Fibromyalgia Sufferers
We have seen several "miraculous" recoveries from fibromyalgia sufferers in our programs. There is very little known about the condition and as of yet and very little research done on mind/body exercises in the treatment of fibromyalgia. However subjective evidence and studies [1] are pointing to the fact that mind/body exercise such as Shou' Shu' Chi Kung and our regular Shou' Shu' programs can have an incredible therapeutic effect for FMS sufferers.
Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and tactile allodynia. Studies have shown that stress is a significant precipitating factor in the development of fibromyalgia,and that PTSD is linked with fibromyalgia. The Amital study found that 49% of PTSD patients fulfilled the criteria for FMS, compared with none of the controls. Stress can alter the function of the HPA axis and change cortisol levels in the body, leading to widespread pain.
An alternate hypothesis regarding the development of fibromyalgia in relationship to stress proposes that the disorder may be a psychosomatic illness has been described by John E. Sarno's "tension myositis syndrome", which hypothesizes that chronic pain is caused by the mind's subconscious strategy of distracting painful or dangerous emotions. Education, attitude change, and in some cases, psychotherapy are proposed as treatments.
Because fibromyalgia is stress related Shou' Shu' training can also be extremely helpful at treating it. We've seen several instances of near complete recoveries from fibromyalgia sufferers in which the sufferer completely attributes the recovery to training in Shou' Shu'.
Unfortunately most fibromyalgia sufferers would not consider training in Shou' Shu'. It takes a great deal of education to convince them of it. We hope to be able to develop education in this area to assist fibromyalgia sufferers with recovery.
References
Shou' Shu' and Fibromyalgia - Subjective Evidence
A collection of stories from FMS sufferers who have had recoveries through studying Shou' Shu' or Shou' Shu' Chi Kung
Fibro Fighters
The problem with this subject is that I have too much to say on it, and all of it subjective. I don’t want to ramble on for pages about my own experience, but I don’t want to just let it lie either.
Shun Shifu Weaver has referred several times to anecdotal reports of people with fibromyalgia having strong positive responses to Shou Shu training.
I was/am one of those people.
My brief history: I was a competition hang glider pilot who flew aggressively on many mountain sites in the western united states. Due to the nature of the sport, I crashed a lot. Due to the nature of my body (thin with pathetic small bones) I broke a lot. After about 8 major injuries, I finally decided to quit. Unfortunately, perhaps due to massive physical abuse I had heaped on my body, it was too late. I developed a cascade of symptoms such as multi-focal pain syndrome (used to be called RSD) and fibromyalgia. Fast forward a few years and I am damn near a cripple, struggling with chronic fatigue, bizarre pain, and looking down the barrel of disability. Desperately trying to stay functional, I started exploring Tai Chi classes. I took a series of Tai Chi Chi classes. Not impressed, and it flared the fibro like crazy. Then I walked into a Shou shu based Tai chi class. For me, that is when when my recovery began. Two months later, I started taking Shou Shu. Now, four years later, at the tender age of 46, I am without reservation, in the best physical shape of my life. I have an addiction to punching bags and would sooner train than do just about anything else.
Why? How does that work? Not sure. I have some theories, I have some ideas, but mostly I just have my own experience, which I really consider nothing short of miraculous. If other members feel moved to share their own experiences, either as students or as teachers, I will be glad to throw in my two cents worth.
Response to Fibro Fighters
thanks for posting this Rebecca. I've seen so many people with miraculous recoveries like yours. Don't know exactly why but also have done a lot of research and some of the more cutting edge research points to some theories.
Strangely PTSD and fibromyalgia seem to be very related. Both due in some way to trauma. Ussually mental trauma but sometimes physical. This was sent to me by Mr. McConnell, one of my black preps who commutes here from Humbolt
Dear Shun Shifu Weaver, I just finished a College Psych class in Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome at Mendocino College. The instructor was talking about treatment and mentioned the favored regime is generally known as "body oriented" treatment. I was recalling your efforts a few months ago in attempting to recruit and offer kung fu classes to combat vets. I think across the board shou shu would benefit domestic violence and sexual assault victims as well. Physcologists mentioned in my class that might support this idea are Peter Levine, M.D. and Janina Fisher, Ph.D. The class instructor commented that treatment that involved tai chi, yoga, and dance are the wave of the future. Once again, you are right on!
Fibromyalgia, Shou' Shu', and TCM
Both fibromyalgia and PTSD are disorders that western medicine (in my opinon) does a spectacularly poor job of addressing. The only thing western medicine offers for fibro is a myriad of pain relievers and antidepressants. Almost every single one of these medications actually interferes in subtle ways with sleep patterns. This is really sad, if you consider that sleep pattern interference is one of the biggest contributing factors in the development of fibro symptoms.
In the case of fibromyalgia, I think it is actually more helpful to look at the model of traditional chinese medicine (TCM). TCM views many illnesses as being blockages of chi or energy or blood in organ systems that are defined energetically and functionally rather than physiologically. (Okay, I know that sentence is a handful, but if you know TCM, you know what I mean!)
There are several patterns of blockages or deficiencies that are recognized for fibro, including spleen chi deficiency, liver chi stagnation, and several others.
A TCM practitioner may try to rectify the situation with accupuncture, accupressure, herbs or movement.
I think that one of the things that shou shu does, even for its beginning students, is to teach them to move them to move their body as a whole in a way that stimulates the movement of Chi. As we teach weapons to fire, be reinforced, and flow into the next weapon, you can easily imagine lines of energy being lit up and down the body as the muscles engage. And for me, it is easy to imagine that if there was blocked chi, learning Shou Shu would quickly unblock it. I suspect that it was this, more than anything that helped me.