One of the main issues for fibromyalgia patients is pain management. Most pain medications have limited application; patients tend to develop a resistance to them, and cortisone has nasty side effects. If you're having difficulty managing chronic pain, music therapy might be a helpful option to consider.

Music therapy is an established form of treatment that can be a valuable resource in restoring quality of life for fibromyalgia patients. Studies show that music therapy alleviates pain, promotes physical rehabilitation, can create a feeling of well being, and aids in managing stress. In music therapy, an accredited music therapist will assess the needs of the client and create an individualized treatment plan which might include singing, listening, composing, and moving to music. Clients find strength in their musical abilities and this ability then carries over to other areas of their lives.

The idea of using music as therapy is not a new one. Music as a method of healing was referred to in the writings of Aristotle and Plato. Modern day music therapy has its roots in the astonishing effect seen in servicemen wounded in both world wars after hearing professional and amateur musicians. The patients seemed to rebound from both physical and emotional trauma with the help of these performances. The results were so remarkable that nurses and doctors began to request that musicians be hired by the hospitals to perform for patients.

Don't be so hasty to dismiss "new age" treatments for Fibromyalgia. Tai Chi, acupuncture and a host of others have been proven to be very effective. I've had "regular" physical therapy for Fibromyalgia. It was a disaster. After weeks of trying, I ended up getting massages instead. I'd be very grateful for the open minded treatment you are having instead of being force fed more pills. Try to keep an open mind about this and let it help you,. Take care.

Although I have never tried it, I have heard of vibrational music therapy. It sounds very interesting and I'd love to try it. I use a multifaceted approach to treating my fibromyalgia and have tried various techniques such as: acupuncture, myofascial release, aqua therapy, craniosacral therapy, hot bamboo massage, infrared body wraps etc. It's good to experiment with various therapies to find out what works best for your body. Best wishes to you.

I'm wondering if the "touching" they refer to is perhaps myofascial release, which cocoa1 mentioned. It's a form of physical therapy that is a bit difficult to describe any other way, as it doesn't feel like much of anything when it's being done, but can have a profound effect over time.

One thing I feel compelled to mention - "trigger points" are not part of fibromyalgia - they are part of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), which is a very common coexisting condition with fibromyalgia. Tender points are associated with fibromyalgia, and the easiest way to describe the difference is that tender points, when pressed, only hurt on the spot, while trigger points will radiate pain to other parts of the body. I have one just below my shoulder blade that radiates up into my jaw and down into my hip when pressed.

As fantod said, don't be too quick to write off what they're suggesting until you try it. My last trip through physical therapy (for lower back pain) I would have sworn to you that they weren't doing anything, as all that was happening was electrical stim and ultrasound, and neither felt like anything was really happening, but my lower back pain was completely gone after three months of therapy. Not what you typically think of when you hear the words "physical therapy," but it worked! There have been a lot of developments and a lot of research on the mind/body connection, and what was once considered "new age" is often now a part of mainstream medicine.

Give it a try - you might be surprised.

I'm with Peace.
I've had a few stinkers.... but the good ones ask questions, adapt to your needs, and I've had great success with myofascial release, acupuncture, and in some cases, electrostim, just depended.

The fact the person was asking is a good sign to me, b/c when they don't ask? THey're going all "cookie cutter" and whateve rin you doesn't fit? Chopped off. Ow.

It seems a little weird to me that this is being done by a physical therapist...seems outside the usual scope of practice for that profession...,but, doesn't sound like it could do any harm and even sounds like it could help...I would say try it out a bit more, and if you're still not comfortable, tell him that. He should be able to modify his approach for what you're looking for.

This is all really interesting information.

I would be willing to try this. I think it's great that this PT is open to trying unconventional methods to pain management. The first thing that came to mind for me when reading your post is, Reiki.

This is from http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html :
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

So, I'm not sure if this is what the PT will do, but it may be worth a try. Please keep us posted if you do go for the appointment.

I thought I was the only one confused with all the terms that are thrown at us. I really hope it works for you.

Thanks everyone. My next appointment is for Tuesday at 8:00am, so...I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again,
Debbie