Bowen therapy

[Summerrental]

Has anyone had good results with Bowen Therapy?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At the side, under Related posts, you will see some past threads.

Bowen therapy and aquafit kept me upright and mobile for the 5 years I had PMR without pred (not diagnosed, wasn't for lack of asking). I also have myofascial pain syndrome and Bowen worked for that brilliantly - I did have a fantastic therapist though. Another lady on the forum goes to her and swears by her - she spent a few months in a wheelchair and unable to move without a zimmer. One session with "our Joanna" and she walked out of the room and back to the car having forgotten her walking stick! It took a bit longer to get it entirely happy and she goes every 6 months now for a top-up.

It has to be for the right thing, it won't help PMR itself, it will usually help the add-ons like sciatica and back muscle spasm. You will know within 3 seesions if it will work for what you want - but if nothing else you will leave far more relaxed than you went in!

[Summerrental in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply. I started Bowen therapy about a week ago for back pain. Felt incredible after the first session but it only lasted for a day. The second session was not as effective as the first session and then I hit a pothole on the drive home & jarred my back. I will try a few more times.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Summerrental]

Did you rest, go for a gentle walk and drink plenty of water after the session? Do speak to the therapist ...

[Summerrental in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I did rest & drank plenty of water. I did walk also.

[SnazzyD in reply to Summerrental]

Every therapy I’ve ever had, has some sort of kickback a day or two later, then I feel the benefit. The day of the therapy I usually feel wonderful and as I heal the kickback/wow factor becomes less intense. The first one or two are always the most obviously changing for me because there is more to change I suspect. I don’t believe any therapy will wipe the slate clean and cure you of all ills, it is supportive or ‘educative’, teaching the body what normal is again; if the cause isn’t addressed one just ends up back to square one eventually. The feeling of wonderfulness isn’t sustainable; you wouldn’t expect it of anything else.

Sometimes it is tricky to know whether something just isn’t right for you, your expectations are to high or that phase of your healing is levelling out and that therapy has done its time. If any therapist truly makes me feel distressed, doesn’t listen and overrides my wishes or immediately blames the patient for lack of results, it walk away. Any therapist I expect to go in slowly to get to know me, not wade in to fix me because they know best. Any whiff of pseudoscience and I’m off, chuckling to myself.

Since GCA I love Bowen because it is subtle and my therapist is brilliant. I used it often to decide whether pains have been due to GCA flare or something else because if I can walk out feeling much better it ain’t GCA.

[Blearyeyed]

Bowen Therapy can be a great , less intensive therapy for those with all different sorts of Chronic Pain issues , even those that find that they are triggered by Massage.

It's just important to make sure you go to a Therapist that is recommended in the area that you live , by other Disease sufferers , and preferably people whom have the same conditions as you.

If you cannot see any recommendations , then you need to check the person's personal credentials , and have a chat with the Therapist to find out how much they know about PMR or any other condition you have . If they don't know much , move on to someone else.

It is also good to start slow and have a taster session of any therapy you choose , starting at half the session time and working up , so you can be sure the practise works for you and is not a trigger.

Always leave to time to rest before and after any therapy. Drinks lots of fluids before and after. Having a warm shower before and after a therapy can often make it more beneficial too.

Good luck with your search for a Bowen Therapist and I hope it works for you.

[piglette]

In my case it was a total waste of time, but some people think it is great.

[Arflane97G]

I have had 2 sessions to date and something is going on! So far, I have had a slight headache the evening of the day of the treatment, a couple of days of feeling very tired and then a few days of feeling pretty good. My plan is to have one more treatment, wait a couple of weeks and then have a shiatsu massage and see how I feel. This will all happen while I go down to 10mg but will keep up with the water, green tea and aloe juice and still avoiding gluten, tea and coffee!