Massage & MS

Certain symptoms can cause pain

Sometimes the pain may be the result of poor posture while sitting or walking. For example, poor posture can create a pinched nerve and cause lower-back pain. Therapies or devices may be used to correct the posture and consequently relieve the pain.

Less than five percent of people with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) experience trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux. This condition causes a shock-like pain along the face, often triggered by a normal touch or movement, such as brushing the teeth, chewing, or touching a small area of skin.

Trigeminal neuralgia tends to come and go, enabling individuals to take medication on an as-needed basis. Should drug treatments fail, other options are available. These include procedures that numb the nerves, as well as surgery, although the latter is rarely necessary for this condition.

Spasticity and muscle spasms are other symptoms of MS that can create pain. Special exercise, devices, medication, and massage are a few of the ways Spasticity and muscle spasms may be managed.

The back, leg, and knees are common areas to experience pain. L'hermitte's sign is an electrical sensation which goes down the spine and into the legs when the neck is flexed forward. This sign of demyelination in the neck region is commonly found in those with MS, and is not significant in terms of MS severity, although it can be a disturbing sensation.

Many problems may be associated with the back among people with or without MS. Heat, massage, special exercise, and alternative therapies may prove helpful for back problems and pain. Knee ligaments can become damaged from hyperextension while walking. This causes both inflammation and pain. Doctors not familiar with MS may prescribe exercise for this condition. Such therapy will only serve to increase tiredness and reduce leg strength. Often the correct treatment is to take the weight off of the leg with a cane or crutch while using a knee brace to prevent further hyperextension.

Other Treatments for Pain

Aside from medical treatments, other therapies may be successful in the management of chronic pain. Many of these are safe and surprisingly simple.

Countering the present sensation with a different one can often make the pain tolerable. Pins and needles (paresthesia) may be relieved by bathing in lukewarm water. Immersing the affected area in cold or warmth usually produces some desirable effects. Applying pressure or massage can also alter some painful sensations.

Certain stretching exercises may be useful in temporarily relieving pain, and physical therapy may also help. Some achieve pain relief through alternative therapies such as acupressure, acupuncture, biofeedback, meditation, hypnosis, and therapeutic massage.

Please keep in mind that MS pain is not a predictor of a worse prognosis. Dwelling on pain and fearing it to be a sign of further disease progression will only make the pain feel more intense. Levels of pain have little to do with the severity and long-term outcome of MS.

When dealing with pain, the best strategy is to first seek medical attention and rule out other causes. Afterwards, various treatment options – including the ones just mentioned – may be discussed with the medical professional.

Additionally, social support may be beneficial to those who experience chronic pain in addition to organised support groups.

MS Pain is Different

When all other potential sources have been eliminated, and MS appears to be causing the pain, symptoms need to be closely examined to see what exactly is happening. Pain from MS is different from that of an injury or infection, as it results from abnormal nerve impulse flow in the CNS.

Many people with MS experience paresthesia. This may feel like a pressure, pins and needles, or tingling sensation. Dysesthesia is a burning, throbbing, or shock-like pain along a nerve, often in the arms or legs but occasionally felt on the body as well. With Dysesthesia, a light touch may become painful.

These symptoms may be no more than annoyances for many, but for some, treatment is needed to relieve the discomfort.

Massage and MS symptoms

Many people with MS use massage for relief of the following symptoms:

• Spasticity-massage can help relax muscles and enhance range of motion exercises;
• Poor circulation-massage can increase blood flow through superficial veins by friction, through deeper arteries and through veins by petrissage. It can increase capillary dilation through light stroking. It may be helpful in preventing the development of pressure sores but should not be used if pressure sores or reddened areas of inflammation are present;
• Pain-massage is useful in any condition in which a reduction in swelling or mobilization of tissues leads to pain relief;
• It can provide pleasurable stimulation, giving the client a chance to relax, relieving anxiety and fear.

If massage is used as an aid for controlling pain, it should be used under the advice of a physician.

Massage and the underlying disease of MS

While massage can be helpful in relieving stress and inducing relaxation, it has no effect on the course of MS.

A 1998 study investigated the effect of massage in people with MS on:

• Relief of anxiety and depression;
• Improvement in mood, self-esteem and body image;
• Increased ambulation and improved physical and social functioning.

The study used self-reports by the participants, and found that, at the end of a five-week period, physical and social activity had improved in the people receiving massage.

Those in the massage group also reported a decrease in depression. There was, however, no improvement in grip strength and only marginal improvement in ambulation. However, many people with MS receive regular massage therapy to help reduce stress & depression, which can exacerbate the disease. It is usually safe for people with MS to receive massage. It is always advisable to speak to your Medical Practitioner just the same.

What Is Muscle Spasticity?

Muscle Spasticity is a condition which affects up to 60% of people with Multiple Sclerosis. It is a condition where a muscle has tone and resists being stretched.

When a muscle is stretched, a signal is sent to the nervous system, which to far the nervous system in turn sends a signal back to the muscle to tell it to contract.

In diseases such as MS or Cerebral Palsy, the stretch reflexes can become hyper sensitive as signals get crossed and muscles contract involuntarily at times.

The muscles which are affected are prone to stiffness and or painful spasms. In people with MS, lesions in the nervous system interrupt nerve signals from the brain. This causes problems with mobility as well as muscle weakness.

Please Note:

Therapeutic massage does not treat, heal, prescribe or cure anything. It is complementary healthcare, not a substitute for a Medical Doctor.

Some conditions are “red flags” that prohibit massage, including phlebitis, some cancer, infectious disease, and some skin and certain cardiac conditions.

Your therapist should take a health history, but it is always best to consult your physician if you have any concerns. “Don’t wait until you feel like a train wreck before you come to see me.” I, like many therapists, offer a discount for those who come regularly; it makes the work more effective for you and easier on both of us.