After 20 plus years of having chronic pain, I have used tons of different gadgets, medications, and tried many different exercises. I can honestly say I am on a “roll” with my most recent device.

My doctor has me using foam rollers, which are basically cylinders made of foam, aimed at working out the muscle tissue.  The foam rollers are basically a way of doing self-myofascial release on your muscles.

Foam Rollers

I have a condition of chronic myofascial pain, in which my fascia (muscle tissue) does not heal itself properly and I am literally more knotted up than a pretzel. My muscles all over my body are sore and fatigued, as they have been since my teenage years. They just have gotten worse as I get older (I am now in my 30s.)

I also have all of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, and my doctor has mentioned this as part of my problem. However, he is mainly focused on treating my pain and symptoms, and I don’t care what it is called … how about, “Hurts like hell all over the place, the slightest movements and exercises and even sitting still too long trigger more pain, sleeping is a nightmare, and it NEVER goes away.” Phewww. That was my short definition. I could take up a whole page on how crappy my muscles are and feel! But this blog post is about a cool tool I am using that I want to pass along to others in the same boat (or sinking ship, whatever you want to call it!)

My current neuromuscular and pain management doctor is the first person to actually figure out the source of my pain (after nearly 20 years of doctors, physical therapists, etc.), and found some ways to give me relief.  I go a few times a month to the doctor’s office for myofascial release  and/or muscle manipulation, in which he works magic on my muscles. It has helped tremendously! I still have pain, but I sometimes have days where I can feel the pain has diminshed greatly. It has never completely gone away, but I will take what I can get!

(Have any chronic pain sufferers tried muscle manipulation? Learn more about it here! Another awesome way to alleviate pain!)

Since I can only get to my doctor’s office a few times a month for treatment on my muscles, he has me using foam rollers at home. There are tons of videos online to demonstrate methods of using the rollers, but basically, lie down on it and roll over your muscles. It does hurt a bit, but it is a good pain because I know in the end it is helping to alleviate some of my constant pain.

So I am totally on board with the foam rollers for relief from some of my chronic pain. I also use tennis balls for some of my smaller muscle areas.

I have obtained a couple of my foam rollers through my doctor’s office (different sizes, shapes, and levels of density, based on needs). I am now seeing them on shelves in the sporting goods departments and stores everywhere. So even “normal people” (those who don’t live the nightmare of chronic pain, pain that NEVER goes away) are using foam rollers to work out their muscles after exercising and as a way of cooling down or stretching muscles.

If you are looking to try it out, they can be found easily in stores and online; however, for me they were cheaper through my doctor’s office (ranging from $10 to $20 overall). And if you are already rolling along with a foam roller, how do you like it? I would love to chat with others about their experiences.

I am not a doctor or a paid spokesperson, lol, but I am a real person with really bad muscle pain. So I understand the “pain” of finding a treatment that works, or even helps a little, to alleviate the sore muscles.  I am totally going to roll along with my foam rollers until a magic potion has been found to get rid of chronic pain!

Read more of my posts on chronic pain by clicking here! And again, please share your thoughts and experiences below on foam rollers or other ways of treating your chronic pain. We are all in this together (unfortunately!) And if you aren’t in chronic pain (be very thankful!), but have still used the foam roller, let me know how it has worked for you after exercising.

Stay positive, get lots of rest, do simple exercises (with foam roller or not) and yoga, and get a good doctor! Here’s to one day when everyone will be pain free!