Massage

[Jo]

I have my Mr Perfect get a massage every month because I believe that the body stores memories, and it releases the stressful ones.  I just found out that my insurance will pay for this, if the doctor prescribes it and fills out a form as to why he's prescribing it.

Now doctors are busy folks, and I don't even know if he will agree. But if I gather all the reasons and make it easy, he'll probably ok it.

Soooo…. does anyone know if there are real physiological reasons that massage is beneficial for RA- that the insurance would approve of?

Thanks

Jo

[A Friend]

[user=465]Jo[/user] wrote:

….I just found out that my insurance will pay for this, if the doctor prescribes it and fills out a form as to why he's prescribing it…….. Soooo…. does anyone know if there are real physiological reasons that massage is beneficial for RA- that the insurance would approve of?  …Thanks Jo

Jo, if you will put the words “massage and acidic waste” in your search engine, quite a few links will be found about the benefits of massage in getting rid of acidic wastes… through kidneys and liver and other avenues.  Also, I noticed a link about “lymphatic massage”, and the benefits of this type of massage (along with the others, in my opinion) should be very, very helpful — especially since when our bodies are debilitated, our natural detoxification systems are usually very sluggish.  Also very important, I've read, is that when we become chronically ill, our glutathione  (body's master detoxifier) has been used up and our body is not able to make more on its own for detoxification.   

This link seems to give a pretty good overview about acidic wastes and their effect on our body:   http://www.dreddyclinic.com/online_recources/pH/Acid_Out.pdf

Good subject, Jo.  Thanks for raising this.  I'm also guessing that massage can improve our circulation, which should increase oxygen to our cells/body, which is also very, very important. 

AF

[Patti D]

Hi Jo,

Thanks for bringing this up. Actually this was what I wanted to ask as I just had reflexology done last week and felt better after a couple of days. The chinese wellness spa told me I had a lot of fluid in my ankles & legs and that they could help with reflexology(foot & leg massage) and accupuncture. So I would like to know if both help with removing fluid which would decrease pain. I have one ankle that continues to give me grief. I am so much better in other respects. I have a couple of 95% days as Maz would say but want to get that ankle cleared up.

Any help is appreciated:)

Happy days!

Patti

 

[Jo]

[user=287]Patti D[/user] wrote:

Hi Jo,

Thanks for bringing this up. Actually this was what I wanted to ask as I just had reflexology done last week and felt better after a couple of days. The chinese wellness spa told me I had a lot of fluid in my ankles & legs and that they could help with reflexology(foot & leg massage) and accupuncture. So I would like to know if both help with removing fluid which would decrease pain. I have one ankle that continues to give me grief. I am so much better in other respects. I have a couple of 95% days as Maz would say but want to get that ankle cleared up.

Any help is appreciated:)

Happy days!

Patti

 

 

Oh I don't think there is any question at all about how much it helps.

My Mr Perfect is 100 %, though most of that is probably the msm.

However, I am not satisfied with symptom control, I want a cure, that's why we are on the AP program.

I have collected some information, but nothing professional or scientific. I want to have something like that to include in the paperwork to have the insurance pay for it.

This is what I've found so far:

Massage therapy not only relaxes muscles and relieves stress, but it can help reduce pain, reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system.

 Massage therapy cannot cure or stop the progression of any of these arthritic conditions, but massage can most assuredly ease the symptoms associated with inflammation, and help improve the quality of life of someone affected by arthritis.

The benefits of massage include:

• increase in circulation [/*:23k26q5p]
• increase in flexibility and mobility [/*:23k26q5p]
• decrease in pain and inflammation [/*:23k26q5p]
• relief of muscle aches and stiffness [/*:23k26q5p]
• [/size][/font]

[font=”Times New Roman”]As the arthritis progresses, muscles tighten to compensate for the joint damage and protect the bones. One problem leads to another and that?s where arthritis and massage become partners. Understanding how massage helps relieve arthritis can give you pain-free days with greater flexibility than you have experienced in a long while.

A massage kneads and soothes the area around a joint to relieve the tension in the muscle. By doing so, the joint pain is reduced as swelling goes down. A massage stimulates the immune system which is an integral part of skin as much as of internal organs.

