Myofascial Pain Syndrome Support Group
Myofascial Pain Syndrome (or MPS) is a term used to describe one of the conditions characterized by chronic pain. It is associated with and caused by "trigger points" (TrPs), sensitive and painful areas between the muscle and fascia. The symptoms can range from referred pain through myofascial trigger points to specific pains in other areas of the body. It may be related...
Recently I was reading the book Reprogramming Pain by Barry Bittman M.D., a neurologist. I thought his approach to treating pain was interesting and would like your thoughts. He believes that the best treatment program "incorporataes medical, physical, and behavioral approaches simultaneously..." He continues by stating, "For the chronic pain sufferer, independent therapeutic approaches often lead to failure". He uses the following analogy with his patients. "Allow yourself for a moment to imagine that your pain is a 600 poound rock situated in front of the door to my office. If the rock is not removed, the door will not open and I cannot see patients. In a similar manner, if you cannot remove the pain, you cannot proceed with your life. If the medical approach fails, you may incorrectly assume that it was invalid. In the greatest sense, this approach may have been correct, yet not powerful enough to move the rock. Assume that the medical approach can only exert a 200 pound pull and as a result, the rock does not move. In similar terms, both the physical and behavioral strategies applied independently are only capble of pulling 200 pounds each. Neither is strong enough to move the rock or alleviate pain..
However, when one combines the three forces (or approaches) pulling in the same direction at precisely the same time, the rock moves and the door can be opened. Beyond just the alleviation of pain, quality of life improves for the pain sufferer."
Is anyone in the group using these three approaches simultaneously for myofascial pain, and is it working? Does anyone have thoughts about his multidisciplinary approach to solving chronic pain? Kat
However, when one combines the three forces (or approaches) pulling in the same direction at precisely the same time, the rock moves and the door can be opened. Beyond just the alleviation of pain, quality of life improves for the pain sufferer."
Is anyone in the group using these three approaches simultaneously for myofascial pain, and is it working? Does anyone have thoughts about his multidisciplinary approach to solving chronic pain? Kat
psychological/behavioral:
was going to Cognitive behavioral therapist but cant afford that and MFR, so I use the tools that she taught me at times, breathing exercises, coginitive therapy exercises, relaxation therapy to help
physical: myofascial release, trigger point therapy done at home with both me and my husband ( using the travell books for guidance, the jacknobber or balls), myofascial release stretching the legs with a yoga band ( 3-5 minutes) and leg pulls almost each day.
I like to think i try to do a multi-faceted approach. I am just now seeing what I need to continue on taking with meds and what might be lessened or dropped. I know I need pain management, so that stays, but am not sure about the antidepressant helping etc.. Only thing you can do there is try and lower and gpo off and see if it makes a difference.
I have always "done what I was told" by PTs and such, and part of me doing that has put me in a worse situation, so I have to educate myself and listen to my gut/instincts too.
I should also add I exercise by swimming and taking the dog or myself for a walk on the nature trail behind our hou se. I love being in nature, and also need to continue with the cardiovascular exercise. Because again, dong just the one thing would have other areas of my health suffer.