Hi Jim @jimmccarl, I've been thinking about Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT) but more for my back. There is a discussion on Myofascial Release Therapy. I'm tagging our moderator @lisalucier to see if we can move your post to the following discussion where you can meet other members discussing MRT.

> Groups > Neuropathy > Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

@artscaping has discussed how myofascial release therapy has helped her neuropathy. I'm looking for a therapist that specializes in MRT that is local to Rochester but have not found one yet. Have you looked into myofascial release therapy to help your neuropathy?

Hi, @jimmccarl - you may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion, "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain." I did this so sharing on this topic would be in one place. Simply click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to get to your post and read through some of the previous posts in this conversation.

I'd like to tag @jenniferhunter @hotfooted @nurseheadakes @artscaping to share further about their experiences with this therapy for neuropathy.

For what symptoms are you particularly seeking relief, @jimmccarl?

@jimmccarl I've been doing myofascial release regularly with my physical therapist for about 5 years, and it has helped me a lot. My pain stems from physical compression and trigger points that prevent the normal movement of the soft tissue, and that can and does cause pain. I have thoracic outlet syndrome that entraps nerves and vessels as they pass through some small spaces in my neck and shoulder. MFR helps, and you have to be patient. It's about unwinding tight dehydrated tissues, restoring the circulation and getting them moving again which then allows the bones and muscles to align properly because they are not pulled out of shape by the fascia.

Recently my arm started hurting again all the time, and yesterday, my PT treated a fascial restriction at the junction of my arm and shoulder blade to the back of the arm pit where muscles from the rib cage, shoulder blades, neck and chest intersect. I am tight from my shoulder through my rib cage to my hips on this side. My PT had an assistant applying light pressure between my ribs and hips, and she pulled my arm up over my head and the fascia was making a tight path through all of that. It was locked and immovable, so she also used cupping, where a cup is placed with suction on the skin to pull on the fascia. With cups attached, I was to move my arm and shoulder through positions that stretched, and doing this relieved all the pain yesterday. It was about a 6 on a scale of 10, and I left that session after an hour with pain reduced to a one, only because there was some tightness left in the shoulder, but it has released enough of the tightness that the nerve in my arm stopped complaining. I've had similar experiences when we only do manual releases. Fascial restrictions are layers that you need to work through. While I was working on the TOS, I developed spinal cord compression from an old injury and had to stop MFR and physical therapy for spine surgery, but having done all the fascial work on my neck made my surgery easier for my doctor because the muscles in my neck moved easily so they could be retracted easily for surgery, and my recovery was easier for me, and I didn't have issues that can be risks of anterior cervical spine surgery. When I was recovered enough, I went back to therapy and MFR helped loosen the surgical scar tissue that causes fascial restrictions. I need to keep that moving correctly because of the proximity to the TOS areas. There is a lot you can do at home for fascial releases after the therapist teaches you how.

Yes. Modifying diet (no sugar, dairy, gluten or processed foods), getting proper sleep, moderate & consistent exercise (assuming no weight issues which are an obvious contributor)....has stopped the progression for me. I have been relentless in finding the root cause, which is critical to a reversal. I’ll also add that I have SFN, which is different the PN in that the small nerves can regenerate. Don’t give up!