Medical Massage for Lupus

When people think of massage they often think of luxury — something to reward or pamper yourself with. Some may use it to alleviate stress, or perhaps a pulled muscle from a workout at the gym. Massage is not something many recognize as medicinal in nature, nor do they think it is something that could help them battle an autoimmune disease such as lupus.

There are many types of massages, such as aromatherapy with essential oils, hot stones, Swiss, Thai. A good massage therapist, if she has honed her craft, has a bag of tricks up her sleeve that can truly help whatever ails you.

Some of the benefits of frequent massages for lupus patients include joint pain relief, relaxation, and better sleep. Joint pain seems to increase at night, so painful nights are not uncommon for lupus patients. If you let the massage therapist work on your tummy she could even help with digestive issues.

Massage to ease pain

To help you make the most of your massage time, you can ask your therapist to focus in a specific area of your body. For example, if you have frequent headaches you can ask that you only have a head massage. However, because not all therapist are created equal, be sure that prior to booking your appointment you let someone know if you have a special requests. Also, let the therapist know that you are battling an autoimmune disease. Depending on our circumstance, you might experience more pain than others and you might bruise or bleed more easily. It is important that they are informed so they can make proper adjustments.

There are a lot of chain massage companies, so your options are many. But, as someone battling an autoimmune disease, I recommend seeking out a medical massage therapist.  You will pay more but they are better equipped to handle the issues you may be experiencing. Lupus can often eat away vital muscle tissue. Having someone who knows how to manipulate your body to get optimum results for you is a far cry better than having someone who sees all bodies as the same and can do more harm than good for you.

Massage can help not only with joint pain, headache relief, and relaxation but it also helps keep your blood flowing. It also releases toxins from the body so make sure to drink plenty of water before and after your massage. A weekly session would be ideal, but once a month will still be beneficial.

How often are you getting a massage?

Note: Lupus News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Lupus News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to lupus.