Background
SS presented to physiotherapy following a long history of fibromyalgia that affected her cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine areas with pain radiation into both arms and legs. SS had had various forms of treatment and commented that ‘hands on’ treatment aggravated her symptoms.

On Assessment
On assessment, SS had restricted range of motion in both her cervical and lumbar spine and symptoms of pain with a VAS of 8/10.

Treatment
Treatment chosen was the central placement of neuromagnetic devices to assess the effects on dampening central sensitization. One QF28-3 Q magnet was placed centrally over C4 and two QF20-3 devices were placed 2.5 cm each to the left and right of the C7 spinous process. There was an immediate improvement of cervical spine rotation from half range to full range right and left.

SS also reported pain in the lumbosacral area and a QF28-6 device was taped over the L4/5 intervertebral space centrally and two QF28-3 devices were placed bilaterally, one over each PSIS. Reassessment of her lumbar flexion after the application of the Q magnet devices saw SS with a 20° increase in lumbar flexion and decreased pain through range. The immediate improvement in symptoms indicated that this was an appropriate treatment.

Outcome
SS was encouraged to continue wearing the devices 24/7 for the following week. A follow up phone call was made to SS after wearing the Q magnet devices for one week and she reported that her pain had reduced considerably and she was coping well with the devices day and night.

The following week SS represented for assessment and physiotherapy treatment, she continued to wear the devices in the cervical and lumbar placements. SS described that her pain was now at a manageable level, she had much greater function and freedom of movement, was waking in the morning free of pain for the first time in many years and would continue wearing the devices.

From another follow up call two months later, SS reported that she would apply the Q magnet devices at the onset of a pain episode which were becoming much less frequent and with pain becoming less of an issue in her life, she noticed relief in other fibromyalgia related symptoms.

What is quite remarkable in this case, is that SS only required two visits to the clinic and from then on was able to self-manage her condition and make significant improvements in a relatively short time frame.

Dianne Hermans. Principal Lifestyle Physiotherapist™