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Osteopathy for M.E / Chronic Fatigue syndrome

Osteopathy can relieve pain and anxiety in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Osteopaths are often confused with Chiropractors. Where Chiropractors manipulate the body, particularly the spine to correct backache and postural problems etc, Osteopaths also work on the spine but use a far more gentle approach, enabling the body to relax and heal itself, not trying to force it into the finished position. Personally I am not a fan of Chiropractic and know of one person whose back is far worse as a result of treatment. But Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy have helped a great deat with my Chronic Fatigue syndrome and so it is worth re-iterating they are different treatments from Chiropractic. Although confusingly I have seen at least one therapist describing himself as a 'Chiropractic Osteopath' - so your guess is as good as mine as to what that means.

Osteopathy - more than bad backs

Osteopathy treats far more than bad backs. Because your whole body is fed by nerves from the spinal column, any restriction in the movement of the spine can interfere with the proper functioning of the limbs, internal organs and the glandular and immune systems. A skilled Osteopath will find any such inertia and carefully tease it out, freeing up the nerves from irritation and helping the body return to a normal state of health. In fact a 1998 study by the University of Salford found a 40% improvement in Chronic Fatigue syndrome patients treated with Osteopathy over a year, and two of the group were symptom free (against a 1% worsening in the control group).

Cranial Osteopathy and M.E / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Cranial Osteopaths apply similarly gentle coaxing techniques to the bones of the skull, and will diagnose by placing their hands at the back of the skull, feeling the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid that both surrounds the brain and runs down the spine. If this flow is inhibited in one part of the skull it will most likely be refected further down the spinal column - so for example an asthmatic's skull may feel tight and narrowed, reflecting the tightness around the lungs.

William Garner Sutherland, the American doctor who discovered Cranial Osteopathy tested this theory on himself by creating an apparatus to apply pressure to different bones in the skull. He experienced almost immediate physiological effects, headaches and poor digestion as he had expected. But unexpectedly certain types of cranial pressure also created psychological changes - pressure on the skull one way made him anxious and aggitated, pressing another way gloomy and depressed. So if your M.E / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia includes a large dose of anxiety as mine did, Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy could really help.

'That's all very well in practice, but how does it work in theory?'

While Osteopathy is pretty much accepted by conventional medicine, some doctors may find Cranial Osteopathy more problematic, as it goes against the accepted theory that in adults the bones in the skull are fused and do not move. Because of this even a small number of Osteopaths view Cranial Osteopathy as heretical! (I do know of one!).

However as my GP says, she routinely sees things that aren't in the textbooks. And surely what matters is, does it work? Personally I really don't care whether my skull bones move by fractions of a millimetre or not - what matters is my Osteopath dealt with crippling, oppressive headaches and anxiety that made any strain, noise or light unbearable in the early part of my illness.

In conclusion, I would go to a qualified Osteopath for treatment of Chronic Fatigue syndrome / M.E or Fibromyalgia. This may entail some Cranial Osteopathy. Someone who does only Craniosacral Therapy (ie is not a trained Osteopath) is worth trying if you have a personal reccomendation, but I believe you may increase your odds of success by finding someone who does full Osteopathy as there is some evidence that in ME/CFS it is the nerves around the thoracic vertebrae - the upper back - that are particularly implicated.

A treatment session will be anything between half an hour and an hour, probably costing upwards of £30. It is not like having a massage so you may not be aware of anything very much during the treatment and wonder what you are paying for - but you may feel the effects days and weeks later.

Osteopathic exercise for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Here are a couple of exercises for increasing mobility in the spine. I've included them here rather than in the self treatment section as they should really be used to complement treatment by an Osteopath. If your osteopath thinks these exercises are appropriate you can do them daily.

Exercise 1

To keep the neck vertebrae loose, lie on your back for around ten minutes with your knees up and the back of your head on a phone book or similarly thick book. The edge of the book should be at your occiput, (where the base of the skull joins the neck), and let your neck lie naturally and loosely. This height difference produces a very slight traction from the occiput to the 7th Cervical vertebrae, the one that sticks out when you bend your head forwards. If you're wearing anything with a waist pull it down so your lower back can sit flat on the floor.

Exercise 2

To loosen the Thoracic vertebrae there are three positions of a turning exercise. For each position sit upright on the edge of a chair. The three different positions loosen first the upper, then middle, then lower of the Thoracic vertebrae. It is done seated as standing will work the lower back.

For the first position put your palms by the side of your neck, your shoulders relaxed, elbows pointing down and forwards. Turn your head and upper body slowly to the right about 30 degrees, then slowly back and do the same on the lift. Do around 8 to 16 repetitions (less if it's too much effort). For the second position cross your arms in front of you so the elbows are in contact with each other and 'hug' your shoulders. In the second position do the same slow left/right turns. In the third position fold your arms so they are at waist level and repeat the left/right movement.

Futher sources

In the UK all Osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council, GOsC, and their sitewww.osteopathy.org.uk contains links to help you find a therapist in the UK. There is also the Craniosacral Therapy Association, www.craniosacral.co.uk As travelling is likely to be an additional expense and difficulty why not start with your nearest alternative health centre?

For more about Osteopathy for treating M.E /Chronic Fatigue syndrome have a look at www.forme-cfs.co.uk by one of the Osteopaths involved in the 1998 study.

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