If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia you know how painful, debilitating and frustrating this disease can be. And if you think you may have it but haven’t been able to get to the bottom of what’s causing your pain, you may be at your wit’s end.
Fibromyalgia is basically widespread chronic pain without a known cause. It’s a label for a pattern of unexplained, stubborn chronic pain that includes head, neck, back and abdominal pain, stiffness, fatigue and mental fog; and yet the biology of fibromyalgia still remains a mystery.
Physical therapy can relieve your symptoms
Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapy can be one of the most effective self-management skills to cope with and greatly reduce your symptoms!
Your PT is your best coach
I’ll be right beside you in your journey, as I encourage and document your progress in aerobic endurance, flexibility, strength and pain levels to make sure the exercises and activities you’re learning to perform are actually managing your symptoms.
In the long run, the goal is for you to be less reliant on me and to make sure that your activity and lifestyle changes become a permanent part of your life. And because each person has individual needs, I tailor my recommendations to what fits you specifically.
My priority is helping you reach your own goals at your own specific pace so you can stay invested in your progress. I understand the emotional toll the pain can take on you and want to help you feel positive and empowered about the ways you can get relief. And if you’re having a bad day, I’ll be there to help you through!
Exercise is medicine
Exercise can successfully reduce stiffness and fatigue, strengthen muscles and increase flexibility and range of motion.
Low-impact aerobic exercise, like walking, swimming, biking and water aerobics, is really helpful for fibromyalgia. This is because these activities build general strength and endurance. Stretching exercises can also relax tight muscles and ease spasms.
To help you even further, I’ll enhance your specific exercise program with treatments like therapeutic massage, heat packs and hydrotherapy.
Dry Needling relief
Using micro-thin needles inserted into muscular trigger points can help relax the muscle spasms that are causing the pain.
Trigger point pain relief Research suggests that dry needling has an effect on the pain signals that come from the brain. One study shows that a trigger point on the right side of the body can be decreased by needling the same muscle on the opposite side of the body, causing an overall decrease in muscle tone on both sides of the body. Dry needling can also improve anxiety and fatigue.
Increased blood supply and oxygen While you may not have trigger points with your fibromyalgia, the muscles often have altered blood supply and oxygen utilization. While dry needling not only relaxes trigger points, it also increases blood flow and oxygenation into the painful, sensitive areas to help relieve the pain.
So, if you’re struggling with fibromyalgia, don’t be dismayed - there is help and hope!
I’d love to work with you to help you manage your fibromyalgia pain and create a therapeutic program tailored just for you. You can call me at 720-320-4212, or email me at info@therecoveryjoint.com to schedule an appointment.
Here’s to your best health!
Dr. Trish PT, DPT