Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain

Hi @callalloo - this sure is a helpful post. Treatment that actually promotes body movement and rebuilding neuroplasticity. This is right along the lines of how the Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehabilitation Center treats a multitude of chronic pain conditions including chronic back pain.

Here's more on PRC for those who may be interested-

- https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691

@callalloo, how are you doing these days? Have you implemented any of the sensorimotor ideas presented in the link you posted last summer?

My back is fine now. I have four herniated discs in the lumber spine area which like to remind me of their presence every once in awhile with odd twinges or occasional stiffness but otherwise get forgotten about.

My back injury predates the sensorimotor concept but I read a few books by Dr. Sarno on back injuries at the time and decided to follow his concept of rethinking back pain and its origins. And not reduce movement further and further to rest my back. I did a lot of physical therapy and some acupuncture and basically otherwise tried to ignore the back pain unless it was severe. And that protocol helped me not "freeze" in anticipation of "more pain" everytime I had some pain. That is, the lessening of anticipation of more pain made a huge difference.

I recovered enough to skip the surgery two surgeons orthopedic surgeon said that I would have to have or otherwise end up in a wheelchair within a few years. That was 30 years ago and taught me something about trusting the body to accommodate to an injury and possibly find a workaround and a kind of new normal. It also taught me not to worry too much when two orthopedic surgeons give me bad news but to just do some research, not panic, maybe get a third opinion :-).

Thanks for the update on how you're doing. Your words about trusting your body to accommodate an injury, and looking for a work around and new kind of normal, are powerful and so very true. You are a lesson in perseverance 30 years later. Good for you!!

During my time at the Mayo Pain Rehab Center I learned many lessons that your referring to, one being movement and functionality. Dr. Sletten says, "motion is lotion". It's difficult to move, or understand how to move when you have chronic pain and hurt. One concept PRC teaches about chronic pain is:

"Hurt does not equal harm"

You refer to it as freezing - fear of more pain, which leads to more deconditioning. Our brains are capable of relearning and retraining our bodies. That is where our power lies.

Life is sure about learning as we go, isn't it? So glad your back is better.

Psoas muscle tightness

Fascial restrictions can affect anything in the body and I think it's always worth asking the question of my physical therapist anytime something changes. MFR can prevent health problems that would be caused by compression of something. If you compress a nerve enough there is pain, but eventually as the nerve is affected, the muscle that it served withers away. If you compress a blood vessel enough, it either starves part of the body for the blood and oxygen supply, or it pools fluid somewhere with the potential for blot clots. Blot clots can be serious business if they come loose and move through the circulatory system. The human body was meant to move. MFR can get the body back to normal functioning and reduce pain, and also allow the fluids to circulate through the tissues, not only bringing oxygen, but also removing waste products of metabolism. The blood cells are contained within vessels, and the lymph fluid actually is in contact with the cells of the organs and bring the dissolved oxygen directly to the tissues as it can pass through the capillary walls. The body has a system to return the lymph fluid back into the blood stream.

I do a lot of MFR work myself at home to build on what my physical therapist does in my weekly session. She has explained to me how to do this and you learn the feel of it, so you can actually feel the tight pathways, and also feel when the fascia begins to slide and open up. I would encourage you to do a lot of at home work stretching too. I did some this morning... too much sitting at the computer and my low back hurt because my psoas muscles where tight. They connect from the ilium of the pelvis ("hip bone") to the lumbar spine. I laid on my stomach with 2 small balls, one just inside each ilium and waited, then moved the balls and waited until I had worked through all of it. I also twisted my lumbar spine to the right because my left side is tighter while I was on the balls. I also laid on my right side at the edge of the bed and let my left (top) leg hang off the edge to further stretch that area. I probably spent an hour doing that and it relieved my low back pain. I also have a rubber thing called a Sacro Wedgie that I lay on while on my back. it cradles the sacrum to support it in proper alignment and it just uses my body weight to do it. Then I also can reset my pelvis with a move my therapist taught me. It's common to have alignment issues because the pelvis is jointed and has the ability to shift. I pay attention to the length of my stride when I walk, if it is too short, my leg will not extend far enough behind me, and then it is time to stretch and get it working again. You've probably noticed people with very short strides who walk a very short step.

Do you know of a MFR video link ?
It would be wonderful to have a visual aide to use for exercising while at home
Thank you for sharing in-depth explanation , and personal experience
Your incite will help many😊

Thank you. I want to try it for severe foot pain but don't know if MediCare covers it. Do you know of a therapist @ Mayo in Rochester who practices it? What department would he be in? Neurology? Maris.