Need Help With Neuropathy Symptoms? Turn To Massage Therapy

Ever heard of the peripheral nervous system? It’s the system of nerves responsible for sending signals to and from your brain and your spinal cord (aka the body’s central nervous system). And what are they for? They help you feel the sensation when your skin touches something (sensory nerves). They also play a role in controlling muscle movement (motor nerves) and other bodily functions (autonomic nerves).

Now, imagine what happens when this system of nerves becomes damaged: Your ability to feel sensation will be impaired or completely lost. Your muscles become weak, so movement gets affected and limited. Worse, you may even experience lingering pain. That is what you call neuropathy. One (mononeuropathy) or more (polyneuropathy) peripheral nerves may become damaged and affected by neuropathy. Either way, varying and often multiple symptoms of neuropathy present quite a challenge when it comes to managing and coping with this condition.

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy may either be genetic or acquired. That is, you either had neuropathy since birth or it may have developed along the way. Here’s another dichotomy:

The majority of neuropathy cases are acquired and symptomatic, meaning they resulted from another disease or condition. Symptomatic cases may include those that arise from diabetes, infection, autoimmune diseases, vitamin deficiency, nerve trauma or pressure, toxin exposure, chemotherapy, and other medications, among others. On the other hand, some acquired neuropathy cases have no known cause (aka idiopathic).

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How is neuropathy treated?

Once you get proper medical evaluation and diagnosis, you may start exploring options for treating the symptoms that you experience. Of course, proper diet and lifestyle modifications are among the popular choices. And for those in need of medication? They resort to taking oral pain relievers or applying topical creams to manage the accompanying painful and tingling sensations. Physical therapy may also be advised if you are experiencing muscle weakness.

But is there an alternative or additional way to cope with this condition? Yes, there is. It’s actually a common means of relaxation with several health benefits: massage therapy. And what are these benefits that can help you cope with neuropathy? Let’s start with this one:

Massage therapy helps with pain management

Ever felt pain as if your feet were on fire? That’s called burning feet. And it’s very common among people with neuropathy. The chronic pain may become so severe that walking or simply standing on your feet becomes nearly impossible. So, how can massage help you with neuropathic pain management?

A study on post-operative care for patients who underwent surgery shows that decreased pain levels were observed among the patients who were given massage therapy. It was noted that one of the physiological effects of massage therapy includes closing the brain’s pain gate. In other words, it alters the way that the brain receives pain signals.

Here’s another known benefit:

Massage therapy helps improve blood circulation

Have you ever had a massage and felt invigorated right after the session? That’s because it aids in improving the blood flow of your body. And that’s the same benefit you can count on if you suffer from neuropathy.

Aromatherapy massage therapy, by the way, has been known and recognized to be effective to manage neuropathic pain and quality of life in Diabetic Patients. It maybe a challenge to get this type of therapy during the on-going pandemic, but some massage chairs like the highly-recommended OHCO M.8 massage chair can do it perfectly.

Take, for example, this study on diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy: It was found that patients who received foot massage reported alleviated symptoms. Researchers explained how the direct pressure from massage therapy pushes blood away from areas of poor circulation. And as an effect, the pressure distribution changes and it relieves pressure from the affected nerves.

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What about when neuropathy causes trouble with your muscles and movement? Here’s the good news:

Massage therapy also helps improve range of motion (ROM) and balance

From the same study that showed improved blood circulation among neuropathic diabetic patients, more observations were noted. And what are they? It’s that massage may also help in regaining muscle control and balance, resulting in a physically rehabilitating effect on the patients. So, how does massage make this possible?

You see, as massage improves blood circulation and relieves pressure from the affected nerves, it subsequently returns sensation on the skin. And how is this helpful if you are a patient who suffers from neuropathy in the legs and feet? When sensation on the skin, especially on the bottom of your feet, is restored, you address the numbness that comes with neuropathy. As you start regaining sensation, you can expect to regain muscle strength.

And when the muscles become stronger? The extent to which you can move your muscles (ROM) and your ability to control them effectively (balance) also improve. So, should you get massage therapy right away? As tempting and inviting as your massage chair may be, remember to get clearance from your doctor before undergoing any treatment to address neuropathy symptoms. There may be given a set of precautions that you have to observe. You may also be advised to do it in moderation.

In short, you will be able to enjoy the health benefits of massage therapy with proper medical guidance.