posted
Anyone try myofascial release or chiropractic care and have good results?
My dd says both make her feel better, but two days later the tissues have tensed up or spasmed again. She has a constant migraine headache also. The physical therapist said she wasn't getting her money's worth. Trying to decide whether or not to continue with the chiro care at this time. She does have a loss of cervical curve and many tender pressure points. However without a lldr not sure we're not doing much long term good. Thanks for any input!
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Could you explain what was done? Both were done on the same day??
What does this mean?
"The physical therapist said she wasn't getting her money's worth. "
Sorry, I'm kind of lost here.
I had great results with "active release"...perhaps the same thing as myofascial??
I don't think I would do both treatments at the same time.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
I was in the same boat, without the migraines. I was getting myofascial release because my muscles were so tight. For me, it actually made it worse and I could hardly move the next day.
My physical therapist had never seen anybody's body react like mine. He was really about to give up on me, because it was not making a difference.
What ended up working for me was taking Flexeril, a muscle relaxer. I started at 5mg a night (half a 10mg pill) and increased by 5mg a week until I got to the max dose of 30mg.
When I got to 20mg, I first saw improvement. The myofascial release started working. At 30mg it was a tremedous difference. The myofascial release was able to relax my muscles, and they stayed relaxed from Flexeril.
I eventually moved into strengthening and stretching, and then stopped the therapy and do yoga to maintain.
I was on Flexeril for 2.5 years. I had decreased the dose to 10mg, and then had to stop because it was adding to my autonomic neuropathy. I just couldn't get out of bed in the morning.
I have some increase in pain since going off, but nothing like when I first started.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Hi Lymetoo! My daughter was prescribed myofascial release because her head neck and shoulders were so stiff and in pain. She could hardly turn her head somedays. The physical therapist taught her some exercises and also did some manual "manuevers" to her neck that allowed muscles to stretch instead of spasming. Hope I am explaining this OK, because it was all new to us. Her neuro sent her there. Sometimes she would have the myofascial release first and then go to the chiro. It would allow the adjustments to have better results. She also tried massages before chiro and had good results. The problem was that instead of retaining some of the flexibility she would be right back wherer she started from two days later! It felt better for such a short time! That was why the physical therapist said she wasn't getting her money's worth. I appreciated him telling us that he felt he wasn't doing much good. I'm not familiar with "active" release. Sounds similiar, although my dd would just be passively lying on a therapy table in a quite dimly lit room and the therapist used the weight on her head and manipulated the cervical joints with his hands very slowly. We tried both toghther and have just been doing chiro only for awhile now.
To Aniek:
She also tried 10 mg flexeril at first, but it didn't do much. Perhaps we will try to get a scipt for a larger dosage. Thanks!
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I have had both active release and myofascial release and they and they are not the same thing.
Active release involves the patient actively participating as the practitioner guides them through movements.
Myofascial release involves working out the knots in the muscles using pressure.
Personally, I found neither lasted long, but I continue with massage therapy which includes some myofascial release, because over the long run I am seeing improvement.
It lasts longer now than before, especially when I'm not doing too much, like trying to get my house ready to sell right now.
Is there some reason you do not have a LLMD for you daughter? I would highly recommend that you find one so she can begin proper treatment.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
You might consider looking into using a theracane at home. I'm not well versed on the various modalities that you describe but I find that the majority of my range of motion problems(headaches too) can be addressed by using the theracane to work on trigger points.
It can takes days of working on one set of them before they relax and stay put. That said, if you have ongoing infection/tissue damage I don't believe that you will have any real lasting treatment until you get the infection under control.
posted
I've had this exact kind of muscle pain forever (okay, only 19 years...! Seems like forever) -- neck so spasmed I can't move it some days, horrendous migraines, intrascapular spasms, you name it. Chiropractic helps a little, but it is short lived. I *love* the theracane, but it needs to be done all the time, and is mostly symptomatic relief.
Flexeril does NOTHING for me except give me a dry mouth. SOMA helps a little, but not very much.
For me, this particular set of sx seems to be babs related -- it got lots better when I was on babs treatment, and returned full force when I went off the tx -- -guess that means I still have babs, eh?
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
MommaK,
As I said, I noticed no difference on Flexeril until a few days on 20mg, and it was a significant difference on 30mg.
From my experience, ramping up slowly was important. It meant I was hit with lots of bricks rather than a truck.
I actually overheard my physical therapist tell a nurse he didn't know what to do with me right when the Flexeril had started to kick in. I hadn't had a chance to tell him yet.
