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Massage: A Weapon Against Fibromyalgia Pain
Everyone deals with occasional aches and pains. However, when pain plays a major role in our daily lives and leaving us exhausted and unable to do the things we love to do or even take care of our basic needs, our quality of life goes downhill fast. Such is the case for more than 1.1 million Canadians who suffer from fibromyalgia. This is not an imaginary disease; the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia are real. We must help people with fibromyalgia who have to deal with this pain in their daily lives. It is important for friends and family to listen, understand and show compassion.If you are one of the victims of this mysterious and frustrating ailment, massage therapy could be a pathway to effective pain relief management and a more enjoyable life.
Beyond Daily Pain: Life with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by generalized pain in muscles and joints all over the body and in specific sites called trigger points, which may be extremely tender when touched. People with fibromyalgia have described the pain as a deep, persistent soreness, or an ache that feels like having the flu. The tender points most commonly occur in the front and back of the neck, the middle of the upper back of the shoulders, the upper chest, the elbows, the upper buttocks, the hips and the knees.
Besides unexplained pain, stiffness and mobility problems, a person may suffer a number of characteristic symptoms such as; poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, intense fatigue, joint pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, neurological abnormalities and general disability.
If you have FMS, you may awaken feeling like you didn’t sleep at all. Everyday activities such as shopping, cleaning, walking up stairs or lifting your children may become difficult or impossible. Even a simple hug can hurt. Because FMS is poorly understood, and treatment options are limited, your doctor may not be able to offer lasting relief. Is there a way to prevent fibromyalgia?
Since the cause is still unknown, it is making it difficult to prevent. However, certain factors may contribute to its development, such as:
• Physical trauma (such as a motor vehicle accident)
• Emotional trauma (such as negative life events or psychological distress)
• Repeated exposure to dampness and cold
• Infection (such as Lyme disease)
• Auto immune disorders
• Poor sleep
Therapeutic Massage
Fortunately, massage therapy can help restore your quality of life and make your daily symptoms more manageable. Besides providing the obvious positive effects of deep relaxation and soothing therapeutic touch, massage has been proven effective in treating pain and various other symptoms of FMS.
Fibromyalgia and Massage: What Studies Reveal In 2010, scientists at the University of Almeria in Spain conducted a study to see how myofascial release massage therapy would affect fibromyalgia patients. Over a 20-week period, a group of 64 FMS patients received one of two types of therapy. The experimental segment of the group received one 90-minute myofascial release therapy session per week while the control group received a placebo treatment. The patients receiving the massage therapy experienced significantly improved sleep quality, anxiety symptoms, pain levels and general quality of life. A similar study in 2011 found that FMS patients had significant improvements in pain after massage therapy, and the effects lasted up to a year.
Find Relief Through Home Massage Therapy. Since at the moment there is still no cure for FMS, managing the symptoms to improve the quality of your life is at the forefront dealing with this disease. Listen to what your body is telling you and adjust your life accordingly. Heat, rest, exercise and reducing or eliminating sources of stress can improve your quality of life. When you have fibromyalgia, some days are worse than others, and the thought of getting up and leaving the house on one of your bad days can cause a great deal of stress.
Days like this are when the benefits of home massage become crystal clear. Instead of taking a torturous drive to a local spa or clinic, enjoy relief in the comfort and privacy of your surroundings. When your session is over, enjoy a dramatically better night’s rest, and be ready to face tomorrow’s challenges with less pain and stiffness.
Here are some other suggestions to help alleviate some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia: Exercises such as walking, bicycling, Qigong or swimming can reduce pain and other symptoms. Breathing techniques to improve sleep and to better manage your stress. Heat and massage therapy can help relieve muscular pain, ease tension, and fatigue.Other alternative therapies may also relieve fibromyalgia symptoms such Acupuncture-Hypnotherapy-Mental imaging-Naturopathy-Osteopathy-Massage therapy ”You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
