Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and Massage

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome affecting as many as 1 in 50 adults in America. The majority of sufferers are women, and some people may have fibromyalgia symptoms for years before having it diagnosed. Though knowledge is accumulating every day, much is still unknown about the causes of fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia treatment. For years, the medical community has treated this condition with drugs, often pain killers and muscle relaxants which can be dangerous and even addictive. Because FMS can coincide with depression, antidepressants like Cymbalta are also often prescribed. Of course, people have begun to search for alternatives, and massage therapy is one form of fibromyalgia treatment that has gotten much attention in recent years.

There is a wealth of anecdotal fibromyalgia information available, both online and in print, regarding the efficacy of massage therapy when used to treat FMS. It is important to note that fibromyalgia syndrome currently has no cure. There are treatments, such as massage and other physical therapies, which can temporarily relieve symptoms of FMS, but there is no silver bullet. Also, the various symptoms of fibromyalgia vary greatly among patients, and therefore different people may react to massage therapy in various ways.

Why Massage?

Massage is an ancient art that has been used for thousands of years to address a wide range of physical ailments. As was discussed above, there have been few clinical studies of the efficacy of fibromyalgia treatments. As a result, most of the evidence for various treatments, including massage therapy, is anecdotal. Remember to consult your doctor before embarking on any supplemental course of treatment.

Increasingly, many people who suffer from fibromyalgia are making the decision to go and see a massage therapist, often on the advice of a doctor or a friend. Today, there are even some massage therapists who “specialize” in the treatment of FMS. These therapists are typically familiar with the needs of FMS sufferers, especially their tenderness issues and the fluctuating nature of their pain. Care should be taken, however, to ensure that one is visiting a reputable therapist. Because FMS has been widely publicized recently, some massage therapists have begun to claim that they specialize in FMS treatment, in order to access a lucrative market. There are reports of massage therapists falsely claiming to have experience with FMS, who actually end up doing harm to their clients.

Doctors have known for years that deep tissue massage can increase blood flow to muscles and the connective tissues that are most affected by FMS. This increased bloodflow allows more oxygen to be transferred to fibrous tissues, and speeds removal of toxins. Deep tissue massage also loosens these fibrous tissues, allowing muscles to relax and repair themselves.

Many people who suffer from FMS are often poorly rested as a result of their fibromyalgia syndrome. The “trigger points” that cause so much pain during the day, also cause pain for our sleeping bodies at night. As FMS sufferers lay in bed, these trigger points can be irritated by the bodyweight resting on them.

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