Moving the muscles and surrounding areas of the joints, circulation of blood and lymph is improved. This increases toxin removal from the body. Toxins affect joint operation and exposure is constant through food and air chemicals that are ingested. Using knowledge of arthritis and massage therapy, joint mobility can be greatly improved.

A therapist familiar with arthritis and massage benefits understands the physiology of the joint. A massage is directed at the joint, but overall relaxation can help reduce arthritis symptoms also. The benefits of a massage are many.
[/*:23k26q5p]

1. Increased circulation[/*:23k26q5p]
2. Increased flexibility[/*:23k26q5p]
3. Decreased inflammation[/*:23k26q5p]
4. Decreased pain[/*:23k26q5p]
5. Decreased joint stiffness[/*:23k26q5p]
6. Increased feelings of wellness[/*:23k26q5p]
7. muscle aches[/*:23k26q5p]

The massage stretches the muscles restoring flexibility. A massage encourages the body to release endorphins which are natural mood enhancers and pain killers.

Massage, acupuncture, and Shiatsu, may be beneficial in reducing the effects of RA on joints' range of motion and be beneficial in keeping the joints supple and mobile. In cases where soft tissue is affected, massage is indicated to promote the mobility and health of the soft tissues around the joints. This is important, as the soft tissue may be under considerable strain in an RA sufferer. Massage may also help balance the nervous system, which may help reduce the probability of an autoimmune response.

 Massage is strongly encouraged by the American Arthritis Foundation for the sub-acute phases of RA, though discouraged in the acute phase, as massage increases circulation and may increase the chance that the disease in this phase may spread.

 Relieves Pain

Improves range of motion

 Therapeutic massage can have pain-relieving benefits for many people with arthritis through relief of muscle tension. What Else You Should Know: A relaxation massage is not the same as a therapeutic massage.

 Massage. Massage therapy can be a great way to ease the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis, and many doctors recommend massage to their patients with arthritis. Research has shown that massage can decrease stress hormones and depression, ease muscle pain and spasms, increase the body?s production of natural pain-killing endorphins and improve sleep and immune function. Make sure you find a massage therapist who is experienced and comfortable working with people with arthritis as some elements of massage may not be appropriate for you.

 

Jo

[awesomemb]

🙂 I get massages twice per week. It helps circulation and it helps get toxins that are built up in muscle. However, you need to remember to drink plenty of water afterwards.

[lynnie_sydney]

I had a lot of fluid in my ankles & legs

Hi Patti – I agree with Jo about the benefits of good massage and with awesomemb about the critical aspect of drinking water to help flush toxins. As something else you may want to reflect on, I had alot of background pain in my knees and they were always quite puffy (synovial fluid?) even when I was pretty well symptom free everywhere else. The background pain and the puffiness has completely gone since I went gluten, dairy and sulphite-free. It is quite remarkable. I no longer feel uncomfortable when sitting for too long, stairs are a breeze and I no longer get out of an armchair like an old lady! Lynnie

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[Jo]

[user=30]lynnie_sydney[/user] wrote:

Hi Patti – I agree with Jo about the benefits of good massage and with awesomemb about the critical aspect of drinking water to help flush toxins. As something else you may want to reflect on, I had alot of background pain in my knees and they were always quite puffy (synovial fluid?) even when I was pretty well symptom free everywhere else. The background pain and the puffiness has completely gone since I went gluten, dairy and sulphite-free. It is quite remarkable. I no longer feel uncomfortable when sitting for too long, stairs are a breeze and I no longer get out of an armchair like an old lady! Lynnie

Lots of people who take msm report that they no longer have any food allergies or reactions at all.   Mr Perfect certainly hasn't had to adjust his diet. 

Makes me think that the allergy reaction sensitises people to far more than we understand.  Cut that allergy reaction, (I'm sure other things can do that as well as MSM, but that's the one I'm familiar with,) and you cut your sensitivity to food and allergens, and thus there is no need to give up the foods you love.  At least that's my experience, and what I read about other people's experience with MSM.

