Sandy Collins

There is quite a lot of thought around fibromyalgia being trauma related. I would suggest the possibility of working with the “trauma” model – Peter Levine’s Waking the Tiger. Also I think a good acupuncturist might be able to help systemically.

Bill Morrow

I am in the same office with other practitioners, an osteopath and a naturopath. They mentioned a surgery that has, in some cases, been successful in relieving fibromyalgia. Somewhere somebody figured out that the foramen magnum is closer to one side of the spinal cord than the other, meaning it is shifted right or left. What they do is surgically widen the hole, thus relieving the irritation. I have noticed this on several of the fibro people I have worked on, and people with upper neck and back tension in general who don’t respond to other treatment. I spend lots of time getting the head repositioned. You also have to address the imbalances in the shoulder girdle and ribs as well. If you can get some space in the base of the skull it can give them a considerable amount of relief. Warn them about the headaches after the session. I don’t know why, but for some reason when the tension starts to release it can cause a good headache for a day or two.

Bob Robinson

With mild to moderate fibromyalgia I have had really good results. One does have to be careful not to irritate or exacerbate things. I simply start very cautiously, lightly, and see what happens. If a very light session does not cause much “flare-up,” then the next session I might work deeper if needed. I proceed with overall structural work while working locally to reduce pain and inflammation in areas of complaint. General rule of thumb is not to do anything that causes increased soreness for over 24 hours following the session. Often over aseries of sessions we are able to progress to very deep direct work.

Sheila Toal

I have FM and I agree with Bob’s approach. I have had it for about six years. Rolfing” may still cause a flare up but my attitude is different about it now.

A second pass along an area is much more painful than the first. I often ask that the Rolfer try and get it the first time if possible. Slow, slow, slow.

Be wary of recommending stretches or yoga to a FM client. It can really, really hurt. They need to go really slow and at their own pace.

Often my tissue seems stringy and dry. Deep work really helps to re hydrate me and get the fluids moving in general.

I used to have a lot of anxiety before and during a session. Rolfing has helped decrease my anxiety in general.

Steve Collins

I agree with Bob that caution is the watchword to use when working with FM. I have had success in using ANS work as a main ingredient to the sessions. The clients I have seen usually have pretty significant structural issues that have been initiated by some type of traumatic incident. Deep, direct work can proceed as the nervous system detunes.

Russell Stolzoff

One thing I like to keep in mind is the idiosyncratic nature of the constellation of symptoms called fibromyalgia. In spite of insightful attempts to understand causes, I believe it is not a disease with a well-known process. In other words, this diagnostic term has been created from a set of symptoms. A qualifying number of these symptoms begets the diagnosis, and each person will manifest the syndrome quite differently. Hence, response to treatment will also be highly individualized.

I think you cannot realistically predict what effect Rolfing will have on fibromyalgia. Reasonably accomplishing the structural and functional goals of Rolfing may, or may not, positively affect the fibro symptoms and could even cause worsening of the symptoms. One step forward, two steps back is not uncommon at all! There are many factors to this syndrome, yet I have found that Rolfing, or at least the skills I can bring, of which Rolfing is a significant part, have been helpful for some folks with the fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Without making case-specific recommendations I suggest staying open to doing what works, inside or outside of the ten sessions. Consider giving them a broader frame for your work and describe your role as being able to possibly provide part of the unique solution that they will need to discover in order to become well. Don’t discourage them, but don’t provide false hopes. Monitor their responses to your work. Help them to sense their body and understand what you perceive about them.

Jon Martine

It is indeed a complex condition, requiring a considerable investment of attention and patience to come to terms and isolate the relevant issues. Support from many areas is often needed to overcome the symptoms (lifestyle changes, nutrition, acupuncture, stress management, Osteopathy, Cranial Sacral, Homeopathy). I tend to work slowly and have shorter sessions and suspend expectation. It is most important to communicate with the client. Some days the work can bring relief and other days a flare-up, just like with exercise and stretching. It is a wonderful opportunity for the person to increase body awareness, slow down and track their symptoms.

Marilyn Beech

I just read an article about aspartame (NutraSweet). There are those who feel the formaldehyde that it breaks down into causes a multitude of evils, among them fibromyalgia symptoms. When asked to abandon artificial sweeteners, the people in the study lost their symptoms.

Michael Vilain

To summarize, fibromyalgia isn’t in the tissue, it’s in the nervous system. Slow, energetic, core level work will help lower the stimulation and favor the parasympathetic.