I wonder if this is a cause of cfs or a result of having to lie down a lot?
I doubt it, although development of the spine does relate to behaviour while we are growing
Early on in his book Perrin links osteochondritis (an inflammatory cartilage/bone disorder) affecting osteopathic formation) to the high degree of correlation between people who have very active childhoods and people who go on to develop ME/CFS
The whole spine, though... It looks so odd to me
I have been to see Dr. Perrin and also had a 2nd and 3rd opinion from other osteopaths on my spinal architecture. All have agreed it is rather ‘ideosyncratic’ shall we say, or “all wrong” as Perrin put it!
I have a flat thoracic and pronounced curvature of the cervical spine, with a forward head position and a long neck. I believe this has implications for lymphatic drainage yes, but more importantly is a source of neuromuscular tension as per the recent hypothesis of Dr. Rowe
In my own hypothesis, an extension of the work of such researchers, I am exploring the relationship between such anatomic abnormalities, nerve tension, neurogenic sensitisation, inflammatory neuropeptides and cytokine activity, and sickness behaviour associated with ME/CFS
It’s all rather theoretical, and probably beyond the pay grade of a layman like me, but for my money it all points to a structural/physiological underpinning in a significant proportion of patients
Currently experimenting with different postures during day and night to see if I can’t influence the sensitisation I believe is taking place (having experimented rather too much with nerve mobilisation and wound my system up no end!)
I also have lot of constant tenderness and pain at the thoracic spine area
Recommend Perrin technique massage and/or careful/sensitive application of techniques to ease neuromuscular tension e.g. myofascial release and functional technique, as well as other relevant techniques from neurological physiotherapy
I wonder what would happen if I could somehow clear the tenderness/pain in that area that seems to be so stagnant and/or congested?
I've done exactly that over the past 18 months, hasn't cured me but has certainly improved the feeling of congestion/inflammation and 'cranky back' as I used to call it (myalgia, particularly upper back)
if you can do some excercises for the thoracic and shoulder area there are some on this site. They do help reduce the swelling and tenderness but not easy when you are fatigued
You've just reminded me I should really get round to documenting the routine I now do! Must do a youtube clip
I think spinal twists and bends contribute to CFS and Fibromyalgia, but that CFS has the viral component causing different symptoms than Fibromyalgia.
Personally I'm not sure the viral element is necessary in the classification of ME/CFS as such (many of us have slow onset, and some, including myself, can retrospectively identify clear signs of slow onset prior to an acute onset event - when the illness 'goes nuclear')
I definitely get the impression that our symptoms probably wouldn't be nearly as numerous/severe, and the condition nearly as intractable, were it not for the complicating effects of chronic infection however
I am getting really sway-backed, but I assume it is from lack of exercise. I used to have a horse and my mother could tell how much I had been riding by how swayed my back was. (More sway = less riding)
I know a number of people who have ME/CFS who are/were riders - so I hate to say it but I rather think the opposite relationship may be true (in young riders)