When I was about 20 I started getting chronic headaches. I was downing 6 aspirin a day for the pain and a lot of nose bleeds were the only real result. Then one day in a bookstore, my favorite place to be, I came across a book about myofascial pain. I read it and it changed my life!
Here was a person talking about pain being caused by knots in the muscle. No one had ever mentioned that my pain or anyone else's was caused by knots in the muscle. The more I read the more interested I became. This made sense! I realized that if 50% of body weight is made up of muscles that wouldn¿t it make sense to consider those as a cause of some pain? I started playing around and was able to help myself. This was great. I didn't really understand all the science behind the healing that was happening, but I was getting results. My friends and coworkers were all coming up and saying, "Richard, work on me, I've got this headache, sore neck, back ache" etc. I decided it was time to look into this as a profession. That was over 20 years ago. I went to school and learned the science behind this amazing healing modality and continue to be thrilled with the results on friends, family, and now, patients.
With my wife as my office manager I was able to run a successful practice in Denver, Colorado for 3 years. Working mostly with chiropractors at that time, it never stopped to amaze me how this simple, modality was able to bring, healing and hope to so many people of varying ages, backgrounds, and pain.
I was offered a position of being part of a vision of open a school that taught this modality. My wife, daughter and I packed up and headed for the east cost, and new horizons.
I've been the Director of the Pittsburgh School of Pain Management since 1995. I continue to have a private practice as well as training others in this modality. Watching others learn and heal is about as exciting as doing it myself. The great thing is there is always something new to learn. Some new aspect of the body and how it works and how we can help people reclaim their lives and live without pain.
Carol Finn You know the saying, "Behind every successful man stands a hard working woman." Well, for the past several years that has been me. I believed in myofascial trigger point therapy and supported both my husband¿s private practice and the school, PSPM, that trains others in this modality. Finally, I decided to take the plunge and join in this healing modality. I graduated from the Pittsburgh School of Pain Management June of 2006 and am starting my own practice. I do work on people but I also work on canines as well. I have a heart for dogs because I use a service dog. Sassy is by my side 24/7 as my seizure alert dog. Sassy, as my constant companion makes my life safer and me more independent. I've worked on canines and their response to myofascial therapy has been amazing. Even those dogs that in their history haven't wanted people , even owners, to touch certain body parts have allowed me to touch them. After working on these dogs for several minutes they seem to just know that I'm trying to help them.
What drew me to the ranks of myofascial trigger point therapists is the amazing results that I kept seeing as patients came out of a session at the office while I was office manager and later during his private practice when he worked on friends and family. People who had been in chronic pain for months, even years were helped. People who had been told by health care providers that heir pain "was all in their head" or "they would just have to live with the pain" came out of the office lit up. It was it someone had lit a candle inside of them. What truly was happening is thath they were being given hope. Hope that this pain could be treated and dealt with. Also someone showing them text books that said the pain they experienced wasn't in their head, it was in their muscles. There were books, charts and a school that taught about this. They could get their lives back and live WITH OUT PAIN. The excitement after just one treatment was infectious and I wanted to be a part of this.
Another part of this discipline that I find exciting is that the patient is very proactive. They are taught stretches and possible changes in daily living are pointed out that may be contributing to their pain. They get to have some control in the healing process. My business, Gentle Touch Pain Relief was chosen because of all the teasing that took place at school. My touch is light. Well, I get the result that I'm looking for and I am able to use a light tough. It is easier on me and on the patient. Also the dogs respond much better with a light touch!