RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
How can massage help sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers deal with chronic pain every day of their lives. The inflammation of the joint tissue can be so uncomfortable and so painful that it affects everything they do on a daily basis. The pain is not the other thing they have to deal with, the drug therapy treatments that some patients are on can be just as difficult to deal with as the RA symptoms themselves.
Autoimmune diseases are noted for their deteriorative properties of
physiological systems as a faulty immune response. The
functionality of the circulatory system and the presence of persistent
stress levels can have a negative impact on circulation, triggering
pathogen invasion and producing symptomatic pain, discomfort and
inevitable decline consistent with the progressive nature of this
disease.
Massage therapy has the ability to
significantly affect systemic disorders because of its promotion of detoxification through vasodilation to
assist in the removal of toxins, which can cause pain responses; the
improvement of overall circulation by encouraging blood and lymph flow;
the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system by
lowering blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate inducing
relaxation and stress reduction.
Massage therapy, when used in conjunction with other prescribed
treatments, can have a positive systemic effect in the management of
the symptoms and progression of an autoimmune disorder.
Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) affects the structural integrity and function of
musculoskeletal joints and eventually the entire body.
The immune system mistakenly attacks the membranes and joint structures
via the accumulation and stagnation of synovial fluids, initiating
inflammation, pain and loss of function, called articular degeneration. RA in its progressive stages will damage other structures
and organs such as blood vessels, lungs and the pericardium. Once
diagnosed, patients generally spend their lifetime using traditional
and alternative therapies attempting to manage and decelerate the
debilitation process.
Signs and symptoms are
prominent morning stiffness and joint swelling, tenderness and pain. RA has the tendency to first affect
the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers/hands
and toes/feet, as well as cause entrapment syndromes of nerves near
affected joints such as the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. The
development of subcutaneous nodules on protuberances of bones, bursae
and tendon sheaths are also common.
Christie will use many different forms of heat therapy. Warm Epsom Salts compresses are used on the feet, hands and other affected joints to help relieve pain and begin to help the muscles around the joints relax. She then massages the hands and feet to bring much needed blood flow, increase circulation and remove toxins to the affected joints. A sulfer cream can be massaged into the joints to help with pain and inflammation. A light Esalen massage with warm stones is then used to massage the entire body and other affected joints to help you relax, increase circulation, blood flow, and remove the buildup of lymph or swelling that surrounds the joints. Sombra, an all natural pain reliever is used on the more affected and painful joints to help relieve the inflammation and pain.
Christie understands the level of pain that Rheumatoid Arthritis suffers are in, and she is very cautious with the type of massage strokes used. She will work with you to make sure you get the most comfortable massage and pain free session possible.
Here are some suggestions for ways you can care for yourself when at home:
The foods you eat can help or hurt:
Helpful foods to reduce inflammation
- Cherries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Ginger
- Onions
- Garlic
Foods that will increase inflammation
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Wheat
- Peppers
- Eggplant
Supplements to help inflammation
- Cat's Claw
- Co Q10
- Sulfur
- Solanine
GINGER COMPRESSES AT HOME
You can also do your own warm ginger compresses at home. Boil fresh ginger in water on top of the stove like a "ginger tea" for digestion, poor the warm ginger/water on a hand towel and drape the warm towel over the affected area or the joint. After the compress has cooled, do a little self massage to stimulate the blood flow and circulation to the affected area. This should help relieve the stiffness and pain for several hours.
