painfull shoulders.

Hi Eileen, thanks for your reply, as I said the tramadol is for pain in the shoulders, and I am taking 1 a day and reducing my preds, my reasoning is there is more  side effects with preds then tramadol, so if I can reduce the preds all the better.

I did think you might mean for the shoulders - but wasn't sure. 

However - now you say it: can I suggest you look for a Bowen therapist locally and try a few sessions. A lot of people with PMR, in the UK in particular but also in the US, have tried it for what I tend to think of as "PMR add-ons" . They can often stem from muscle problems which often Bowen is able to help with. It has particulalry been recommended for what is often identified as "frozen shoulder" so if you have dodgy shoulders it could really be a help - and it is side-effect-free!

Hi Eileen, THanks for your reply, I had a frozen shoulder back in 1984, I was refered to a physio, and he cured it but I went through a lot of pain with the exersises, 8 yrs ago I was refered to a shoulder clinic, I was diagnosed with a spur on the shoulders and a lot of debris in the cavities I had an operation on both shoulders and this cured the pain, maybe the spurs are forming again

Hi Eileen,my GP prescribed Tramadol as because of kidneys can not take NSAID's.Know all about addiction potential with opiates.Luckily have taken them when needed for >6years and touch wood have never had to increase dosage(except during a major flare and reduced again when subsided)and touch wood have not become addicted.To be honest people can become addicted to most forms of painkiller in the same way that anyone can develop side effects at any time-not just on first starting although that is the most common time

Presumably though "I took them when needed" meant you had periods with less and even none? That breaks the addiction/habituation potential. It's when you get into apattern of taking them every day to get the result that the effect reduces. 

Have just  had second Bowen teatment, first was remarkable, VERY relaxing! Helped back and shoulders.... Can you tell me please how many is the average, or do you go for a top-up perhaps once a month?  Thank You....

Tom Bowen himself reckoned that if you didn't get benefit in up to 3 sessions done realtively close together, usually a week apart, it wasn't going to do much. On the other hand, while most of what needs to be sorted can usually be done in 3 sessions, if you have a chronic or longstanding problem you may need more sessions at first and then follow-up sessions at intervals. Once a month seems a bit often to me - but I suppose everyone is different and if you can afford it it would be very nice ;-)

I go for 2 or 3 sessions every 5 or 6 months I suppose. Others I know had 3 or 4 sessions to get things well sorted out at the beginning and now go every couple of months to keep them happy. As you say, it's very relaxing - and in that sense as good as a massage session or a spa treat with a lot less effort!

Thanks for that..will go for my third, and then perhaps every 6 weeks for top-up, will play it by ear, I`m also lowering .5mg very slowly, so Bowen will help with that also....well, that`s my reasoning anyway, I just find it such a treat!  Thanks again.....

So do I! And let's face it - if you can have a treat that makes living with PMR less of a pain I'm all for it. 

Too right, my sister has RA I am wondering if it would help her?

Don't know - RA is more joints though isn't it? She could always try a session...

Sorry to hear about your plight, I have had accupuncture, physio, cortisone injections, and was on 8 cocodamil a day, now 1 tramadol keeps me pain free all day, hope you can get maybe get the same relief.

Kimberly - do read my post to mr flydog. Bowen might well help your shoulder pain - it isn't always just PMR. And you don't have to get the GP onside, no prescription required.

The other thing that might help, if Bowen doesn't, is a cortisone injection into the shoulder area as the shoulder and hip pain is often due to bursitis which will often fade in time with the oral pred. Unfortunately, joints and tendons don't have a good blood supply so it is just the pred diffusing into the space around them that has the antiinflammatory effect so it takes much longer than the muscles which have a good blood supply..

Hi Eileen, I'm not familiar with Bowen, is this a herbal medication? I live in Canada so do you think I can get it at a health food store? Thanks

No - it's a technique, a physical therapy technique which is very gentle, sort of chiropractic for soft tissues/muscles. Personally I'd say it is far better than acupuncture and totally non-invasive - you don't even have take your clothes off! The first time you try you will think "How can this help?". Lodger on here walked out after her first session and left her walking stick behind - she could only get about with a zimmer frame before! It doesn't always work that fast but you would know in 3 sessions if it can make any difference. Others have said how uplifting and relaxing they find it even if there isn't a dramatic improvement in pain - it's gentle so you can use it in PMR where massage isn't always a good idea. It is probably a similar price to acupuncture maybe.

Google bowendirectory or bowen therapy lists canada will bring up the site that lists therapists by region. Where in Canada are you?

Searching Mitchell Mosher Bowen therapy video should give you a link to a video so you can see how it is done - looks crazy, definitely isn't.

Look for Bowen4Life, Mitchell Moser's site.