Curious about fibromyalgia clients - a poll

[Wowshi]

I've only worked on 2 fibro clients so far. If you've worked on them before what kind of clients are they? Chatty? Stiff? Are they able to relax? I'm just curious what kind of experiences you've had with them?

 

[Shylah]

IME,

Fibro clients are ALL different.

I have had some that can handle deep pressure and others that can barely handle swedish.

They might be able to take pressure one treatment and not the next.

I have some that will have one issue that sticks around for months and then switch to something completely different.

I have some that are chatty others that are not. Some don't want scents others do. Some handle stress well others don't.

Some of the similar things with most:

• Horribly tight cervicals, TP's, and poor ROM
  Problems with hips and legs
  Tight Trapezius
  Arm/shoulder issues

 

[Person]

I agree 100% with Masthera. You just have to listen to your client and see what is best for them. They are all different and it isn't always according to the textbook. Some have horrible trigger points that need to be relieved with deep pressure and it is tollerated, while others can barely deal with even light pressure.

 

[Headswirl]

Is there any body type that is consistent among them? Personality type? Behavior trait?

 

[PICKLES]

My observations...

I specialize in working with people who have fibromyalgia. Over half of my clients have it. Every fibromyalgia client is very different. Unique in every way. But I have observed some things that they do have in common...

They all have at least 11 of the 18 tender points characteristic of fibromyalgia. (Tender points are different from trigger points.)

They are all sensitive to smells and sounds and light.

They all have trouble sleeping.

Most have IBS.

Even though they are all very different in their preferences, they all KNOW what they need. So listen carefully and they will tell you how to do the massage.

-Melody

 

[Satan Claws]

I guess I'm not explaining myself or getting to the point.

I have worked on 2 fibro clients. This, by no means, qualifies me to generalize. Indeed, far from it. But both seemed to have control issues. They couldn't 'let go'. I'm saying this not as a statement of their condition or causal factors but just as a casual observation. I'm wondering if anyone else has picked up on this.

 

[Sommer]

letting go

It's very difficult to "let go" when one is constantly tense from pain that never seems to go away. So, of course fibromyalgia clients will be more tense than most. You have to build a level of trust with them. And the best way that I have found to do that is to listen carefully to what they need.

For example... If they say, "I do not like my legs to be touched." Don't go anywhere near their legs. Don't assume that you can be gentle enough. They know better.

They live with this pain, day in and day out. They are accutely aware of it, and they usually know exactly what they need when they come in for a massage. Listen to them and they will learn to trust you. And when they trust you, they will begin to let go.

This is a webpage that may help you understand fibromyalgia better...
http://www.sover.net/~devstar/define.htm

-Melody

 

[ChristianR]

Thanks. I'll take a look at it.

 

[Dr. Tabas]

I guess I'm not explaining myself or getting to the point.

I have worked on 2 fibro clients. This, by no means, qualifies me to generalize. Indeed, far from it. But both seemed to have control issues. They couldn't 'let go'. I'm saying this not as a statement of their condition or causal factors but just as a casual observation. I'm wondering if anyone else has picked up on this.

I think I know what you mean, I have wondered if most of fibro clients are the "type A" personality...most of my fibro clients are.

 

[LuYengpo]

I have worked on 2 fibro clients. This, by no means, qualifies me to generalize. Indeed, far from it. But both seemed to have control issues. They couldn't 'let go'. I'm saying this not as a statement of their condition or causal factors but just as a casual observation. I'm wondering if anyone else has picked up on this.

Of my "new to massage clients" they are the one's who are more controlling and tense.

I have a few that have done massage for many years and they are no issues of needing to let go.

Personally, I have enough tender points and other symptoms to be diagnosised with Fibro. I can say that I definetly am a control freak. I love stability, but I have learned to "let go".

Melody said it well. It is hard to let go when you are in constant discomfort.

 

[Lu-chan]

I hate to make assumptions but it's almost like I know exactly how they keep house. Perfect. Again, I don't know these people but they just seemed to have their emotions so in check.

