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Gentle rhythm chases the painful blues away

Rhythmical massage is frequently used to help not just physical aches and pains but also emotional problems, as the two are often inextricable. One can undermine the other. Psychological problems often accompany physical illness and vice versa, as Jenny Pender, pictured above with husband James, knows only too well.

Jenny, who is 56, worked for over 35 years with children and teenagers with disabilities, and found her job extremely rewarding if very demanding, both emotionally and physically. “Some of these children were really young adults, and there was a lot of heavy lifting involved. Unfortunately I suffered a lower back injury as a result of regular strain on my back, and also injured my knee. This led to arthritis and chronic muscular pain”.

The extreme and unrelenting pain meant she was forced to give up her job two years ago, which led to a downward spiral of depression and drinking.

Divorced, and with grown children who had flown the nest, Jenny found herself alone and out of work. She was relying not only on heavy–duty anti–inflammatory pain killing drugs [taking a staggering eight–a–day] but also became addicted to tranquilisers over some time. “Having to give up work was a big blow. I lost the most worthwhile thing in my life. I was so low, the physical pain and the psychological pain just blurred into one and I was unable to pick myself up”.

In addition to conventional drug treatment, Jenny tried various forms of complementary medicine including visiting a chiropractor, osteopath and physiotherapist – but found these only aggravated the pain. She received acupuncture which did relieve the pain temporarily, and relaxed some of the tensions, but the effect only lasted a couple of hours each time.

Jenny’s life has quite literally turned around since she first found out about Park Attwood and was prescribed a course of massage therapy. Through a friend, Jenny was introduced to the clinic and had her first consultation with Dr Maurice Orange who suggested rhythmical massage as a cornerstone to her treatment. He also prescribed some supportive natural remedies to help improve liver function which had been compromised by heavy drinking.

“Having had a back injury, I was at first really nervous of the idea of massage and felt extremely vulnerable. The massage therapist used a wonderfully aromatic arnica massage balm [arnica flower pictured above]. For the first time in years I was pain free, and actually fell asleep during the massage. Imagine how excited I was when this had a lasting effect. I could start to piece my life back together again.”

She also made the decision to stop drinking. “My fiancé James came to collect me from the clinic to take me home, and I was absolutely terrified of going home sober and clear–headed, without the emotional crutch that drink had given me. It was really daunting, but I felt I had the full support of the medical staff and therapists at Park Attwood, and I felt really encouraged because I was pain free for the first time in years”.

Jenny now takes just one slow release anti–inflammatory pain killer, day and night, to help with the arthritis and rheumatism, which is a far more manageable dose. Following the successful massage treatment, she felt sufficiently strong in August, of last year, to start rebuilding other areas of her life. She took a significant step in her recovery and joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and with this support she has successfully stopped drinking.

“I was trying to drink away the pain, and once the massage therapy had reduced the physical symptoms I was able to recognise that alcohol was not helping the emotional pain at all. In fact it was having a negative effect, weakening my ability to cope with physical problems, undermining my immune system, putting stress on my liver and kidneys. Once pain–free and drink–free, I felt strong enough to take other self–help measures and bought several books on detox and cleansing my liver, and generally improving my health”. Her blood tests show that her liver is now functioning healthily and her body is recovering from years of alcohol abuse.

“At Park Attwood I realised that I had the ability to make important changes and improve my life beyond recognition. It has taken years off me. The massage therapy was the catalyst that made me look closely at my health again. My skin is now clear, I have sparkling eyes, I feel mentally more positive, I exude more confidence, and my levels of concentration are hugely improved.”

In September she was thrilled to get married, and her husband James has been extremely supportive along the road to recovery. Jenny no longer takes anti–depressants, and in the New Year with the help of her GP she successfully weaned herself off the tranquilisers which had proved so addictive.

Jenny returns to Park Attwood as an out–patient for intermittent massage treatments every few weeks to ease the muscular spasm that often accompanies arthritis and joint problems. Her situation improves all the time. She has recently starting doing voluntary work looking after children whose parents are involved in court battles. “It’s not the same as working with disabled children, but these are still kids with special needs, and I know it will be rewarding”.

• Click here for further information about Park Attwood.

• Always seek advice from your GP or healthcare professional.

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