Mitochondrial myopathy

[Chancellor Mobley]

Is anyone here familiar with mitochondrial myopathy?

A 61 year old female client of mine was diagnosed with this condition in 1994. She is coming to me for Structural Integration(rolfing) having previously benefited from the work with another practitioner about nine years ago. She is looking for some of those same benefits to help her get out of a present slump which she new she would be having after going on an eight day white water rafting trip. Right now she says she has about three hours of 'being up' but she doesn't seem to be able distinguish if it is pain or fatigue or both that is keeping her down. It seems to affect her 'larger muscles' she says. Obviously, I would be referring her on if she hadn't previously experienced this bodywork, she wasn't a physician and if I knew who I could refer her to.


Chance

[EricM]

Chance,
I treated a woman with this not so long ago. I found helpful info in this brief summary (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/mitochondrial_myopathy/mitochondrial_myopathy.htm) from NINDS, as well as this on (http://www.mda.org/Publications/mitochondrial_myopathies.html)e. There's not really much evidence out there to go on. I seem to remember one paper that looked at exercise but I can't seem to find it now.

I treated her as I treat most of my chronic pain patients. Heaps of education, particularly into relaxation and pacing strategies with this particular lady. I used DNM and kinesiotape which she loved, but these only ever provided temporary pain relief. She found great benefit from swimming daily. I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to press really forcefully on these patient's tissues, although my patients repeatedly exclaimed that what she felt she needed, go figure. As a metabolic disease it is untreatable by manual therapy, however pain due to mechanical sensitization of nociceptors should behave no differently than in anyone else.

[Chancellor Mobley]

Thanks Eric, for the reply.


I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to press really forcefully on these patient's tissues, although my patients repeatedly exclaimed that what she felt she needed, go figure. Having felt she derived some benefit to her previos rolfing, I'm guessing she would feel the same way and I too, do not understand it.


How did the education go with your patient? I'm also thinking that pacing strategies would be of great benefit for her.


ps- it seems I've forgotten how to quote text.

Chance

[Diane]

ps- it seems I've forgotten how to quote text.But you learned how to do something else really cool.. how did you do that? :)

[Chancellor Mobley]

But you learned how to do something else really cool.. how did you do that? :)Well,...I'm guessing it's the company I've been keeping of late.

[EricM]

How did the education go with your patient?

About as well as it goes for any patient. You can lead them to water, but it's up to them if they're going to drink or not.