Also, in long run, I believe the Lyme treatment has helped. And, once I did get relaxed enough, doing lots of yoga (3-5 times a week).
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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i go to two PTs, both with specialized training, not your run of the mill therapists
one for cranial sacral treatment (for lower body pain)
and one for myofascial relesase--neck, jaw, face, and arms
has worked better than anything i have done so far
and strenght training is a big no-no until you are out of pain, but PT sometimes can't help themselves, especially hwen reporting to a doc. or insurance company for results, and then you get bigger problems
it is not a miracle and some P.T.s are right to send you on--cause they don't know how to do it right with your body, or don't have the skills
I went through several PTs before findng this combo
and I go weekly, alternating btwn the therapists, it is not cheap but insurance helps some
but it keeps me way more functional, and i use less pain meds I'm sure
best of luck
maybe call around, ask around to find THE BEST it might make the difference, ASK the current PT you work w/ they may know someone who is the "best" and feel comfortalbe sending you there
I also found one chiro that was of some use (and many that were not) who did the active release, it was helpful, for lower body pain but he is out of state.
best of luck, i have found this to be one of the few thing that works
jif
p.s. recent studies show patients feel better EMOTIONALLY after treatment with a body worker (PT, massage therapist, etc.) as compared to how they feel following tx with a mental health proffesional.......
Posts: 208 | From Santa Fe | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I also do both. I have been seeing a chiro regularly for 3 years now. She works on my entire body, mostly lower back and neck area. She is the one that suggested I go to PT for myofascial release.
I now have that done every two weeks and it is the first time in years that I do not have the constant nagging pain in my neck and shoulders. I will always have some neck pain due to arthritis, but this has really helped with the shoulder. I have never had muscle spasms in that area.
-------------------- "Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love". Mother Theresa
char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
Momma-
My son and daughter had painful stiffness, especially in first months of treatment. It has steadily decreased and is almost non-existant after yr and half.
I think it was like 4 months for it to get to tolerable. I noticed it did come and go some with herx, so perhaps abx could be lowered a bit?
This is probably overly obvious, but we did keep pain down a bit with alternating tylenol and ibuprophen at highest recommended doses. Also, these bags of corn or rice you heat in microwave to make a nice hot pack. We bout a fancy one in mall that was shaped for the shoulders that is awesome. But you can make them yourself.
We tried a course of PT last yr and just wasn't worth it as too painful and energy to get out of house not there. Meds were better for that time.
posted
Thanks for all the great info! Went to Int Med dr today and he did not like to use flexeril. Being referred to a lldr now! Will check into theracane. DD says "Freeze It" seems to help some. As far as "specialized" PT, myofascial release is all that this PT does! Peole fly in from all over. I agree with the comment about not getting much relief until the infection is under control. That's what we are going to concentrate on now. Will probably continue with Chiro and PT just not now. Thanks again for such great posts and thanks for everyone's genuine concern!
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
I just happened to notice no one mentioned the stiffness in her neck and migraines could be related to neuroboreliosis infection which manifests itself among other things as a menangial or encephalytic type neck stiffness.
Whenever you get a llmd and get on some type of iv rocephin or something you will notice the stiff neck subsiding...
It may return from time to time after that to let you know you may need further iv treatments.
zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
One night 2 months at the gym I mentioned to a substitute trainer that I had lower right back and hip ache since being felled with Lyme in 2004.
I told her that back then they told me that I had a herniated disc but had decided against surgery because over time the ache/pain had improved, but was still a nagging concern.
She had me lie down on my left side at the end of our session, took a foam tube and rubbed it along my right side from my knee up beyond my hip. I asked her what she was doing because it hurt so much. She called it myofascial release. That it had helped her with her back/hip pain due to many years of competititve sport.
I had 3 days of NO PAIN. Now it comes and goes, but when it comes, I head to the gym and do to myself what she did to me, or I get someone to do it for me because it's kinda awkward to do it to oneself.
This remedy after 2 years of accupuncture, chiropractic and osteopathic manipulations, etc. No one had tried this simple remedy on me.
DanP P.S. INCLUDING MY YOUNGER BROTHER - THE OSTEOPATH!
Posts: 277 | From NY | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Hi, I have not read all the responses but wanted to say I've tried both myofascial and a chiro.
I tried the myofascial when I was in the throws of lots of pain...it served to flare the herxing at that time.
Time has passed and I went to a very good chiro (stopped the myofas cuz of too much herx flare). The chiro has done WONDERS for me in a matter of a month, I can tell a difference
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