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What can I do about arthritis in neck and lower back?

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Oct 19 1:20pm | Replies (66)
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@loriesco

There is a type of massage therapist who does deep tissue myofascial release. It’s called MFR. There is a section in the forum here that discusses MFR. Spine surgeon recently told me to go do it and I have to pay out-of-pocket, but I should’ve done it many years ago and if One doesn’t get relief from surgery pain from the bones then the muscles are probably the issue. In my case that’s been the problem so I go for MFR twice a month. In addition when I go to physical therapy, I find a physical therapist that also does some MFR or manual work . For a while, Medicare wasn’t paying for them to do that but now it’s covered in my PT. It’s going to be a long slow process to unglue that facia in my case the first several times I went to the MFR therapist I would feel drunk when I left the office and I had to be careful driving home , I was fatigued for two days until the toxins left my body each time I’ve gone. It’s gotten better and better. There’s a lot that’s been gummed up in my body over the years!

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Replies to "There is a type of massage therapist who does deep tissue myofascial release. It’s called MFR...."
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Aug 31 7:20am

Thanks Lorie. Your explanation of MFR was much more elegant than my description of a helpful massage, although I think my masseuse was practicing MFR. At one point, he said he could "feel" when he had created some separation between my rhomboid muscles and my shoulder blade (scapula).

You also raise a good point about why MFR is needed in the first place. Over time, and without adequate stretching or massage, muscles accumulate lactic acid (the by-product of exercise or any exertion, really). Lactic acid has been explained to me as being like Elmer's Glue - sticky, nasty stuff that glues muscle fibers together, and glues muscles to bones.

Because this happens over time, we are scarcely aware of how it affects us. In my case, my rhomboid muscle got tight and painful when I laid down on one side. I just stumbled on a gifted masseuse who did provide some relief.

Thanks again for your explanation. And if anyone reading this does get either an MFR treatment, or even a good, hard deep-tissue massage, drink a lot of water after because a lot of lactic acid is freed up and has to be flushed from the body. And if you can afford it, get this treatment once or twice a month to literally keep things moving.

Joe

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