The Lymphatic Answer
- Feb 12, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 4, 2023
Episode 8: Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Fibromyalgia:
Part 2 of the Massage and Fibromyalgia Series
There is nothing like a good long massage for my fibromyalgia pain. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that effects 2% of the adult population in the US and characterized by widespread pain and tenderness, fatigue, problems with sleep, depression and anxiety among other symptoms. I tend to have pain from my skull down to my sacrum, wrapping around my ribcage, and radiating through my limbs. Knowing this, my massage therapist is amazing. She uses several massage modalities in her treatment sessions, including lymphatic drainage. This modality is commonly used to treat people with lymphedema and those recovering from surgery. But it is also an effective alternative therapy to relieve the pain symptoms of people with fibromyalgia.
What is Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic drainage massage is a manual manipulation of the fluids in your arms and legs, neck and other areas where fluids can collect and get stagnant. The massage moves the lymph fluids towards the lymph nodes where they can be filtered and recycled. Knowing that lymph nodes, "attack, destroy, and eliminate waste" it is important to keep this fluid moving.
Helping the Body Help Itself
In a pilot study, women with fibromyalgia who underwent lymphatic drainage massage for 4
weeks reported less pain, less stiffness, and better sleep even 2 months after the treatment had ended. I am happy to report my massage therapist practices this as a part of her services. On her website she explains, "Lymphatic Drainage is a very gentle massage that helps to direct lymphatic fluid towards the lymph nodes. The lymphatic system is part of your immune system and cleans toxins, proteins, ... and dead cells about 20 times faster than the body is able to do by itself. Once a large amount of toxins are eliminated, the body is able to relax more deeply and use its energy more directly to regenerate the cells". When she does this during my massage, I can feel fluid slide gently away from where it seems to have pooled to wherever she is directing it. When this happens, as Alexis A. Kecskes of Pacific College of Health and Sciences says, "Lymphatic drainage procedures ... allow the body’s own healing systems to do what it is intended to do". Helping the body help itself is the name of the game.
From a Science and Medical Perspective:
Patients with fibromyalgia also tend to have disordered autonomic function. Our autonomic system includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. An autonomic disorder may mean that there is an overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight, flight, or freeze response when we
are in danger and when this system is overstimulated the results can be anxiety, poor digestion, insomnia, and more - all common symptoms of fibromyalgia. Sympathetic dysfunction has been reported with this disorder and may be an underlying issue in patients with fibromyalgia. How can lymphatic drainage help?Lymphatic drainage massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which counteracts the sympathetic nervous system and lets our body and brain know that we are safe and calm. Calming the brain and body, decongesting the body's systems by eliminating toxins and debris is key in fighting the pain and fatigue of this disorder. Lymphatic drainage treatment can help to reduce pain symptoms and improve health-related quality of life.
Lymphatic Drainage for Fibromyalgia
But what does this mean for fibromyalgia? How can lymphatic drainage help people living with this disorder? I'm going to go out on a limb here and tell you, it might mean feeling better. It might mean less pain, more sleep, and improved sense of well-being. At first, lymphatic massage may make you feel yucky, like you have the flu, with muscle aches and pains, nausea, and headache. As the toxins move through your lymph nodes on their way to elimination, your body will work hard to get rid of them. In this case, it may take up to 24 hours to feel better. However, along with the calm that comes with stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, lymphatic drainage often results in a feeling of rejuvenation, relaxation, and increased vitality.
Lymphatic Drainage DIY
Here's the exciting part! You can learn to do lymphatic drainage massage on yourself. Though you may not be
able to mimic exactly what a licensed massage therapist who is highly trained in this modality can do, you can at least provide yourself some relief. As I am not an expert in massage, I will not provide instruction in this post, but there are countless videos, articles, and blogs that do provide excellent "How to's" and DIY's on self-administered lymphatic drainage massage techniques. Linked below are 5 sources you can click on to review and learn about self-administered lymphatic drainage massage:
This is a patient information guide created for cancer patients, but useful for all who are interested in self-administered lymphatic massage. This pdf explains the lymph system basics, why lymphatic massage is important, and how to do lymphatic massage on yourself: on the head and neck.
This is a patient information guide created for patients with lower body lymphedema, but useful for all who are interested in self-administered lymphatic self-massage. This pdf explains the lymph system basics, why lymphatic massage is important, and how to do lymphatic massage on yourself: on the trunk and lower limbs.
This article starts with a basic introduction to the lymphatic system. It moves into the rudimentary steps of lymphatic drainage on your face and neck all the way to your ankles and feet. It concludes with the many benefits and safety of lymphatic drainage.
This is a video tutorial that is part 2 of a 3 part series on the lymph system. In this video you watch how you can do lymphatic massage on yourself at home.
This is a video tutorial that is a DIY that shows how to do a full body lymphatic drainage massage. It begins by explaining what the lymphatic system is and where it is located in the body. It explains the function of the lymphatic system, and shows how to do a self-administered lymphatic massage from head to toe.
In Review
Lymphatic drainage is a very gentle massage that helps to move lymphatic fluid through the lymphatic system which is responsible for cleansing unhealthy debris from the body. It engages the parasympathetic nervous system promoting a sense of calm. It helps decongest the body's systems which can result in feelings of rejuvenation, relaxation, and increased vitality. Helping the body help itself to remove toxins, proteins, dead cells and other waste leaves room then for the body to improve its immune system and function better. Lymphatic Drainage massage can be a part of the answer to achieving a healthier you.
If you enjoyed this post, share it with your friends and colleagues, and consider becoming a subscriber. If you have any tips or suggestions about how to better cope with chronic pain, leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!
Karen Palmen, EdD is a veteran educator in Saint Paul, Mn. She teaches Dance and English at Saint Paul Central High School. She has an active TikTok page that features humorous, political, mental health, and educational content (kickin it with karen). And a a dormant YOUTUBE channel with the same name, featuring fermented foods and other cooking oddities.
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The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Sources:
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