Case study: Psoriatic arthritis
I first saw this client in August 2024 and they have been coming for regular treatment since to help manage tension and pain associated with psoriatic arthritis. I am inspired by their commitment to their health and wellbeing, and to finding a path of more ease in their body.
Some clients present with symptoms that can be alleviated with just a few sessions. For others it can be a longer journey of gently working through layers. Every body is different, and we meet each one where they are at, without forcing. The job of the therapist is to support the body to let go.
The John Barnes approach to myofascial release separates us from the labels of conditions and symptoms. We treat the whole human being, which includes the physical, mental and emotional bodies. They are all part of the whole and are inextricably connected.
What was your primary reason for booking your first Myofascial Release (MFR) treatment?
I have had psoriatic arthritis since 2002 (finally diagnosed in 2019) and have tried lots of different treatments, exercises, devices and approaches. Before I saw Katie, one of the best treatments I had was osteopathy which combined some myofascial release. I was therefore very curious to try more of that, and Katie came very highly recommended.
What other therapies or activities have been helpful?
Over the years I have tried many types of massage, osteopathy, chiropractic, physiotherapy, reflexology acupuncture, acupressure, Pilates, yoga, swimming, TENS machines...the list goes on.
In terms of the other treatments, such as osteopathy, I found they gave me relief from my pain in the short term, but I gleaned little to no long term relief.
I have found Pilates helpful in that I am hypermobile, and building strength around my joints and in my core certainly seems to protect me from hurting myself in daily life. For example, I am far less likely to twist my ankles since I started Pilates!
In terms of pain relief though, very little seemed to have any ongoing impact, in terms of the chronic pain, until I tried myofascial release with Katie.
How did you feel after your first MFR session?
I think, if you are used to other sorts of therapies, such as chiropractic, myofascial release can seem a bit mystifying at first! Very little seems to happen; the therapist is incredibly patient with your body, is not seeking dramatic 'clicks' and crunches. It can seem, at first, like nothing is happening. This isn't the case, at all, and that becomes clear with repeated treatments.
Some of the ways my body has responded to the treatments has surprised me. For example, sometimes my body will twitch and jerk unexpectedly, or I will feel a pain or sensation in a completely different part of the body to the one Katie is working on. I will communicate this with her, and it is so interesting to work out how different things, such as tightness in one area, can lead to referred pain in another!
I was immediately intrigued by this very different sort of therapy, as well as finding it gave me immediately partial relief from some of my pain. I also found the experience soothing and relaxing, as Katie put me completely at ease, as did the lovely surroundings of her therapy room.
What changes have you noticed since starting MFR treatments and what have you learned?
What struck me after a few sessions was that, although I still suffer pain after I have experienced some of my triggers, such as excessive standing, sitting or stress, I tend to recover more quickly now. I do think this is because the fascia has started to be reshaped, perhaps reprogrammed almost, rather than being stuck and problematic.
I think the sessions also really help me tune in with what is going on with my body, both in the sessions themselves but also outside of them. I am quicker to notice if a position I am holding is hurting me, and to make adaptation where possible, which can lead to some damage limitation!
When you're in pain for years, it kind of makes sense to separate yourself from your body sensations in a way, as a coping mechanism. I think Katie's treatments have helped me inhabit my body in a way that is more mindful and aware. This has to be a good thing!
I have certainly felt emotional during some of my treatments; the huge causal link between mental and physical pain has never been more obvious to me than since starting this treatment. I have sometimes cried, which has been a different sort of release, and have been so grateful to Katie for providing a truly safe and nurturing place for this expression and healing to occur.
How is Myofascial Release different to other therapies you've tried?
I am a very impatient person in life, especially with myself. I notice our culture encourages impatience in all of us; we want instant gratification, simple cures and solutions, and feel short-changed when we do not get them.
Myofascial release asks us to slow down and surrender. It asks us to take an hour of our time to truly listen to what our bodies are telling us, and also our minds.