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...
I am so excited to share my experience so far with eToims with you all.
I have been to two sessions so far (yesterday and today). I am already so impressed with the results. The treatment looks pretty scary but is surprisingly not painful and actually pretty pleasant.
Before the treatment on Thursday, they took measurements of how far I could stretch in certain directions. For example, I would lay on my back, bend one leg, and see how far I could lift the other leg up while keeping it straight, turning my neck to either side, and bending one arm, putting it behind my back and trying to reach it up as far as I can towards my right should. We focused on treating my upper back and neck area. The difference between how much I could stretch before and after treatment was astounding. Yesterday, I did notice that my pain level was lower after treatment but not significantly.
This morning, I noticed that my neck was still very loose, where it is usually really tight in the morning. My pain level this morning was slightly down than normal.
By the time I got to my appointment today my lower back was very bad - an 8. When I left, my lower back was a 2! We worked on the same areas as yesterday and added in my lower back. Before the session, we checked how far I could stretch in the same positions again and I was just as good as when I left yesterday and could stretch even further after treatment. For reasons I am still trying to understand, if the probe is over a really tight area, it will not twitch (because it is too tight). Yesterday we did not get any twitches going down either side of my spine where I have very tight bands (I believe that these are the cause of a lot of my pain). Today, we are already getting slight twitches which indicates that it is opening up.
I am sooo excited about this. Unfortunately for most people, this treatment is currently only offered at this location in PA. I do believe that it may be offered in Canada and maybe the UK too..
I am anxious to see how the weekend goes...
I will keep everyone posted with how it goes. I truly am so so excited and really hopeful. The fact that I saw these results in just two sessions is crazy.
The reason we (my husband and I) decided that I should try this is because it causes your muscles to twitch. Muscles cant relax unless they twitch (or so we believe). I tried needling for so long to try and get the twitch response but eventually was worried about scar tissue and was always sore and swollen from it. This treatment gets the twitch response over and over without causing pain and without needles.
I have been to two sessions so far (yesterday and today). I am already so impressed with the results. The treatment looks pretty scary but is surprisingly not painful and actually pretty pleasant.
Before the treatment on Thursday, they took measurements of how far I could stretch in certain directions. For example, I would lay on my back, bend one leg, and see how far I could lift the other leg up while keeping it straight, turning my neck to either side, and bending one arm, putting it behind my back and trying to reach it up as far as I can towards my right should. We focused on treating my upper back and neck area. The difference between how much I could stretch before and after treatment was astounding. Yesterday, I did notice that my pain level was lower after treatment but not significantly.
This morning, I noticed that my neck was still very loose, where it is usually really tight in the morning. My pain level this morning was slightly down than normal.
By the time I got to my appointment today my lower back was very bad - an 8. When I left, my lower back was a 2! We worked on the same areas as yesterday and added in my lower back. Before the session, we checked how far I could stretch in the same positions again and I was just as good as when I left yesterday and could stretch even further after treatment. For reasons I am still trying to understand, if the probe is over a really tight area, it will not twitch (because it is too tight). Yesterday we did not get any twitches going down either side of my spine where I have very tight bands (I believe that these are the cause of a lot of my pain). Today, we are already getting slight twitches which indicates that it is opening up.
I am sooo excited about this. Unfortunately for most people, this treatment is currently only offered at this location in PA. I do believe that it may be offered in Canada and maybe the UK too..
I am anxious to see how the weekend goes...
I will keep everyone posted with how it goes. I truly am so so excited and really hopeful. The fact that I saw these results in just two sessions is crazy.
The reason we (my husband and I) decided that I should try this is because it causes your muscles to twitch. Muscles cant relax unless they twitch (or so we believe). I tried needling for so long to try and get the twitch response but eventually was worried about scar tissue and was always sore and swollen from it. This treatment gets the twitch response over and over without causing pain and without needles.
I am not sure I have ever felt a twitch response. Sometimes I feel a little fluttering sensation at the site of some trigger points when I massage them. So going to get this treatment might tell me more what is involved here.
Please keep us posted about the results of this treatment. Even if it isn't widly available yet it's good to know about positive treatments.
In addition to my pain level being lower throughout the past week, my flexibility and range of motion is SO much better and I am able to maintain it between appointments. Now, when I wake up in the morning, I feel loose. For so long I felt like I was trapped in this tight painful shell but now I can move my neck SO much better. I am so hopeful and really am hoping this is my answer. I am hoping that having my IUD out, in addition to this, will keep the knots away.
The good thing about this treatment I think is that I saw results the first appointment, so you dont have to make a huge commitment up front without knowing if it works.
This week, we treated my whole back, neck, traps, lats, butt, thighs, and pecs between my chest and armpits. Each area has improved. My husband who has spent much of the past couple years rubbing my back.. cant believe the difference in how the tissue feels.
if anyone is near PA, i would really suggest you giving this a try! I will continue to post how it goes but I want someone else here to experience the relief I have felt with this!
So MP, did you go consecutive days.? For how long?
chimerical, my plan is to go 4-5 times a week at the beginning. You do not have to go this often but if your body can handle it, you could see results sooner if you go more often. Last week, I went 4 times and twice the week before. The first time I went, I did 30 minutes, the second day - 45 minutes and an hour each session since.
I will continue to post how it goes (have to take a break during the holidays because I will be out of the area) but am going to pick up with going 4-5 times a week in January.
Secondly, please do keep us posted. It's interesting and inspiring. And I'm so pleased for you.