In fifty years, I have never seen anything like this situation.
A woman in her 40s presented with throat issues. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and had a possible parathyroid condition. She had trouble speaking up in life and had vocal problems.
The defining trauma appeared to be a whiplash car injury in her twenties. Over time, I theorize that the fascial strain tightened her upper body, which became more symptomatic.
If the patient just presented with this picture, I would expect a good outcome over a series of visits.
But this is where her story gets interesting. She also had lymphedema everywhere in her body.
She had consulted many professionals, and lymphatic drainage treatments had been effective only for a few days. No one could really put a finger on the source of the problem.
I am always looking at the global picture for the root cause to help the body heal. My first thought was that the lymphatic system was being restricted or partially blocked somewhere.
Since the lymphatic vessels, unlike arterioles, are thin-walled tubes, fascial tightness can possibly restrict them. This could back up this system and make any permanent correction highly unlikely.
My second thought took me back to learning, almost 60 years ago in anatomy class, that the lymphatic system has two major drainage ducts. The first is the right lymphatic duct, which drains the right side of the head and neck, the right arm and the right thorax. The thoracic duct on the left side drains the rest of the body. These ducts must be patent to allow the lymph to enter the venous system.
My third thought was to check the areas of her body where the ducts meet the veins. BINGO. Through palpation, her fascial strain happened to be most severe in these two areas.
This is a classic example where the provider needs to think outside of the box. I am not sure that this will be the answer for her, but it makes a lot of sense when all of the dots are connected in space and time.
The fascial web can be involved in so many different conditions. If you are not aware of the cranoiosacral fascial system and its broad reach in the healthcare world, I believe you are at a disadvantage in helping patients with complex problems.
I am optimistic that therapy can move the needle for her. Gillespie Approach Training is a great tool for your toolbox to help patients.
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