I know I'm venturing into an area where an MT shouldn't go, psychoanalyzing clients, but I can't help but wonder about my clients.

 

[RadTech - BAS RT(R)(ARRT)]

I know I'm venturing into an area where an MT shouldn't go, psychoanalyzing clients, but I can't help but wonder about my clients.

i know what you mean. but if you let yourself go there, you may interfere (mentally) with your intent (the massage itself) to help them.

 

[Coach S]

I hate to make assumptions but it's almost like I know exactly how they keep house. Perfect. .

...or the opposite. Can't get it perfect, so just let it go completely. Have to clear a space at the table to place your plate; walk on the paths b/t the clutter.

 

[Pompal 09.]

My 2 cents and a recent interesting experience....

All the fibromyalgia clients I have encountered are women who are wound up very tight and seem to have control issues. My impression is that they were like that before the diagnosis of fibro and have now entered a vicious circle where one feeds on the other.

Recently while massaging a client with fibro I noticed that her torso was very, very hot and her extremities (arms & legs) were cold. She also told me that she required very light pressure. I massaged her lightly at first, but then had an AH HA moment and thought about opening up energy pathways down her arms & legs because it seemed like everything was stuck and bouncing around in her body. So with my very limited knowledge of Shiatsu points (I am only a few weeks into certification) I pressed into a few (that I remembered as master points) as I encoutered them in my Swedish work. The extremities started to warm up and I was able to use a pressure such that I could now feel the muscles under my hands. The client was thrilled!

Has anyone else noticed obvious temperature variations in your fibro clients?

 

[tutuy2004]

Very interesting. The two clients I've worked on are country club wives, very sweet but seemed to be wound up tight, even though some of the muscles weren't. Sure, there was tightness in the traps, hips and legs but not to the extent that I would expect. Both were able to take fairly moderate pressure.

What it felt like to me was like they really needed to literally scream their lungs out but they are stifling and holding it in.

Shiatsu huh? I'll look into it.

 

[gwen s]

Fibromyalgia is a very misunderstood condition.

Be careful not to draw conclusions too quickly. It is not easy living in constant pain. It affects every aspect of their lives. They are constantly judged by friends, family and coworkers. Their massage therapist should be one of the people in their lives who doesn't judge them.

 

[ghyukilofr]

You're right. Sometimes I think I try to look for quick and easy answers.

 

[Lone Wolf]

My observations...

They all have at least 11 of the 18 tender points characteristic of fibromyalgia. (Tender points are different from trigger points.)

They are all sensitive to smells and sounds and light.

They all have trouble sleeping.

Most have IBS.


-Melody

In my practice, I have noted that all have suffered a traumatic event within 1-2yrs of their diagnosis. What type of traumatic event:
divorce
severe accident
menopause (traumatic for some)
severe illness
nervous breakdown
physical, emotional or sexual abuse

I have also noted that the majority are classic type A personalities.

Please keep in mind, this is what I have experienced in my practice. I am in no way suggesting the above "events" were a precursor to illness or if these are a result of fibro going undiagnosed. The information presented above is the result of a client intake form. No psychoanalysis was necessary. Since I am not qualified in that area, that was not a problem :

 

[Timmay]

thanks for the info. Just goes to show that nothing can happen to the psyche without it affecting the body as well. And vice versa.

 

[pretty woman]

How often do you have a male fibromyalgia client and how do they differ from females?

Do your fibromyalgia clients receive regular body work or do yoga, meditation, etc to manage their condition?

I have had a handful of people come in andd state that they have fibromyalgia, but none of my regular clients suffer from this condition. Most have been women, but I have 2 men who told me they had it. Also, most of them expressed a need to have regular bodywork and one even told me she was considering going to a MT who specialized in fibro. The problem with that is that most were experiencing there 1st or 2nd massage and even though they were saying otherwise, I didn't feel they were committed to getting regular bodywork or attempting to manage daily stress in a more efficient manner. (I live in a college town and most were young, female college students).