Have you seen or considered seeing a chiropractor, massage therapist or physical therapist for your fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS)? It could be a really good idea, or a really bad one, depending on whom you chose.
A recent study looked into what's called "manual therapy" as a fibromyalgia treatment. Manual therapy is basically any therapy where the practitioner puts their hands on you and manipulates your body in some way. Because the study looked at issues of central sentization, it would also apply to people with ME/CFS. Researchers came to 3 interesting conclusions:
- To keep pain from becoming chronic, it's crucial to relieve pain (from injuries or structural problems) quickly to keep nerve endings from becoming sensitized. (That applies to people both with and without central sensitization.)
- For people with central sensitization, relatively minor injuries can sustain the sensitization process (keep us hypersensitive to pain). Manual therapy, and any exercises prescribed as part of it, should therefore take into account the fact that our bodies react strongly to sensation. (Basically, they should be gentle and appropriate to what we can handle without increased symptoms.)
- Manual therapists ignoring sensitization and the process of maintaining it can cause more harm than good by triggering or sustainting central sensitization.
I love that researchers are pointing out that anyone can develop central sensitization through long-term pain; that they're validating the process by telling practitioners they need to take a different approach with us than with other people; and that they recognize that therapies or exercise regimens that cause even small amounts of pain or muscle damage can make our conditions worse.
This also underscores how important it for us to be careful who we trust to - quite literally - take our health in their hands. We shouldn't let anyone touch us who doesn't understand central sensitization and how it effects us.
So how do you chose a manual therapist? For some general information, here's a great article from About.com Alternative Medicine Guide Cathy Wong: How to Find a Complementary / Alternative Practitioner. Beyond that, though, the most important thing is asking the right questions. Before you make an appointment, ask, "Does he/she have experience with (your condition here)?" and, "Does he/she understand how to work with central sensitization?"
Ask whoever gives you a referral. Ask the person who sets the appointment. Ask the therapist before you get started. The last thing you need is for your treatment to make you worse!
Suggested Reading
- Massage, Rolfing & Other Bodywork for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Acupuncture for Treating Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Exercising When You Have Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
I believe this really could help some with their pain. However, finding someone who knows how to treat a patient who has fibro/cfs is the key. Manipulation that is too rough could result in more pain.
I agree, this might be helpful for some. I’ve found some pretty good holistic/natural CFS info at Women to Women:http://www.womentowomen.com/fatigueandstress/chronicfatigue.aspx
I would love to try this sort of therapy, but I’m young and I’ve got my first apartment — there’s just no way I can afford it. My doctor copays, medications and physical therapy copays come first. I’ve cut my PT down to 2x per month, as that is all I can afford at $20 a pop. Lucky I can pull that off. Perhaps someday therapies like this will be covered by insurance for those that may benefit from it. Even at $20 a time, tho, I’m not sure I could swing it along with everything else.
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