Fibromyalgia can be a debilitating soft tissue disorder afflicting soft tissue pain and tightness.  It is typically accompanied by impaired sleep, poor memory, and mood issues.

The cause of fibromyalgia is up for debate.  Symptoms sometimes begin after physical trauma, surgery, infection, or a significant psychological stress.  The symptoms tend to gradually accumulate over time without a single triggering event.   Patients often describe a very active lifestyle prior to onset of this disorder.

Treatment for fibromyalgia is limited.  There are medications to help patients cope with the symptoms of the problem: pain medication, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, and mood stabilizing drugs.  Physical therapy in the form of light exercise and stretching can be beneficial.  Stress reduction techniques such as meditation are also helpful.

But what about getting to the root of the problem?   Let’s look at the word “fibromyalgia”.  It means pain in the fibrous tissues.  And the dense, fibrous, connective tissue that spans our body from head to foot is the fascia.  Fascia gets inflamed following surgeries, physical trauma, illness or psychological stress.  And as it becomes inflamed, it tightens down, adhering to structures in its path.  Without addressing this large component of the soft tissue system, the best one can hope for is to manage symptoms.  Why not balance the tissue?

With myofascial release, the soft tissue system goes from a hardened, sticky state to one that is more fluid like in nature.  Layer by layer, as the fascia becomes less and less restricted, the body begins to move with greater ease.  And that means more energy.  Less tension in the body directly correlates to less tension in the mind.  Little by little the “fibro fog” lifts as memory sharpens once again.  The spirits lift as well.  With less tension in the body, the patient finds it easier to shift gears into a more relaxed state where sleep comes more readily.  With less pain and tension, the body can more easily heal itself.

The human body is amazingly resilient.  But every now and then, it might need a hand.   Free up your fascia.  And feel better.