MFR = myofascial release

Excerpt from "mayoclinic.org Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?"
GO TO SITE TO GET MORE INFO (not a long article):
"During myofascial release therapy, the therapist applies light pressure by hand to find myofascial areas that feel stiff instead of elastic and movable. These stiff areas, or trigger points, are thought to limit muscle and joint movements, which can play a part in widespread muscle pain."

A more detailed article, easy to read, well organized:
my.clevelandclinic.org "myofascial release therapy"

In this Cleveland Clinic article, I found the following especially interesting:

Myofascial release therapy may be used to treat many different health conditions.
These conditions include:
• Myofascial pain syndrome: Myofascial pain syndrome causes pain in your connective tissues.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, numbness and weakness in your hands and wrists.
• Low back pain: Low back pain is caused by strain to the muscles and tendons in your back. It causes a decrease in the motion and flexibility of your spine.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: TMJ occurs when the muscles around the joints of your jaw become inflamed.
• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) illness that causes muscle and joint pain.
• Chronic migraines: Chronic migraines cause frequent throbbing headaches.

Lucky me, I check off ALL of those boxes!!!
But what has most affected me within the last two years is my sacral area:
•osteoarthritis
•a painful bulging disc impinging on a nerve which then creates intense right flank pain (definitely affects my ability to move, let alone walk when this area is in warrior mode)
•AND several other issues, all which can make me miserable when everything flares up. My neurosurgeon recommended weeks of therapy first before allowing the "s" word to materialize in our conversations. 😳

I had a specific PT in mind, so I called the center and had a conversation with the office manager. I had PT at that center before, for body parts seriously injured in a nasty body slam onto concrete floor in '21 (note that I said "slam" not "fall" because my body SLAMMED full front onto the hard, concrete floor in a food warehouse store --- not due to clumsiness; I saved my face but damaged my entire left side of my body and traumatized my entire physical and emotional being; still have parts suffering from consequences). Anyway, I had gotten to know the office manager rather well from all the PT that I had there. I told her what my neurosurgeon said, and indicated that I wanted sessions for PT but ONLY if ADRIAN could be my therapist. Adrian is amazing, but as owner/director, he is not there on a daily basis, and when he is, he comes in the afternoon. Kathy said she'd forward the message to him. Adrian agreed to come in to do my PT in the morning hours. He would be the ONLY therapist that I would see, not b/c his staff isn't qualified (they all are) but because I knew that he has lots of extended training and experience. Bottom line: He did an extensive, thorough pre-treatment exam and interview. Explained what he proposed, we discussed it, and I became his very grateful patient. My pain level at our first therapy session was an 8 out of 10. The wonderful moist heat came first. Then came the hands-on massage of my lumbar area and hips (especially focusing on the right flank). He was very gentle, and we communicated throughout so he would know if any specific touch/massage caused pain. Then he did something I never had before: It literally felt like he was kneading bread dough. I use that analogy b/c I have years of experience with bread doughs, and Adrian deftly used the heel of his palms as well as the full surface of his hands to gently knead my sacral area. It felt GOOD, not painful. With my okay, he applied just a tad more pressure. Next step: he used a heated instrument (I believe it was an ultrasound handheld device). That felt so soothing. How'd I feel at the end of all that? My level of pain had decreased to a do-able 6, and I could walk with less stabbing nerve pain from sacral area to the hip flank. Adrian warned me not to overdo and to call him if I had concerns. But I had no concerns, only words of gratitude because after another session like the first, my pain was down significantly. The sacral area is never without pain due to the nature of my problems with the spine, the nerves, the osteoarthritis. BUT walking was not something to be dreaded, I could involve my right leg without flinching, etc. In subsequent sessions, he had other great devices that he has invested into his PT facility, and they were integrated alternately, including a device resembling a large weight scale. I'd stand on it with sock covered feet, relaxed while the sensations of gentle vibrations went from feet and up my body for 10 minutes. There were exercises that I was shown but due to problems with my entire left leg, they presented degrees of pain. Adrian adapted them for me and scrapped two in particular. Did the horrid high level pain ever return? Of course. But that's due to other issues that I'm dealing with. I presently am not in PT with Adrian, had to stop back in December due to CNS disorders making me feel overall exhaustion and body pain (and "unwellness"), so we agreed that I needed to stop for a while.

PT is an investment in yourself, in your wellbeing. It takes investment of time and the "m" word: money. My husband drives me there (a 15 minute one way, half hour round trip), and he prefers to wait. (Yes, I love and appreciate all that he does for me💝.). Then there's the unavoidable co-pay, which on my insurance plan is a hefty $35 per specialist visit (I'm not griping though, my friend pays $50!). The one good thing about all the medical care that I had in 2024: I met my deductible in early July, so ALL my doctors and PT were in essence "free" since NO co-pays from July all the way through to the end of the year.
And yes, I do intend to return to PT, and again with Adrian.😊