Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain

@loriesco Thanks for letting me know about our friend connection. I don't limit my painting time. If I get tired and need a break, I take one. I don't paint all the time every day. When I ride my horse, I actually do a lot of "physical therapy" with that and it makes my posture so much better and stronger, unless I do something or my horse trips badly. That did happen recently and my neck and shoulders have been hurting a bit because I dropped the reins and had both hands on the saddle. My neck movement is pretty much the same as it was before surgery, and my fusion was C5/C6 done with no hardware and only a bone graft. I imagine having rods C3 to T2 is going to limit your movement significantly and wear you out while you are painting. Anything where you have to look down (like the sidewalk art) is probably exhausting. It would be for me. The best way to paint with less fatigue is to use good ergonomic posture and try to keep your neck straight. I would think that working on smaller pieces is probably a lot easier, and you'd get more done before fatigue sets in.

One year after a big neck surgery is not a lot of recovery time. At one year, I still had fatigue. I wore a neck brace for 3 months, so my neck was weak and that was exhausting. I think you are right to listen to your body, but don't believe that is your maximum recovery. It may be too early to tell. You need to find a balance between rehab exertion and stretching out the tight muscles. If rehab is making your muscles rock hard, maybe that is too much. I can cause neck pain and spasms easily because I have thoracic outlet syndrome, and my neck is tighter on one side. That is something I'm always stretching, and mostly on my own because getting PT on Medicare is very limited unless it's for something that is textbook mainstream rehab.

Having a whiplash when your C1-C3 is doing the whip movement isn't good because that top end of the spine is so vulnerable. If you get muscle spasms affecting those levels and how your skull sits on your spine, it can cause issues like vertigo, and you don't need extra pressure there that may lead to future disc problems. Do everything you can to protect that and keep it functional. I do think MFR on your surgical scar can help, and also to loosen up all the tight shoulder and neck muscles. Your rehab PT may need to lower the expectations. At some point, you'll stop going for that, and you'll be left with the hard muscles and spasms.

I periodically stretch my surgical scar on the front of my neck and it pulls down in to my chest and ribs. If that gets tight, it can limit my lung function. I still have some deeper rock hard muscles in my neck, but generally, it is more supple and looser than before my surgery. You don't know how much surgical scar tissue tightness is affecting you until you get it loosened and take the pressure off. You might be able to work on the back neck scar tissue by leaning up against a block on a wall or doorway and trying to stretch by pushing against it. Laying on a foam roller with airplane arms may help. Ask your MFR therapist for suggestions. Don't put direct pressure on your neck, but have the block along your back if that helps.

I'm glad you're painting. That is good healing therapy for your mind and body!

A car accident triggered me into fibromyalgia over 40 years ago. The “treatment “ then was to have me see a psychologist and take lots of Ibuprofen. Neither worked-I stay far away from most drugs. I am getting myofascial therapy once a week. It is great. I have chronic pain and bone on bone knees from being too long on steroids for Crohn’s. Add in recent diagnosis of heart failure. I could fill in a page of autoimmune diseases but won’t. The latest seems to be constipation. I take Benefiber at night per Gastro doc but I’ve been eating a few dried prunes on my own. I’m always somewhere between soft loose bowels or marbles. Feeling bloated and gassy . Going to try adding more water-not very good at that. Maybe try 2 Benefiber a day as I can’t tolerate many vegetables even cooked or peeled. Cramps and diarrhea. I take multiple supplements and my bloodwork is always good. In remission with Crohn’s taking Humira every 2 weeks.
The Myofascial Therapy has been a blessing mentally and physically. Even my knees feel better -also bought new shoes and had inserts added so back feels better and feet. I’ll try anything to alleviate my chronic pain except more drugs. I’m saving them for when I can’t control the pain anymore. Hopefully, by then, if I need drugs, I’ll be able to get along with smaller dosages to be able to stay coherent. These chronic conditions are challenging and really distort living. I pray, too, and know it helps. Don’t be shy in asking trusted others to pray for you and you pray for others. I try to stay mentally engaged in living my best life in spite of 24/7 pain. It took several years before I convinced my rheumatologist to prescribe Myofascial Therapy. Prior to that , I had experienced relief from it 40 years ago but no one listened to me as I asked for it repeatedly. Finally! I know others are using a variety of drugs and it works for them-great. Myofascial Therapy is a hands on blessing for me. I do have a low dose “pain” pill as a back up for sleep. I may take 1-2 a month. Some months not at all. So, do what works for you and I appreciate everyone’s input. It helps not to feel alone.

I agree that myofascial therapy can be a good thing but only if it’s done correctly. Many years ago I had therapy for my back and myofascial release was part of it. It was wonderful help. We moved and I again had physical therapy. This therapist worked so hard that it was painful. The next morning my husband asked what I did as I had a HUGE bruise on my lower back. When I had my next therapy appointment I asked not to have that therapist. Not all therapists are skilled in this area.

I'm receiving this now under Rx from my surgeon as I recover from tongue cancer.

@sandy8043 That's great! I know MFR helps me a lot. I hope it helps you too.

After 10 years of trying all the medical advice solutions, the one thing that has helped my post TKR pain, has been my own myofascial release. I use the small Bob and Brad massage gun on the painful spots in the thigh and calf muscles. I have found trigger points even at the very top of my leg that are contributing to my knee pain. The website, triggerpoints.net, is helpful in identifying trigger points causing referred pain. I had a similar experience with my arm after rotator cuff surgery. The pain comes back and you have to repeat the process but eventually they don't come back. I hope someone finds this useful.

Good grief. That is some list. Thanks. Hugs, CB

@cb3 MFR is very beneficial. It's all about relieving restrictions and allowing the body to move as it should.

That was a great list of problems caused by MPS.

@dream1649 Are you referring to the list of issues in the first post that myofascial release can help?