Chronic Pain- 3 Common Forms and How To Beat It

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain comes in many shapes and sizes. In this post we will address the three most common forms of chronic pain. If you happen to be someone coping with chronic pain then you can relate. And would likely add that every day can be a unique and difficult experience.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pain affects more Americans today than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Many people are looking for natural alternatives and research continues to support the health benefits of massage therapy for pain management.

First of all, a diagnosis of chronic pain is made by a doctor. Typically this diagnosis requires extreme discomfort noted to last longer than 6 months. It is pain which takes a long time to go away, or doesn’t go away post injury or illness. Symptoms of chronic pain can vary by individual. Typically symptoms include; poorly localized pain, burning or shooting pain, aching, stiffness, tightness, soreness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, malaise, or stress.

1. Physical Injuries

Physical injuries are an obvious culprit of pain. Most noteworthy are athletic injuries and auto accidents.

Athletic injuries can be fresh and obvious or ancient history making a revisit. In either case, injuries throw your body out of balance – which can turn into a chronic cycle of pain.  We have all been there, what seemed like a simple round of golf suddenly leaves us down in the back. Experiencing pain that sends us limping to our medicine cabinet.

Additionally, you may have experienced a sudden onset injury such as an auto accident. Injuries from an auto accident left untreated can become chronic and quite debilitating. It’s pertinent to to seek pain relief early because what may seem minor can spell trouble down the road. Be seen by a physician and inquire about massage therapy as a healing modality. Most auto injuries respond quit well to massage therapy.

2. Illness

It’s not just injuries that cause pain. In some cases illnesses such as fibromyalgia and arthritis cause chronic pain that can go on for a very long time. The great news is that both these conditions can be alleviated through regular treatments by a skilled massage therapist. Research by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami found; patients with arthritis in their hands and wrists that received massage therapy as treatment overall had lower levels of pain and improved grip strength. They also reported decreased levels of anxiety and depression.

3. Post-Surgical Pain

Post surgical pain is expected yet there are very effective ways of minimizing this type of pain. For example, it is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that massage has been shown to aid in postoperative pain relief. That’s right, massage isn’t just for relaxation! Research indicates that massage therapy can both decrease postoperative pain, and pain intensity. Additionally, research shows that massage therapy markedly decreases postoperative distress. Which in turn causes a decrease in the sympathetic response to postoperative pain. Therefore enabling a decrease in medication. Thus creating an immediate increase of calmness and feelings of well-being.

Alternative Options for Pain Management

At The Therapy House we are experts at reducing pain. You won’t find the “one size fits all” concept here. Furthermore, we employ many massage methods to help you immediately feel better.  We customize our approach using Swedish massage techniques, Structural Integration and Myofascial Release modalities, just to name a few.

In conclusion, massage therapy can provide the means to improve your quality of life. Our clients note marked increase in range of motion and lessened depression that often accompanies pain. We understand that living with chronic pain can be challenging, and having an effective means of treating it is vital. There are numerous ways that massage therapy can reduce pain and increase range of motion. Whether you are suffering with athletic injuries, auto accident injuries or illness based pain we are confident that we can make a difference. Call today and find out how our Customized Pain Relief Massage can help you enjoy life again.