgia. It's far too long to post here. You can read it at the link provided. It gives answers for what you can do to help yourself with these conditions.

If you have any further questions please let me know,
Billie77

Answer 7

Yep afraid Physical Therapy does you the energy of well. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, so in consistent suffering. Therefore while it is going ouch the typical response is to flinch, tighten up the muscle tissue and ordinarily snatch the offending discipline. Not certain why I snatch it, however it is only a typical response, like tensing the muscle tissue. Problem is, weeks of disturbing muscle tissue simplest upload to the suffering! Therefore you generally tend to readjust your posture, since you already know for those who stroll like this, the suffering is much less. However running like this to give up one variety of suffering, way you get additional suffering at another discipline and so begins a vicious circle. Physical remedy goals to upgrade your posture, by way of getting you over the worry of suffering. Years in the past I aroused from sleep to a elbow the scale of my thigh! Five instances higher than a typical elbow, it was once pink, swollen, very painful even seeking to positioned a additional massive T blouse on brought about suffering and really scorching. I refused to do something, bend it, straighten it, permit by myself contact it! Therefore what I did was once see my Doctor and kinda scream HELP! Odd that since my Doctor grabbed my arm, first straightened it, then bent it and I am crying in suffering! Logic could dictate: it harm, but I allowed my Doctor to evaluate it, why? The reply, since I believe him. He would no longer believe the suffering so was once no longer scared to bend it, evaluate it, I would believe the suffering and the worry of suffering stopped me from doing something! After the examination I had no worry and went alongside bending it and straightening it myself! If I had no longer, probabilities are I could no longer have complete use of that elbow now. Fear if the important thing to any harm. Therefore PT will get you over the worry, will get you to pastime effectively, realign your posture which in flip will aid with easing the suffering. However, it additionally signifies that while exhibit the right pastime in the course of the consultation, you go back house and preserve the pastime up. No factor in considering three instances every week for six weeks will medication it. You shall be seeing the PT three instances every week, however you're going to be doing the designated pastime daily! Best of Luck