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Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibro?

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Posted 3/9/2013 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hello. I've been diagnosed with hypothyroid for ten years, fibromyagia for 3 years and recently myofascial pain syndrome dx six months ago due to switching doctors. I say that bc it's possible I've had mps for longer but only now been diagnosed.

Anyway... I take tramadol everyday and Xanax PRN. I spin twice a week and do Pilates twice a week. I see an energy therapist that treats the pain as it relates to the body holding onto trauma. I'm considering going to a massage therapist that specializes in myofascial pain release.

Does anyone have the dual diagnosis I have and if so what therapy and/or pain management has helped?
Posted 3/9/2013 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
If you look at my signature I have multiple diagnoses.
You're doing better than me exercise wise.
I've heard that a good massage therapist can help us a great deal in getting the knots out. I'd love to go to one, but they're so expensive.

My pain management is hot showers, heating pads, muscle rubs, spa wrap, electric blanket, tramadol, gabapentin, tylenol, and a large hammer to knock myself out with (just kidding on the last one).
Posted 3/9/2013 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Eileen,

Welcome to the Fibro forum. It sounds like you're going to good people to get your conditions treated....and that's great.

I didn't know what spinning was until I googled it just now. It looks really intense! Boy, I could never do that now, but more power to you!

Take a look at our first thread, Fibro 101. There's much good information there about Fibro and MPS, too...look at #8. I've often wondered if I have MPS, actually, but somehow I never get around to looking into it (time, money, memory, surgery - - )

Glad to have you aboard :)

Debbie
Posted 3/9/2013 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Eileen,

I've had miofacial pain in the past and massage therapists didn't help my pain. Who has helped my pain and given me some relief is a neuromuscular massage therapist. They're schooled in working on individual muscles.

Good luck to you.
Posted 3/9/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Eileen, and welcome!  Some think that fibro and MPS are one and the same.  They are so similar.  My massage therapist says she thinks I have MPS too because of the overlapping of the muscles that I get.

 

If you do see a massage therapist, gentle massage is the best for fibro.  Deep massages could make you have more pain.  My massage therapist has been trained in both of these illness along with a myriad of other illnesses.  She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association and they have to continue to take classes in order to remain a member.  So they are quite knowledgeable.  If you decide to go this route, here is a link to see if there is a massage therapist in  your area that does massages for these illnesses.

 

http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/index.html?utm_source=%2Ffindamassage%2Flocator.aspx&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=redirect

 

As far as pain management goes for me, I use ibuprofen, Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, vitamin D3 supplements, and a muscle relaxer.  I also walk daily as a form of gentle exercise and I pace myself when doing things.  All of the above help with pain and fatigue.  We all are different, though, so what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

 

As Debbie mentioned, please read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are a lot of good links about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  There are links about the supplements that I mentioned and how they work in the body, too.  We do need to be our own advocates with this illness so it's important to learn as much as we can about it.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine 

Posted 3/9/2013 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Eileen,
I was diagnosed last May with myofascial pain syndrome and I have been in physical therapy since. At first I saw the traditional therapist who wasn't really helping. Then I started seeing a neuromuscular physical therapist who has helped me a lot. I get something called dry needling done by them. There is nothing like it. It really has an instant effect. I just wonder if this will ever go away. Having fibro and myofascial pain is horrible. Stretching helps, and using ice/heat every day. I also see an acupuncturist weekly. I wish there was an easy fix for this because I have had trouble coping with the pain. I don't take any medication for these conditions except for an occasional Advil or prescription strength naproxen. I don't know where you live Eileen, but the PT I see is in Northern New Jersey.
Posted 3/9/2013 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! Is all I can say.
I did that kind of living before I was dx with myofacisal pain and Fibro. I'd love to get back into all that but a spin class was just torture! I literally got up in the middle of the class and left. lol! So good for you!! I did yoga until my hip pain got too bad and it irritated my sciatic pain. When it gets warm out, I hope to walk laps in my pool. If you belong to a gym, doing light back strokes in the heated water feels good.
I'm very envious of your level of activity. Keep it up and as we say on here, know your limit. That will help most of all!
Izzy
Posted 3/10/2013 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your responses so far. Before I fell into this pretty terrible pattern of chronic pain, I was spinning quite actively, 3xs a week, and often doing 3-4 hour "race day" type events once or twice a month, along with strength training. I was training for a 10k. I mention all of this because I still feel like I'm grieving the loss of that person 4 years ago that was so active and happy.

When the pain really set in, I stepped back from pretty much all physical activity. With that came loads of depression and anxiety, so I've reintroduced spinning to try and give my body a release. I go WAY slower and easier than I used to, but going at my own pace still gives me the emotional boost I need. I added Pilates recently and it has been very difficult because I can't lay on my side (hip pain) and lots of the ab work aggravates my back. BUT... I just do it and try not to care about how bad I am at it!

So I'm still wondering if anyone has direct experience with "mysofascial pain release"?? Ive found both massage therapists and PTs in my area that say they do this.

Thanks so much... I never thought I'd be posting on fibro forum, but already can see how nice it is to have the support of others that know what I'm going through.
Posted 3/10/2013 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
It is a big help to know you're not alone, isn't it?

I know what you mean about grieving who you were before....I think we all do. Honestly, I still struggle with it - 27 years later - but not nearly as intensely as I used to. It takes time to come to terms with it, and to realize that although your life is not what it used to be, it can still be good.

I just hope you don't push yourself so hard that it ends up backfiring on you. That's what I did in the beginning (after all, every doctor I saw told me I was "fine.") So I kept doing Nautilus machines at the gym, lifting my kids, moving furniture, running, doing housework, etc. etc. I ended up in a world of pain, which was finally eased to some degree by 1) a chiropractor, and 2) an internist who diagnosed me with Fibro.

Debbie
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