Let it go!
Last week we began a series of blog posts dedicated to addressing therapies for the most common types of physical pain. We continue here. . .
A review, what is pain?
Pain is the body’s way of letting you know something is wrong. Pain occurs in many different ways and on many levels. Because pain is such a subjective concept, this article will focus on what I see in my practice.
Generally, my patients experience one of the following four types of pain:
- Back pain
- Sore muscles
- Joint pain
- Headaches
This week, we will deal with Category Two, sore muscles.
Two ends of the muscle soreness spectrum
Muscles soreness results from one of two kinds of stress. Stress from exercise is good. Stress from emotional tension not so good.
Let’s talk about exercise. When you exercise, over time you get stronger. The road to getting stronger is paved with aches, pain and strain. Yet we do this because we know the “soreness” is a good thing. We feel like we are doing something. You get stronger because the body is adapting to the extra physical demands.
Emotional stress is an altogether different predator. Our subconscious carries the daily burden of dealing with emotional stress. In my practice, complaints begin with neck and shoulder soreness followed by upper back and or lower back pain. Then the patient might tell me that he or she has been taking various pain medications to control the pain/soreness, and that they experience temporary relief, but the discomfort continually comes back. In cases like this, I typically hear about the stress they are having too. I’m not a trained psychologist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once, so I’m qualified to be a good listener?
Relief for sore muscles
All kidding aside, I treat these situations differently. For a person whose problem is due to exercise or physical activity, I usually begin with an approach that involves Myofascia Release Therapy and progress from there, depending upon how their body responds.
For a person who discloses that the soreness may be the result of emotional stress, the best approach is Myofascia Release Therapy with the goal being “Somato Emotional Release” or SER. I learned about SER while studying Cranio Sacral Therapy at the Upledger Institute. SER happens when the body is ready to give up the stress it’s holding on to. The release itself can be anything from a deep sigh, crying hysterically to uncontrolled laughter. When the body is ready and the environment is right the body will get rid of the negative energy.
In the case of emotional stress, usually the subconscious has held on to a negative emotion that has manifested itself in the body as sore muscles, or worse, a debilitating problem such as high blood pressure (hypertension is the medical term, the word itself is pretty indicative). After body work, the end result in either case is reduced pain.
How long should it take to see results?
Exercise-induced soreness responds more quickly. Soreness caused by emotional stress, depending on the level or severity, usually requires more follow up therapies to get favorable results. I have noticed most back issues are associated with an emotional component. Ergo, it takes a little longer to get positive results.
Okay. That covers Category Two, muscle soreness. Always remember, getting body work can help you on your way to better health. Until next time. . .
peace and love,
Chuck.