Blessings

Jo

 

 

 

[Patti D]

Hi everybody,

Thanks for the response. The therapist told me how to massage my ankles to get rid of the fluid. Does anyone do this? Thanks for the reminder on the extra water to eliminate toxins.:) 

Lynnie- I think it is synovial fluid around my ankle and I want it gone. The massage therapist told me she could get rid of it with acupuncture. It really does hurt too. I am dreading the starch free diet and love veggies & fruit but am thinking I could kill two birds with one stone if I go this route; lose the prednisone weight and take away the puffiness. After reading dragonslayers history, I realize I am not going to fade away:shock: if I start doing some of the dietary issues but quite frankly there are so many different thoughts on food on this board that I really do wonder what is right:?

Anyone used acupuncture? Thanks guys!

Happy days!

Patti

 

[Patti D]

Opps!

I forgot . What is MSM?

Thanks

Patti

[lynnie_sydney]

Patti – I agree it can be very confusing. I am following what my AP Doc and the Naturopath she works with have said is right FOR ME. Not everyone has the same sensitivities and there is alot of 'one size fits all' and half-right information. For instance, I asked my AP Doc about the 'eat red meat at least 3 times a week instruction' she gave me when so many say it promotes inflammation. She answered that, in some inflammatory cases, especially those in the digestive system and for those with cancer, you would NOT eat red meat because it would exacerbate inflammation. I dont have inflammation in the gut or cancer and, in my case, because I have shown a sensitivity to dairy, I would not be able to absorb enough iron without the red meat and would become a candidate for anaemia.  

I have saved an interesting Fact Sheet from the website I have spoken about before that is run by one of our country's top food allergy specialists (her unit is at one of our major teaching hospitals). It is about foods and arthritic pain and contains some common myths and misconceptions. The whole website can be found at http://www.fedup.com.au.  The pdf of this particular Fact Sheet is below. Lynnie

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[Patti D]

Hi Lynne-

Great information. Now I am wondering if I should try something new like giving up my family doc totally and trying a natropath? This would be a bit of a leap of faith even though I know many good things come from different paths of treatment. I just want more that the 8 minute visit. I lost all hope in good medical care when i got lyme. 4 doctors later, no agreement on diagnosis nor treatment. I even had my family doctor tell me when I was in horrible pain that this was the lyme and it could take months to work it's way out of my system. She did absolutely nothing. Did not even tell me what to do for pain. I am really afraid to go to any doctor no matter what there background so I kind of feel like a lone ranger. I have a nursing background which compounds the problem.

I will continue to try new things and can tell you having tried eliminated different foods , most dairy & some red meat I see no difference what so ever in pain, swelling redness etc. I have no redness and the swelling is so minimal now but that is thanks to the mino:)It is a slow process figuring this out but with all of the help from this board I believe I am getting better:blush:

Happy days!

Patti

[Patti D]

hey

I still have not found out what MSM is? Jo, clue me in. Thanks.

Patti

[Jo]

[user=287]Patti D[/user] wrote:

hey

I still have not found out what MSM is? Jo, clue me in. Thanks.

Patti

MSM, methylsulfonylmethane (METH-?l-sul-FON-il-METH-ane)  is a derivative of DMSO and is a water soluable Sulfur.

Jo

[Patti D]

Jo,

What does the sulphur do for you? I am sensitive to sulphur so can't take it but am curious of it's health benefits. thanks.

Patti

[Jo]

[user=287]Patti D[/user] wrote:

Jo,

What does the sulphur do for you? I am sensitive to sulphur so can't take it but am curious of it's health benefits. thanks.

Patti

Q. I have an allergy to sulfa. Does this translate into a problem with MSM supplement use?

   A. Sulfonamides are compounds than contain sulfur, along with nitrogen, and attached to a benzene ring. Many medications contain sulfur but are not sulfonamides. Some of these prescription drugs include amoxicillin, captopril, spironolactone, sulfates and sulfites. There is no risk of cross-reactivity between these sulfur containing substances and sulfonamides. It appears that this is also true for MSM, methyl sulfonyl methane. No allergies to MSM have been reported in the medical literature as of July 1997.

* * *

There is a lot of information available. This is an interesting web site by a Doctor who is not pro MSM, but is keeping an open mind pending research. 

http://www.raysahelian.com/msm.html

Blessings

Jo

 

 

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