Chronic Pain , Massage and Meditation
Few things are as distressing as chronic pain. It saps your energy and takes an emotional toll. Over time, pain can become a vicious cycle with a life of its own, sometimes persisting even after the original cause is resolved. Massage is one of the most overlooked, yet accessible supportive measures you can seek for chronic pain.
The Pain Cycle
The pain cycle is a complex chain of events which reinforce each other.
It often begins with injury or illness, but each element, especially stress,
can add to or even start the cycle. Massage is unique in addressing most
of the pain cycle elements.
Pain
You perceive pain when your body releases chemicals that stimulate nerves
to send out pain messages to the brain. These are difficult - and dangerous
- to ignore. Always look for and seek to treat the root cause of your pain.
At the same time you can use massage to directly affect how you experience
chronic, persistent pain. Research suggests that massage stimulates release
of natural pain relievers such as endorphins. It can also reduce the devastating
grip of pain as you focus on the pleasant sensation of relaxation.
Muscle Tension
Muscles automatically contract around any painful site to support and protect
the area. If pain is resolved quickly, muscles relax. If pain persists,
muscles can become habitually contracted. Sometimes contractions press on
nerves causing tingling, numbness and more pain. Massage helps by stretching
the tight muscles and by stimulating the nervous system to relax muscle
tension.
Reduced Circulation
Like a sponge that is squeezed, a contracted muscle can't hold much fluid.
Tight muscles reduce circulation, allowing waste products from inflammation
and from normal muscle function to accumulate. This can leave you feeling
fatigued and sore, reducing your energy reserves. It can also irritate nerves
causing pain to spread throughout the tense area. Massage releases the contracted
muscles and pushes circulation toward the heart. Also as massage relaxes
the nervous system, blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow. Waste products
are flushed away and replaced with healing oxygen and nutrients.
Trigger Points
Over time, areas with poor circulation form trigger points in both muscles
and their connective tissue coverings called fascia. Trigger points are
highly irritable spots that refer pain, tingling or other sensation elsewhere
in the body, usually in a predictable pattern. As muscles tense around referred
pain, the cycle spreads.
Muscles Shortening
In any area with chronically poor circulation, the body eventually lays
down collagen fibers, the building blocks of scar tissue. While helpful
for healing injuries, this natural reaction can "glue" muscles
and fascia into a shortened state. Massage increases circulation, hydrating
and softening contracted fascia so that it may be lengthened, kneaded and
stretched. Massage can also separate muscle and fascia fibers that collagen
has adhered together.
Restricted Movement
Irritating waste products, painful trigger points and shortened muscles
make even simple action difficult and tiring. As your capacity for movement
and exercise decreases, you lose the most important means for maintaining
good circulation throughout your body, risking pain in new areas. Massage
helps restore normal movement by releasing trigger points, removing waste
products and stretching shortened muscles. In addition, because you feel
better after a massage, you may discover renewed energy and motivation for
physical activity.
Stress and Pain
Our reactions to stress have changed little since earlier times when one's
well-being depended on surviving intense physical challenges. When we are
threatened our muscles tense for action and circulation decreases to areas
not needed to fight or run. Unfortunately this does not help with modern
day stresses such as family conflicts, work deadlines or money worries.
When we are unable to relax, stress induced muscle tension and impaired
circulation can and do contribute directly to the pain cycle.
To make matters worse, chronic pain itself is a major source of stress. It drains you emotionally, robbing you of the patience and stamina you need to just get though the day. It interrupts your sleep leaving you tired and irritable. You worry about it's cause and if it will ever get better. As pain make normal activities difficult, your anxiety increases. Will you be able to keep working? Where will you get the money for treatment? Will you become dependent on others?
Massage and Stress
Massage acts on the nervous system to counteract the stress response, relaxing
muscle tension and allowing heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to
return toward normal. Many people sleep better after a massage which helps
the body heal and renews emotional reserves. To the extent that massage
interrupts the pain cycle, even temporarily, it reduces stress by giving
you some control over your situation.
A massage also helps you become aware of unconsciously held tension and how it feels to relax. This helps you recognize and release tension before it creates a problem. Finally allowing someone else to give you the care and comfort of a relaxing massage can give you much needed emotional support in a time of stress.
How much massage is right?
This depends on your general health, when the pain started and what caused
it. For long term benefits a series of massages is usually needed. Follow
up massage in times of stress can help keep old pain from flaring up. In
fact, you may find massage so beneficial that you make it apart of your
regular life. Exercise and diet can also help with the extended effects
of massage.
I usually give clients/patients a choice. If a client/patient comes in with a chronic issue or any kind of edema that is in it's most inflamed state, then I suggest from 2 to 3 appointments in a week for the first few sessions. At the second week I will ask how they feel their body is progressing and see about reducing the sessions if things appear to be improving greatly. This will also depend on what their physician has prescribed as well. Most important it is the individual follows up with "after care solutions" to support the work we do together in order to facilitate their healing, because after all, they have complete control of their health progress. This is a financial investment that requires participation in making good decisions and commitment.
Meditation
I suggest some meditation to support individuals in their healing process.
The mind has the ability to help the body heal and renew at cellular levels.
I have a variety of CDs available in my office to assist in the best method
for each individual. they are available for purchase. Many people feel that
they cannot concentrate enough to meditate and relax, and for this exact
reason I have the tools to help support your healing process so that you
have a guided meditation followed by relaxing music to assist you in focusing
on your health and getting better. The meditation CD's also have a suggested
time period to listen in order to make changes in the brain patterns so
that it facilitates healing and well being.
To schedule an appointment please call:206-755-4044
Cash or check are accepted only, no Credit Cards
14042 NE 8th St/ Suite 107/ Bellevue/ WA 98007
425-284-2120 Office
206.755.4044 *Cell*
For more information regarding the services we provide
please e-mail: info@xspaditions.com
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