I was diagnosed with arthritis about five years ago. While my symptoms are relatively mild in terms of severity, pain, and discomfort, adjusting to this “new normal” has been challenging. One of the hardest lessons has been realizing that pain doesn’t always mean I’m causing more damage to my body. What I’ve learned through my physiotherapy and massage therapy experiences at Optimal Health is that pain can be managed — and even lessened — with the right approach.
After my diagnosis, I spent a lot of time researching through the Arthritis Society of Canada. Again and again, acupuncture and massage therapy came up as recommended options for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and keeping me moving. I decided to give them a try.
My arthritis is most noticeable in one of my thumbs and my lower back (lumbar spine), each affecting me in different ways:
- Thumb pain and weakness made it hard to unscrew jar lids, wring out a dishcloth, hold a glass confidently, shovel for long periods, lift weights, or even squeeze a water bottle while biking.
- Lower back pain could be completely debilitating, affecting almost every movement. At its worst, I couldn’t get comfortable sitting, standing, or lying down, and the constant discomfort became exhausting and disheartening. I felt like I could no longer enjoy my favourite activities.
Since Optimal Health offers both physiotherapy (with acupuncture) and massage therapy, I liked the idea that the practitioners could compare notes on my progress — what was working and what wasn’t. It turned out to be the right decision.
During physiotherapy, Kathy did a thorough assessment of my pain points, mobility, and strength, and developed a treatment plan that included acupuncture. Full disclosure — I was skeptical about whether acupuncture could help arthritic pain. But after just two treatments, I was amazed at the pain-free mobility I had in both my thumb and my back. I could squeeze my bike water bottle again without discomfort, and I was finally able to get comfortable in bed for a solid night’s sleep. Hallelujah!
Massage therapy has been equally valuable. When my pain flares up, my muscles tense up and cause even more pain. Massage therapy helps release these areas of tension and improves my mobility. This helps prevent further injury from “guarding” sore areas. It’s also made me more aware of when I’m holding tension, so I can consciously relax during daily activities.
Neither treatment cures arthritis, but regular sessions have kept my symptoms manageable and allowed me to stay active and comfortable. Sometimes I book treatments more frequently — even bi-weekly — if my pain is flaring. Other times, I can space them out every 4–6 weeks. It’s not about committing to weekly or bi-weekly visits forever, but about staying proactive and treating issues before they become debilitating.