Posted , 7 users are following.
I wonder if anyone would care to share experiences, insight, and knowledge re physio therapy and PMR. For example, has a TENS machine used on acupressure points helped to reduce inflammation? Ultrasound, yoga, Alexander method? Any and all modalities would count. Thank you for your wonderful brains and hearts, fellow travellers!
0 likes, 5 replies
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EileenH Harrie4
Posted
I don't think TENS will relieve inflammation - it might relieve pain by confusing the pain receptors but that is a very different thing.
In the 5 years I wasn't on pred I used aquafit which allowed me to loosen up enough to do adapted Pilates and Iyengha yoga classes - all those helped a lot. Never tried Alexander method. A doctor did use u/s for a whiplash injury - it did nothing for the PMR.
I go to a physiotherapist but not for physiotherapy - she does therapeutic massage and manual mobilisation of the trigger points and spasmed muscles. I have quite severe myofascial pain syndrome and AStrid keeps me upright when it bites - it is more common alongside PMR as the trigger points are concentrations of the same inflammatory substances that cause PMR when they are systemic. It can be very painful - but the result is worth it!
Physiotherapy as such is a difficult thing. Much physio practice involves repeated actions using the same muscles and that is often poison in PMR. Gentle stretching may be useful but the physio really does need to be aware of the problems associated with PMR. And they often assure you they are - and then reality bites!
Intramuscular stimulation may be helpful - I have had wet needling and it helped a lot. It's finding a therapist that is difficult!
Anhaga Harrie4
Posted
My physiotherapist has given me dry needling which got rid of spasmed muscles in my back I didn't even know I had - and this therapy resulted in relief of back and hip pain! She also gave me low level light therapy which we hoped would reduce production of cytokines, proven to work for RA but not studied for PMR, which I think did help me taper quite well and in good time to a very low level, plus some gentle mobilisation of spine, especially my neck. She gave me a few exercises to do at home, all quite gentle and not too many repetitions.
amkoffee Harrie4
Posted
First and foremost the one thing I hear the most on this and other PMR sites is that a lot of PMR patients can't have massages without a lot of pain afterwards. I'm one of them. I know you didn't ask about massage but I thought you should know to use caution if you decide to try it. Make sure the masseuse is gentle with you.. I had a pre-existing lower back injury that I was using the TENS unit on. I have since tried it on other areas of pain with little to no success. Very frustrating. I have not had any PT for my PMR only for my lower back and then my ankle when I broke it in February.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
I'd just like to add that for many patients the increase in pain after massage is very often because of the release of cytokines from the fascia (the transparent skin encasing muscles you will be familiar with from chicken and meat joints) - and in the case of myofascial pain syndrome it is a good thing. But as amkoffee says - it may not be for everyone. However - it is helpful to understand WHY there is apparently a worsening of the condition. Drinking plenty post massage and gentle exercise, such as walking in the fresh air, is helpful in recovery and both are often ignored by patients even when they are told to do it. This is information from one of our local Pain Clinic specialists - an anaesthetist in mainstream medicine.
Michdonn EileenH
Posted