Ah! Massage is awesome!
I did the coolest thing the other day - I had two massage therapy treatments, each one week apart! This might not sound so amazing, but until now I have only been having one a month, and my chronic shoulder pain feels better for a few days, and then just comes right back. I know the pain is from trigger points in my rotator cuff, due to overuse at work. Of course the monthly treatments relieve the pain, but then I just go back to abusing that shoulder, and whammo!
So I finally took some of my own advice (that if you can’t give up your muscle straining habits, then you need to get treatment for them more often). And guess what - it worked! Not only does the shoulder feel way better than it ever has, but I also experienced an accumulative effect of therapy - I was still more relaxed from the first treatment, so during the second treatment my massage therapist didn’t have to spend half the time calming down my protective spasming around the rotator cuff, she just got right in there and went to work!
Please don’t think I am telling you that it is OK to abuse your bodies and then just go get treatment for it - because I am not. It is much better to avoid repetitive injuries in the first place. I am sharing this because if you are suffering from chronic pain, and only get therapy once in a while, I urge you to try a few treatments close together - you will be amazed at the difference.
If you can then follow up with some self care - regular exercise and stretching, and do try to limit those repetitive and straining activities, your body might just stop screaming at you!
