Just a short list of symptoms!
My client, Joanna, was referred to me by a friend and fellow therapist from Illinois. I was warned that
she may be a challenging case. With her fibromyalgia, and list of other issues, the treatment would need to be done with very little pressure and keeping the treatment as basic as possible. This isn’t always easy for me with a background in neuromuscular therapy, which is often a deep tissue treatment. But, Joanna is a great client with a good sense of humor, and did not hesitate to remind me if the pressure became to much. We found the treatment level that worked for both of us very quickly!
I recently asked Joanna to give me an update on the long list of issues that she had come in with at the start and this is what she sent me:
When I first came to Jill in February of 2016 I presented with my main problem as fibromyalgia (diagnosed in 2012) amongst many other issues including plantar fasciitis in both feet, patella tendinitis in both knees, my right knee would also give out going up and down stairs quite often, bursitis in both hips, carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, lower back pain in the SI joints, nerve pain going down my arms and legs, my hands and feet fell asleep easily, coccyx (tailbone) pain with a possible hairline fracture, fatigue, headaches, migraines, jaw pain, right shoulder pain with a tear in the AC, as well as having a hard time falling asleep and once I fell asleep I would wake up every hour or so.
After the first visit with Jill, I was very sore but that was to be expected with fibromyalgia. After the soreness wore off I felt relief in my lower and upper back as well as my coccyx and right shoulder. The relief would only last a couple of days though. In the beginning, I was going in once a week with an occasional tune-up for the coccyx pain. After about 4 visits I began to go longer before things would get sore again. It has now been about six months and I am able to go 2 weeks without an appointment.
Although with fibromyalgia, a person has to know their personal limits, and sometimes I really push those – much to Jill’s dismay. I now hardly ever have any problems with my feet or ankles; my right knee still gives me trouble from time to time; my hips have felt 100% for the last 4 months – give or take; I still have some nerve pain, but when it comes it isn’t as harsh; my feet don’t fall asleep while walking or running anymore, but my hands are still giving me some trouble; my coccyx still needs time to heal, but it has gotten a lot better ( I am able to drive for hours straight, with the use of a donut pillow, without it bothering me); I have a headache or migraine maybe once a month, if that, which is a huge change as I was having them every couple days at one point; my right shoulder has completely healed; and I am now able to fall asleep easily and have restorative sleep. I haven’t had a restorative night of sleep for as long as I can remember.
As a 20 year old, looking back on my teenage years, they were full of doctor appointment, chiropractic appointment, and an array of medications for the fibromyalgia and the harmful side effects that came along with it, like anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. I never felt like I was able to live a normal teenaged life because of the pain and the mental state all the medications put me in. I am now off all medications! With the dedicated help of Jill and the Bowen Technique along with Dr. Clint Sexton of Naperville Integrated Wellness and his functional medicine approach, I have never felt better!
Are you ready to find relief from fibromyalgia?
See if we can help you. Call to set up your initial visit and treatment session today!