How Massage Therapy Helps With
Chronic Pain in North Portland

Pain, a feeling that everyone around the world, irrespective of caste, color, religion, gender, has experienced.

It is not a feeling that people enjoy, especially when it keeps you away from daily activities, enjoyment, or improvement.

It gets even more annoying when the pain exists over a prolonged period of time.

When the pain lasts over the span of a few weeks to a few years, it is called chronic pain.

Overcoming Chronic Pain in North Portland OR

Chronic pain is a huge and very annoying issue.

Not everybody experiences chronic pain, but for those that do experience it, it is a common state of torture.

Chronic pain can be a constant, dull, throbbing, sporadic, shocking, burning, aching, or numb tingling pain

There can be a variety of reasons for your chronic pain:

• Headaches
• Back pain
• Nerve pain: caused due to nerve damage or bone damage pinching the nerve
• Arthritis: affects bones
• Diabetes: affects bones and nerves
• Cancer: weakens the body entirely, tumors can press down upon the nerves.
• Inflammatory bowel disease: painful, chronic inflammation in the digestive tract.
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ): painful clicking, popping, or locking of the jaw
• Chronic fatigue syndrome: extreme, prolonged weariness, accompanied by pain
• Fibromyalgia: widespread pain in the muscles and bones
• Endometriosis: the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus
• Interstitial cystitis: bladder pressure and pain

Chronic health conditions like cancers, diabetes, arthritis, etc. Need medications and surgeries in order to solve the root cause.

But other simpler conditions like headaches, backaches, fatigue syndrome, etc. don’t need surgeries or medications.

Even the conditions which need surgeries can have pain management done to them until and even after the surgeries or medications take effect.

For simpler conditions and pain management of chronic conditions, massage therapy might be a great alternative to addictive medications and not suitable for all surgeries.

Massage therapy (MT) is a part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which involves the rubbing and manipulating of muscles and soft tissues in order to help the body heal itself, manage pain and relax the body.

MT actively focuses on reducing the pain by improving blood circulation, which interrupts the pain cycle and helps release endorphins. The increased blood flow ensures a steady raise and stability in the body’s immunity with regular sessions.

MT focuses on reducing tensions and stress in the body, loosen tight muscles, pinched nerves, reduce inflammations, heals tissues, breaks down scar tissues, improve mobility and flexibility, all while relaxing the body and mind as there is a resetting of the nervous system which enables the body to produce serotonin, dopamine among other endorphins and neurotransmitters.

Massage therapists allow the patient to choose from a selection of massage types, suitable for their condition, like:

1. Swedish massage
2. Deep tissue massage
3. Trigger point massage
4. Myofascial release
5. Hot stone massage
6. Shiatsu massage
7. Thai massage
8. Foam rolling massage

MT should be avoided by people taking blood thinners, having bleeding disorders.

Massage needs to be avoided in areas with blood clots, fractures, open or healing wounds, skin infections, and areas post-surgery.

Pregnant women and cancer patients need to consult their physicians and oncologist, respectively, before getting a massage.

You should also be sure to check for allergic reactions to any of the oils used before the sessions, to prevent any mishaps.

If you are experiencing chronic pain, or any pain or emotional stress for that matter, book an appointment with your nearest licensed North Portland massage therapist and relax, literally.

Happy healing!