Chronic pain can be debilitating, no matter the root cause of the pain. People who suffer are often forced to rely on medication to relieve symptoms, or they may find no relief at all. Conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer, trigeminal neuralgia, and many others may cause someone to experience chronic pain.
People can also experience chronic pain from old injuries, back problems, and chronic migraines. Sometimes, people who suffer from chronic pain don’t know what causes it, making it challenging to diagnose and treat. Chronic pain is incredibly difficult to manage, even with medical intervention, and people who suffer from chronic pain often feel like they’ve been abandoned by the medical system.
It can also be expensive to manage a condition that requires many appointments, significant imaging, and is often not recognized by insurance. Whether you know someone who suffers from chronic pain or you suffer yourself, any amount of relief can greatly improve quality of life.
Massage therapy is an option for relief for people who experience chronic pain. In Harvard Health Publishing’s “Therapeutic massage for pain relief”, the author explores the benefits of massage for reducing pain, explaining that massage may help to, “’close the pain gate’ by stimulating competing nerve fibers and impeding pain messages to and from the brain.”
This phenomenon of “closing the pain gate” could be a pathway to relief for those who are constantly flooded with pain. Massage may be a key component to a successful pain management regimen.
Massage for Cancer Patients
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), massage might even be a good option for cancer patients trying to manage chronic pain. Receiving treatment for cancer is extremely stressful, so massage may help with both physical pain and anxiety. Knowledgeable massage therapists can work with patients to design sessions that use a comfortable amount of pressure and are designed to address areas of personal tension or pain.
Massage for Fibromyalgia
Massage may also be helpful for fibromyalgia symptoms and is an option for patients to explore. When working with a trained massage therapist, fibromyalgia sufferers may see some pain relief from massage.
In short, massage therapy is a safe, low-risk option for people searching for natural pain relief. Massage therapy may offer a pathway to improvement for some chronic pain sufferers, and it should be weighed as a promising holistic option for those in search of relief.
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