Osteopathy for Fibromyalgia Syndrome & Other Chronic Pain Conditions

Osteopathy (known as OMM osteopathic manipulative medicine in the U.S.),  stresses  the connection between all organ systems of the body, specifically focusing on the Musculoskeletal System, and its function throughout the entire body to unify the circulatory, nervous, endocrine, immune, and musculoskeletal systems to function one cohesive unit.  This, combined with good dietary and /or exercise prescription can enhance a fibromyalgia (FM) patient's well being.  It is also said to be helpful in treating FM’s over-lapping conditions as well (i.e., CFS, CMP or MPS, IBS & others).  In most countries osteopathy uses a more holistic approach and the use of a range of manual and physical treatment interventions.

Early intervention by an osteopath allows probable sources of referred pain to be identified, making it possible for you to change to your lifestyle now to avoid the inevitable pain later on.  Osteopaths can offer prevention advice such as stretching exercises, lifting techniques, posture, breathing and stress reduction, so that individuals can maintain their own health.

OMM can be helpful in treating anterior knee pain, asthma, epicondylitis, tendonitis, impingement syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders, thoracic outlet syndrome, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), headaches, back and neck pain, heel/ foot pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome and vertigo. It can also be an effective complementary treatment for anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia (FM), osteoarthritis, shin splints, tennis elbow, repetitive strain injury, degenerative disc disease, sinusitis, herniated disc, chronic obstructive lung disease, pneumonia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, Bell's palsy, pregnancy and childbirth, and premenstrual syndrome.

Osteopaths are thoroughly educated about the placement of bones and muscles and how they perform in relation to each other.  Touch is used to locate any misalignments in your muscles, ligaments, or joints.  Techniques such as deep tissue massage and joint manipulation are then used to rectify misalignments in order to recover the patient’s function and mobility. Your body has a natural healing ability that is impaired when your musculoskeletal system is not functioning properly.  Once identified and alignment problems  are treated, your body will be able to heal itself more efficiently. FM patients need to make sure that the therapist has an understanding of fibromyalgia because each therapy is specifically designed for the individual.  Certain therapies may aggravate your symptoms where the same therapy may be tolerable or beneficial for someone else.

Poor posture can be a key element in FM and CMP symptoms.  Your osteopath will show you how to improve your posture in order to avoid putting as much strain on your muscles and joints as possible.  If you have bad posture, it can generate new trigger points in CMP patients and they are easily irritated once they are developed.  The trigger point needs to be released and stopped from coming back.

Joint manipulation can relieve pressure on nerve endings, release muscle tension and loosen up the joints for ease of movement. The key to joint manipulation is that you (the patient) relax as much as possible.  The more tense you are, the less likely it is that your joints can be manipulated.

Osteopathy treatment may also include therapies such as acupuncture, laser therapy, and relaxation training.

Osteopathy is a university course, which includes a degree and masters qualification.  An osteopath is licensed to prescribe medication and also perform surgery. You can find an osteopath in local hospitals, private practices, community health clinics, academic medical centers, and military hospitals.  Basically, anywhere one would expect to find a doctor.

Talk to your primary physician about any therapy you might be considering.  Your doctor can help you decide what therapies/treatment options are best for you.