Effects of Massage on Long-Term Pain

A study of the effects of massage compared to relaxation tape recordings on localized long-term pain by researchers in Sweden, published in the Jan-Feb 2004 issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, found that, during treatment there was a significant improvement in the three main outcome measures: self-rated health, mental energy, and muscle pain only in the massage group as compared to the relaxation group. The conclusion was that massage, but not mental relaxation exercises, is beneficial in reducing the severity of the pain.

The most misunderstood condition : Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain. Stress appears to compound the symptoms of disease. It is widely misunderstood by the public so often friends, family and co-workers who don't understand fibromyalgia, adding to the stress of the disease. Fibromyalgia can cause symptoms in addition to pain, including fatigue, difficulty sleeping, headaches, sensitivity to light, dizziness, memory problems, and numbness and tingling in your arms and legs. A number of other conditions can accompany fibromyalgia, including irritable bowel syndrome, bladder control problems and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Don't overdo it on your good days. This will catch up with you and your fibromyalgia symptoms could worsen. But that doesn't mean you should keep your activity to a minimum. Enjoy the good days and cope with the not-so-good days by finding an even balance. Pace yourself. Set goals for each day. Your goals should be reasonable. And they should include daily exercise and time for yourself, such as time to relax or listen to music. Deep breathing, mediation, massage and yoga may be techniques that help you relax.

Learning to control your fibromyalgia pain takes time. Work with your healthcare providers to adapt your daily activities so you have time and energy for what's important to you.