massage Therapy & postural alignment for Pain Management

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When a client shows up in pain, my number one intention will be to reduce it.  Some will benefit more with gentle movement, others with hands-on treatment, it depends on the condition and whether the condition is chronic or acute. 

Pain is extremely complex, with many factors playing into it.  People develop pain for different reasons, from lifestyle habits to congenital factors.  Although imaging is very helpful, it is oftentimes a mistake to fully attribute the source of your pain to the abnormalities found in those images.  Arthritis is an excellent example because it is so common.  I can't count how many clients have been under the impression that arthritis is solely responsible for their pain, when in fact muscle/tendon, fascia, and ligamentous tissue are contributors.  Sleeping positions, computer work, sitting/standing and driving habits all contribute.  I could go on.  Inflammation can be reduced, and of course joint position can be corrected. 

If you are not getting relief from hands on physical therapy and/or exercises that are focussed on the area of your pain, then the problem could be elsewhere in your body. The usual suspects are other joints, commonly above or below the painful joint, or compensating muscle groups. 

Pain is processed in the brain in response to signals coming from the body.  It is a messenger that something is wrong.  "Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change its structure and function in response to activity and mental experience." (Norman Doidge - The Brain's Way of Healing)

Mindfulness-based stress reduction practices have repeatedly demonstrated that they increase pain tolerance and reduce emotional distress.  Suffering with pain in the body is very often not merely physical, but also carries emotions of fear and resistance.  Techniques like guided imagery and deep breathing can help you to recognize all that is going on, distract from pain, and promote relaxation and healing.