Chronic pain, if you’re one of the many living with it, you’ve probably reached for pain medication at some point, either hoping the over-the-counter stuff will do its job or getting apprehensive about the effects of prescription drugs.

Whether it’s an OTC anti-inflammatory or a prescription, pain relievers offer temporary relief when you need a quick fix.  But are they really treating the problem, or just placing a bandage over the symptoms?

Knowing the difference between pain medications and medical massage therapy can assist in making informed decisions regarding the best long-term plan for chronic pain management.

Pain Medication and What it Does Well

We don’t want to knock pain medicine like it’s something to be avoided at all costs.  There are definitely concerns around adverse side effects, but it has its rightful place in healthcare.  Pain medications can:

• Decrease inflammation following an injury
• Reduce post-surgery pain
• Enhance quality of life (when used properly)
• Make pain flare-ups more tolerable

But there is a downside.  The majority of pain medications don’t address the main source of the discomfort.  After the effects of the medicine wear off, pain is likely to resurface.  The underlying cause didn’t change.

Regular usage can come with potential side effects, too.  Stomach issues; increased risk of cardiovascular conditions with some anti-inflammatories; potential liver damage from high acetaminophen intake; or dependence on habit forming prescription medications.

How Massage Therapy Takes a Different Approach

In addition to offering pain relief, a therapeutic massage also focuses on restoring proper function.  At Moyer Total Wellness, our goal isn’t to give you a temporary fix.  Our therapists are trained to address your imbalances so pain occurs less frequently over time.  We approach these issues through our four-step treatment protocol:

Step 1: Remove Knots

Muscular knots can cause localized pain or refer it to other parts of the body.  By releasing muscle tension, our first step helps reduce discomfort and improve blood flow to affected tissues.

Step 2: Lengthen Shortened Muscle Fibers

Locked-short muscles limit motion and can pull joints out of alignment.  Lengthening muscular tissue will improve flexibility, decrease joint stiffness, and allow the body to move more fluidly.

Step 3: Strengthen Weak Muscles

Overworked muscles cause opposing muscles to grow long and weak.  After lengthening, strengthening the muscles that can’t do their jobs creates better balance throughout the musculoskeletal system and decreases unnecessary strain.

Step 4: Mobilize Joints

When healthy, joints should be able to comfortably move through their full range of motion.  Assisted joint mobilization techniques can enhance mobility, reduce stiffness, and keep your body moving with more efficiency.

Which Option Is Better?

The answer depends on the individual’s unique situation. 

Medication may be the right call when you need short-term relief from acute pain, inflammation, or post-surgical discomfort.  Therapeutic massage can be a more effective option for lingering issues, including:

• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Headaches
• Sports injuries
• Stress related muscle tension 
• Tight muscles

For many, massage therapy and medications complement one another.  Medication may assist with pain management in the short term while massage targets the muscular and joint dysfunction contributing to recurring pain. 

Looking Beyond Temporary Relief 

Through identifying muscular imbalance, improving joint mobility, and correcting movement patterns, massage therapy works to treat the source of musculoskeletal pain rather than cover the symptoms.

At our office, each session is guided by our four-step protocol: remove knots, lengthen shortened muscle fibers, strengthen weak muscles, and mobilize joints. We want to help you move more comfortably so you can recover more completely.

Resources

Dowell, D., Ragan, K., Jones, C., Baldwin, G., & Chou, R. (2022). CDC clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain. MMWR. Recommendations and Reports, 71(3), 1–95. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1 

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2018, December). Massage therapy for health : What the science says. Nccih.   https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/massage-therapy-for-health-science 

Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., & Forciea, M. A. (2017). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(7), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.7326/m16-2367 

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