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massage therapy for chronic pain

Definition of chronic pain: Chronic pain is not a symptom, but a disease state. Pain which lasts beyond

the ordinary duration of time that an insult or injury to the body needs to heal. 4 6 weeks, although

others have chosen three months as the dividing line between acute and chronic pain {Bonica, JJ. The

management of pain. In: Lea and Febiger, 2nd ed, Philadelphia 1990}

Examples:

Headache, Low back pain, Cancer pain, Myofascial pain (trigger points), Arthritis pain, Herpes Zoster (

post-herpetic neuralgia) Includes, but not limited to, neuropathies that affect nerves throughout the

body.

Ref: {Clinical Anesthesia, Paul G. Barrash, 4th edition}

Effects: Pain of such chronic and intense proportions that it overwhelms all other symptoms &

becomes the main problem Inability to work. Appetite falls off Physical activity of any kind is exhausting

and aggravates pain. People become victims of a vicious circle total preoccupation with pain leads to

irritability and depression.

Effects Cont'd Less sleep at night more irritability, depression, and pain. "Terrible triad" of suffering,

sleeplessness, and sadness. drug-dependency Submission to repeated surgery/resorting to questionable

practitioners who promise quick & permanent "cures".

The Pathology: Tight muscles reduce circulation waste products accumulate soreness and fatigue.

Waste products also irritate nerves, causing the pain to spread. Muscles stay tightened over time body

compensates by developing restricted patterns of movement. Fatigue, frustration, lack of energy,

mental and emotional stress can develop from post-traumatic chronic pain and physical restriction.

Study: Levoska S., MD, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Vol. 74, April 1993)

Deep heat & massage improve blood circulation and metabolism reducing pain. Poor blood circulation

in a muscle decreases pH & reduces muscle contraction, as well as muscle strength. When M.T's

release contracted muscles, they help restore capacity for normal movement. Anxiety & stress lessen

as clients increase their activity level & achieve more control in their daily functioning. People sleep

better after a massage aids physical & emotional health and helps restore mental equilibrium. As clients

begin to feel better with massage, they often discover renewed energy and motivation for physical

activity.

REFLEXOLOGY in Chronic Pain Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or

pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial

effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health. There is no clinical or scientific

evidence that reflexology has any

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Sciatica: Sciatica is pain radiating from the buttocks down the leg due to pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Causes:

4. Root Pressure: entrapment of the root involving spinal nerves from L4-S3 either by a herniated

vertebral disk or arthritic narrowing of the spinal canal itself. Or more commonly cause

5. The Piriform Muscle: tension in this gluteal muscle can compress the sciatic nerve causing pain.

Reflexology for Sciatica: This nerve is of particular interest to Reflexologists because it is the very nerve

conducting all the touch and pain sensations from the feet

YOGA Therapy for Sciatica : Yoga therapy can be an alternative (or complementary) treatment to

Massage Therapy. "We need to strengthen lines of Myofascial that are `locked long' and stretch lines

that are `locked short'. If we attempt to stretch tight muscles without strengthening the opposing

muscles, the stretch will be relatively temporary and ineffective, and the imbalance that led to the

problem will largely remain."

"Yoga is an effective form of structural therapy because it focuses not just on "Yoga poses work from

head to toe recognizing the `weave' of energies that run through the entire body. An injury at any one

place in this `fabric' affects the integrity of the whole, and also shows a weakness in the whole"

Doug Keller "Yoga as Therapy"

Yoga for Sciatica: Sciatica can be a problem for individuals because piriformis is tight and "pinches" the

sciatic nerve.

Some stretches include: Piriformis Stretch Modified Ardha Matseyendrasana, Eka pada

rajakapotasana (pigeon pose) These poses can be offered as treatment or home care as a part of a

Massage Therapy treatment plan.

Pregnancy & Chronic Pain What a Doula can do for you Experiencing chronic pain while pregnant is

almost unavoidable, however coping and healing chronic pain is obtainable with the help of a doula.

What is a Doula? A doula provides physical and emotional assistance and encouragement during child

birth and in the early post partum phase. The doula contributes as an extra pair of hands for the

doctor/midwife and father during the labour. An experienced doula can greatly improve a pregnancy

and labour by offering consistent information

Pain experienced during pregnancy "25-56% of those that are pregnant will suffer from back or pelvicpain while they are pregnant. 3% of these will get severely disabled from it, and a clear third of the

pregnant women will have pain so severe that it will affect their work, their sleep, and their daily lives."

Other pains associated with pregnancy : Depression, Immobility leading to DVT (Deep vein

thrombosis), which are leg blood clots that lead to strokes and heart attacks. Post partum carpel tunnel

syndrome, Nerve entrapment, Thoracic pain, Degenerating fibroid

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The benefits of a doula:

During the pregnancy: Provides safe, drug free relief of aches and pains, reduces swelling, teaches

skills for dealing with and preparing for the labour, increases circulation, eases pressure on the sciatic

nerve, improves sleeping and emotional tension.

During the Labour: Greatly reduces the need for a Cesarean section, the need for pain medications or

epidurals, the need for forceps and vacuum extraction, and shortens the length of the labour!

Postpartum: Alleviates muscle pain from postural shifts, fuller breast, and weight of carried infant.

Restores muscle tone to abdomen, and stimulates the uterus to return to its pre-pregnant size.

Infant Massage: Promotes bonding with parent and infant, stimulates circulation, and eases colic, gas,

and digestive discomfort. Improves sleeping patterns, and stimulates brain development.

The Power of Touch: Often touted are the psychological benefits of massage therapy. The Power of

Touch Stress chemicals (the fight or flight response), can be harmful to the body over long periods of

time. Physical touch and massage techniques involving slow, soothing strokes to one's back or neck

can slow a busy, overworked mind and settle or centre a person.

The communication of such caring touch is also recognized by health professionals as an adjunct to

pain relief, whether physical or emotional If a person's physical or emotional health is challenged,

massage therapy can produce benefits whether the situation is acute (immediate) or chronic (long-

standing).

Many people also use regular massage therapy as a form of body maintenance, receiving massage

faithfully for the continuance of good health. ( Canadian Massage Therapist Alliance, 2004 )