Fibromyalgia Treatment

At Body Back-Up we offer specialist treatment for fibromyalgia at our London and Maidenhead clinics with leading osteopath Robin Lansman. Robin is a former Institute of Osteopathy president, coach, and speaks often on BBC TV and radio about osteopathy and staying healthy.

Fibromyalgia and the resulting pain are very real, and we offer a physical therapy approach to fibromyalgia treatment which may help where more medicinal approaches have failed. Our osteopathic treatment works by breaking the pain-tension cycle, releasing muscles and joints which have built up tension as a result of pain. This enables your body to relax and function more freely, reducing pain and improving your mental health and quality of life.

At our London clinic we work closely with the medical staff at Doctor Today, allowing us preferential access to services such as blood tests and x-rays where necessary. We also provide expert treatment for many of the symptoms resulting from fibromyalgia, such as back pain, shoulder pain and neck pain, and offer Lifestyle Medicine with specialist pharmacist Karen Neil, giving you an opportunity to have a much more in-depth and holistic assessment of your current condition and treatment plan than is typically available from your GP.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-term) condition which can cause pain and muscle stiffness all over the body. The physical symptoms can often lead to other symptoms such as tiredness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty to think clearly, and depression. Fibromyalgia typically affects women aged 30-50. The causes of fibromyalgia are unclear, but it can arise following a physically or emotionally stressful event.

Fibromyalgia can be an extremely debilitating condition, often co-existing with other conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines. In order to maintain quality of life and good mental health, it is essential to be proactive in seeking out effective treatment for fibromyalgia that will combat both the pain and the underlying physical conditions, and help you to stay positive.

Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia easily lead to a cycle of pain. Pain and stiffness leads to inactivity and muscle weakness, which in turn leads to less engagement in physical activities which were previously enjoyed. As these activities drop off mental health suffers, as does sleep, making it much more difficult to find the energy and focus to seek activities and treatment which combat the symptoms and break the pain cycle.

Treatments for fibromyalgia often deal with the surface symptoms but do nothing to combat the underlying chronic cycle. Painkillers such as amitriptyline, antidepressants and talking therapies are all very important, but do not break the physical cycle of pain and inactivity. What is required for effective treatment is to address the problem at its root, and professional guidance in designing a bespoke treatment plan with clear goals that can be achieved without feeling demoralised.

Osteopathy for fibromyalgia takes a different approach to simply masking pain or learning to deal with the symptoms, and focuses instead on breaking the pain cycle by targeting the underlying physical problems. Where tension has accumulated in the body as a result of pain, an osteopathic approach targets this tension directly by releasing and relaxing muscles and joints that have tightened as a result of pain.

For example, it is common to experience pain and stiffness in the shoulder, neck and back as the body tightens up in response to chronic pain. You may also experience Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which can lead to symptoms such as pins and needles in the arms and hands due to tension in the ribs, chest and neck. Osteopathic treatment targets these conditions directly, releasing the stiffness and creating a tangible physical improvement. This in turn allows other parts of the body to relax, reducing pain and improving mental health.

Osteopaths are Allied Health Professionals who also work in musculoskeletal departments of the NHS, and First Contact Practitioners, able to refer you to another service when osteopathy is not the most appropriate method of treatment.

You might also want to take a look at our first visit expectations to see what to expect on your first visit to an osteopath, and this article about osteopathy and chiropractic on Fibromyalgia Action UK.

We have clinics in West Hampstead and Maidenhead and offer specialist fibromyalgia treatment with leading osteopath Robin Lansman. We are registered with the General Osteopathic Council, and offer treatment in accordance with NICE guidelines.

At the heart of Robin’s fibromyalgia approach is to set achievable goals and make a tangible, measurable difference to your physical condition and pain level. Body Back-Up operate a 6-step treatment process and Robin will ensure you are listened-to and involved in every stage of your treatment, jointly setting targets and working towards a life less affected by pain. You should notice an improvement from the first session, and if for any reason osteopathic treatment is unlikely to be effective in your case, we will refer you to a more appropriate service. We can also advise on lifestyle factors that will help your condition – such as workstation setup if you are currently working – and also offer online video consultations if you wish to obtain a professional and confidential diagnosis without attending a clinic.