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What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which a definite cause is still unknown. Pain radiates in muscles, ligaments, and tendons - the fibrous tissues in the body.
The major complaint of persons afflicted with this syndrome is that they "ache all over". Their muscles may feel like they've been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch or burn. More women than men are afflicted but it appears in people of all ages. Many describe their condition to the feeling a person gets following a bad flu. Every muscle aches and they feel completely devoid of energy. It's as though someone had unplugged their power supply. Although severity of symptoms fluctuates, it resembles a post-viral state.
Symptoms…
Pain
The pain of FMS varies. Some people describe it as a deep muscular aching, burning, throbbing, shooting and stabbing. Some complain of pain and stiffness being worse in the morning and in muscle groups that are used more repetitively, it has been found that people with FMS have more pronounced pain when their trigger points are stimulated than the general population.
Fatigue
For some the fatigue can be mild. In others it can be incapacitating. It's described as "brain fatigue" in which the patient feels totally drained of energy. Their arms and legs feel extremely heavy and they have difficulty concentrating.
Sleep Disorders
Many FMS patients also suffer from sleep disorders. Researchers found that FMS patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (Stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. In short, they wake up feeling like a Mack truck had just run over them.
Irritable Bowel
Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas and pain represent symptoms found in 40% - 70% of Fibromyalgia patients.
Chronic Headaches
At least 50% of FMS patients have recurring migraine and/or tension headaches.
Other Common Symptoms
These symptoms can include painful menstrual periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, dizziness, impaired co-ordination and TMJ pain. Many symptoms appear to worsen with weather changes, hormonal fluctuation, stress, depression, anxiety and over-exertion.
Probable Cause…
Researchers have yet to determine a cause for FMS but, studies highly support that there is a genetic predisposition that with the right "triggering event: (e.g. viral/bacterial infection, high stress levels, accidents) the underlying physiological abnormality "awakens".
Treatments…
Treatments that work well includes trigger point injection or manipulation, acupuncture, accupressure, relaxation techniques, gentle exercise program and massage therapy. A Massage Therapist trained in myofascial release, acupressure, trigger point manipulation and movement therapy are particularly helpful.
With proper manipulation of trigger points and fascia, the FMS patient will initially experience increased tenderness followed by a "melting" effect over the tight area. The result is a significant relief from muscle tension and pain.
What is Massage Therapy?
There are many different approaches to massage and many different applications of it. "Massage Therapy" is a holistic procedure that affects all systems of the body, digestive, elimination, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine and nervous systems. It is accomplished through specific manipulations with the hands on the soft tissue of the body for therapeutic effect, sometimes with the aid of hot or cold therapy and/or basic stretching exercises.
Massage therapy provides an alternative health option to help alleviate the soft tissue pain and discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular overuse and many chronic pain syndromes. It can also greatly reduce the development of painful muscular patterning, if employed early enough after accidents involving trauma and injury.
A major concern is to realize and deal with the effects of stress. Massage Therapy makes us aware of how and where stress manifests itself in the form of tension in our bodies. Too much stress in our lives causes constant muscular tension. This tension or tightness reduces the flow of energy. This energy may be in the form of blood and oxygen, nerve & lymph supply, or the more subtle energy; Life Force or Chi.
Reducing this flow leads to feelings of fatigue, heaviness, and pain in different areas, reduced flexibility and range of motion of joints. Thus, it increases the likelihood of strain and injury. It also leads to buildup of toxins in the body. Generally, blocked energy is felt as aches and pains but can eventually lead to a wide range of more serious problems. Massage can, with the help of the client, release this tension and allow the body's own energy to heal itself. Very often old injuries and habits can still be causing compensatory imbalance.
How can Massage help You?
Many sports injuries, accidents, repetitive actions on the job, and tension from everyday stress can cause problems that will cause pain, headaches, decrease range of motion, lower your resistance to illnesses and compromise your lifestyle.
Massage can help you. Massage is a gentle, touch therapy that can relieve pain and bring balance to your life. Massage is not a substitute for medical care but it can reduce or eliminate many types of painful Conditions.
Massage therapy will calm your nervous system and give you more energy. It will relieve many types of muscle tightness especially the back and neck area where most of us store tension. Muscles can become so contracted that they compress the nerves to the arms, hands and legs, causing pain, tingling and numbness. Massage can release muscle spasm and tightness in the neck & shoulders to bring relief. Massage will relieve headaches caused by trigger points.
It can help low back pain during pregnancy, or the protective tensing of healthy muscles around an injury.
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