Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness, characterised by 18 pressure points of pain all over the body, although it is often seen commonly in the neck, shoulders, upper arm and back. It tends to be more common in women, particularly middle-aged women. Could Reflexology help the symptoms?
Diagnosis & Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
It can be difficult to get a diagnosis, as chronic pain can be similar to other illnesses such as Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis. For a diagnosis of fibromyalgia to be given in the UK, there has to have been pain in the dedicated 18 points, for a period of 3 months.
The pain can be very debilitating and often goes hand in hand with brain fog and chronic fatigue. In fact, for some people these illnesses are intertwined. This affects their everyday life, as the moment they awake, they are beset by pain. They are often affected by gut dysfunction, thyroid issues and sleep disorders, that can affect their quality of life and ultimately can lead to depression. Their adrenal function will be on overdrive, causing a constant state of anxiety.
The medical world does not know what causes the condition and seeks to offer pain management medication but this is not always successful and can often cause weight gain.
The holistic viewpoint
Looking at fibromyalgia from an holistic viewpoint, it takes on another persona. All illness has a physical and emotional component to it and fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are no exception.
Often the illness can be triggered by a traumatic event and the emotion that is caused by it. The brain is very clever at protecting you from emotional pain, as that is often the hardest to deal with. Therefore, a whole person approach is necessary to help support the client to recovery.
The physical dysfunction of the thyroid, adrenals and digestion etc needs to be addressed first.
Are certain personalities more susceptible to Fibromyalgia?
Although the medical model would say no, there are certain personalities types that are more prone.
Those classic ‘A-type people that do everything for everyone. They have a high work ethic and tend to be very driven. Ironically, they can also be very hard on themselves and have low self worth. They also classically don’t deal with emotions and will bury themselves in work.
reflexology for Fibromyalgia
Reflexology is a complementary therapy that is well placed to help support fibromyalgia sufferers.
- Firstly, it can help to reduce stress and rebalance the body systems.
- Help reduce nerve pain( as seen in research studies)
- Reduce digestive issues by working on these points
- Promote better sleep by calming the body and triggering the parasympathetic state(which helps with rest & digestion)
- Improve circulation and sense of wellbeing
It is completely non-invasive and very relaxing to receive, a welcome respite from the constant pain.
If you would like to book a session, I offer a block of six treatments to help support you, contact me here.
I have first hand knowledge of fibromyalgia and the effects it can have on you. I have further training in helping you to recover with a proven pioneering Recovery programme from The Chrysalis Effect. If you would like to find out more then contact me for a free no-obligation discovery call to find out more. It might just be the roadmap to recovery that you are looking for.