Exercise Machine Therapy
Exercise Machine Therapy
Physical Therapy & Tens Therapy for Fibromyalgia Patients
Physical Therapy (PT) and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) are often used for treatment for Fibromyalgia patients. Though, they are considered to be conventional treatments, PT and TENS seem more like “alternative” treatments because they are not usually the first options doctors look at when they begin treating FM patients. They commonly load us up with medications before they do anything else. PT and TENS are just two options you and your doctor can consider exploring.
Physical Therapy for Fibromyalgia treatment combines passive modalities (treatment given by a physical therapist) with therapeutic exercise to rehabilitate the musculoskeletal parts of the body. Passive modalities can be heat/cold therapy, massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and joint mobilization. These modalities are an extension of your treatment and are usually used before or after exercise. Therapeutic exercise includes stretching, strengthening, and postural correction to rehabilitate the framework of the body.
Many doctors like to go with conventional therapies first and they will likely suggest physical therapy to start. I have found that some of the techniques are effective for me and others - Well, let's just say, I WON'T BE DOING THOSE AGAIN! Not every therapist is trained properly to deal with Fibromyalgia patients. Some don't seem to understand the type of pain we suffer and that we'd rather be poked with a thousand needles then let them touch us! I say that in good humor, but it is a fact that you may have to go to several different therapists before you find one that won't make you feel even worse than you did. That said, there are many fantastic physical therapists out there!
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is one modality that worked well for me. It uses low-voltage electrical current for pain relief and is usually done in physical therapy under the care of a physical therapist. TENS involves the use of a small battery-powered machine with electrodes that are connected from the machine to your skin. The electrodes are normally placed on the painful area or at a pressure point. This creates a circuit of electrical impulses that travel along nerve fibers.
The electricity from the electrodes stimulates the nerves in an affected area and sends signals to the brain that "scramble" normal pain signals. Another theory is that the electrical stimulation of the nerves may help the body to produce natural pain killers called endorphins, which may block the perception of pain. I have actually had this done for a knee injury I suffered about six years ago and I was surprised at its effectiveness! The therapist would give me a dial to slowly increase the intensity. She had me do it about every five minutes in small degrees. TENS can be done at home after a while if you have the equipment.
TENS is most often used to treat muscle, joint, or bone problems that occur with illnesses such as osteoarthritis or Fibromyalgia, or for conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, tendinitis, or bursitis. TENS has also been used to treat sudden (acute) pain, such as labor pain, and long-lasting chronic pain.
TENS is generally considered safe and it does not hurt, but it may not be for you. One of the most persuasive reasons for prescribing TENS for pain relief is that this therapy has few side effects. TENS can be used indefinitely without the problems associated with prolonged drug use. The most common reported side effect is skin irritation at the site of the electrode. TENS should be used with caution by cardiac pacemaker recipients.
Of course, you need to talk to your doctor about any therapy (conventional or non-conventional) that you'd like to try. Everyone responds differently to different treatments and certain medical conditions might make some therapies dangerous, depending on your medical condition.
About the Author
Erica Thompson is a 40-year-old, Stay-at-Home mom with 3 children and a husband in the military. She was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1995, but suffered from it many years prior to diagnosis and later, diagnosed with Chronic Myofascial Pain, IBS, RLS, migraine & more. She has done extensive research and is an expert based on her own experience, her mother's and her grandmother's. Her goal is to help chronic pain sufferers.
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