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Massage Helps Ease the Strain of Painful Muscle Disorder

Posted on: Monday, 13 February 2006, 12:00 CST

It may be a relatively new condition but fibromyalgia is now recognised by the NHS and professionals are offering massage to ease the pain.

Fibromyalgia is a musculo-skeletal pain and fatigue disorder that can cause insufferable pain, proving a daily nuisance which can cause aches all over the body.

Vivien Chambers, 56, from Seaham, near Sunderland, has had the condition since the age of ten and is now getting help from MassageWorks at Gateshead's MetroCentre to help relieve the symptoms.

Formerly know as fibrositis, meaning inflammation of the muscles and soft tissue, it was renamed fibromyalgia in the 1980s after studies found there is no inflammation or nerve injury.

Fibromyalgia can occur in people of all ages, though it is more common in later years and more women than men are affected. According to recent research, most patients can expect to have this problem for life, although with appropriate treatment the symptoms can be alleviated.

"Having been diagnosed at ten with rheumatism it's certainly something you don't want to hear at such a young age," said Vivien.

"Back then, the treatment was aspirin and after a while this was starting to hurt my stomach. I was then told in the 80s that it was arthritis and took the offered advice and learned to live with the condition."

It wasn't until November 2002 after visiting a doctor at Sunderland Royal Hospital she was finally correctly diagnosed as having fibromyalgia.

The main symptoms are predominantly pains, tender areas and tiredness, with numerous other symptoms varying from person to person, and changing day by day, making diagnosis difficult.

Common areas of pain are in the neck, shoulders and feet and in some patients, the pain is so intense it can interfere with everyday tasks. No one trigger for the illness has been identified, yet research shows that people with the disorder tend to have disturbances in their deep sleep.

Although not curable, the condition can be controlled by helping patients to sleep better, unwind and relax. Various medical treatments can be prescribed by the doctor from low dose antidepressants to local anaesthetics, but there are also a lot of complementary therapies and as well as exercise and regular stretching, and massage is also well-known to help many of the sufferers.

Vivien has been receiving regular massage sessions for over a year and a half in order to quell the pain.

"I've officially had fibromyalgia for over three years now but it's nearly 46 years that I've most likely had it," she said.

"It has certainly been difficult for me, long spells of sitting, walking or just standing leads to pain and it affects my memory and train of thought.

"I've learned to cope with it over the years and part of this is by taking regular sessions at MassageWorks, which has been a godsend to me. I go there once a week and feel an instant relief from my symptoms and the staff are completely empathetic."

Christine Simpson, from MassageWorks said: "We have many repeat customers who say massage is helping them with the muscular and joint pain and discomfort brought on by numerous conditions including fibromyalgia.

"We're delighted our therapies are helping Vivien and others control their symptoms and it's great when we see their relief after treatment."

MassageWorks, based at 6 The Arcade, off the Red Mall, opened in September 2004 and has invested in the very latest massage equipment. Call MassageWorks on (0191) 460 6400.

Source: Evening Chronicle - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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