Massage therapy can be very beneficial when the right
technique is artfully executed by an intuitive and skilled therapist. Touch and
hands-on methods are a good adjunctive therapy in treatment of fibromyalgia,
joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgias, and other musculoskeletal
disorders from head to toe. The myofascia (muscle covering) is connected
throughout the entire body, therefore addressing local restrictions may help
with pain in other areas of the body and massage therapists understand this
relationship.
If myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is present, as seen in
many disorders from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue/myalgic encephalomyelitis,
migraine, spinal degeneration, interstitial cystitis, irritable bladder, arthritic
joints, post surgical scaring, etc, a specialized myofascial trigger point therapist is recommended.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a great peripheral pain
generator adding to the amplification of pain and upsets in brain orchestration
seen in fibromyalgia, and though centralization is not discussed in chronic
fatigue syndrome, there is also a brain manifestation leaving these patients at
risk for many of the overlapping disorders seen in both FM and CFS and each
other. Myofascial trigger points,
knotted up pieces of muscle fiber that can be easily felt unless behind bone or
other muscles, they radiate pain and other symptoms in a specific pattern
according to their location. Myofascial
trigger points are great neurological imitators, and prevalent in many pain
disabilities. More information on MPS, FM and CFS/ME can be found at http://TheseThree.com under the
disorder/diseases tab.
If you do not tolerate myofascial manipulation, gentle
massage and stretch is indicated in the beginning. More pain does not indicate
more gain in all cases. A good therapist will know this and work with you. The
feedback we provide our brain teaches it how to respond, and it is important to
know it will react according to how we teach it. Certainly, we wouldn't put a
child on a bicycle without first using training wheels.
The greatest consideration is that your massage therapist becertified by a peer reviewed organization, or in your state if your state requires
such certification.
Particular hands-on therapies are discussed at length in
Integrative Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, ChronicFatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, and the resource section is one of the most
extensive available.
Paying it forward for chronic
pain and neuro-endocrine-immune disorders. Celeste, RN, author, pain patient/activist,
educator, and fibromyalgia health expert.
About the
books written for you:
Contributing author to FibromyalgiaInsider Secrets: 10 Top Experts, 2nd
Ed.
All blogs, posts and answers are not meant to replace medical advice.
Great massage therapy, it can be very beneficial when the right technique is artfully executed by skilled therapist.
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Tempe Massage