If you suffer from chronic back pain, chances are it has impacted every facet of your life. Studies have shown that workers injured on the job continue to suffer even after receiving a financial settlement that takes care of their money problems. Because they continue to experience health issues that affect their ability to function and pain levels that result in depression or irritability, maintaining relationships in the face of unrelenting aches and pains can be a struggle. Before you get to the point where you’ve lost most of what you enjoy in life, try adding massage therapy to your routine to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. Here are a few ways that a healthy massage can bring relief when nothing else has worked:
Forget the Narcotics and Try Massage
Although narcotic pain medications are great for short-term relief, they are problematic for extended treatment programs. Even if you ignore the addiction issues, the body soon develops a tolerance to these drugs and demands more and more for the same level of relief. If you try to stop taking it, your brain will trick your body into wanting more by manufacturing new aches and pains. Opiates take their toll on the human body and can eventually cause liver problems with long term use.
Massage, on the other hand, has no side effects when administered by a trained professional. This technique has also been proven to more effective than a combination of pain meds, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatories in a Seattle study of 401 patients with chronic lower-back pain. The participants who were given massage treatments were better able to stay active and work than the group that was given medication or physical therapy.
Other Studies Confirm Massage Relieves Chronic Back Pain
Another study conducted by the Touch Research Institute also found that massage was better than relaxation therapy for a wide variety of health problems related to chronic back pain including pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and range of motion. In 2001, 30 patients who had experienced lower back pain for six months or more were inducted into a randomized trial and assigned to either the massage group or a relaxation group.
The massage group was given 30-minute treatments twice a week while the relaxation group was expected to spend the same amount of time performing a set of relaxation exercises. At the end of the five-week trial, the massage group reported lower incidences of depression, anxiety, and pain. They were also sleeping better, had an increased range of motion, and were performing better at work. Although this was a fairly small trial, the results were promising.
If you, or someone you care about, is suffering with chronic back pain, call today to schedule a therapeutic massage at one of Massage Heights 13 Houston massage therapy locations. This alternative treatment option could truly change your life!
