Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2026

Summer 2026 • 45

Medications usually prescribed for treatment of epilepsy and depression have been found to also be effective for treatment of both diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia: 58 Antiseizure drugs Possible side effects pertinent to massage therapy include: 58 • Drowsiness and dizziness • Edema in extremities Antidepressants Depending on the class of antidepressant prescribed, possible side effects pertinent to massage therapy include: 58 OTC and prescribed medications used to treat the side effects of medications needed to treat RA symptoms and progression, RA complications, and comorbid conditions are numerous and represent both personal preference and individual tolerance for side effects. They can include: • Antiemetics, antinausea drugs, and laxatives • Stimulants, diuretics, and sleeping pills • Iron pills, vitamins, and nutritional supplements Surgical Protocols for RA Patients Clinical management of RA symptoms and progression requires an array of therapies and treatment, in addition to OTC medications and lifestyle adaptations. Injections of medicines and other compounds directly into RA-affected joints are more commonly done for treatment of joints damaged by osteoarthritis (OA), and have not been widely studied for effectiveness in treating RA but are sometimes utilized as part of an overall RA treatment plan. Many of these treatments are not covered by health insurance and are quite expensive. 59 Types of joint injection medications and aspirations include : 59 Corticosteroids. A combination of a corticosteroid such as cortisone, along with a numbing agent, is injected directly into the • Dry mouth and drowsiness • Nausea and constipation For medication side effects

affected joint, most often the ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, and small joints of the hands, feet, spine and wrists. Corticosteroid injections provide fast, temporary reduction of pain and inflammation, lasting about a month. Some people experience a temporary exacerbation of pain in the injected joint, which typically resolves in 48 hours. Repeated cortisone shots, however, can cause the cartilage to deteriorate and weaken tendons and ligaments around the joint. Corticosteroid joint injections are usually covered by health insurance. Prolotherapy. A series of injections of an irritant (often a sugar solution) into joints, ligaments and tendons, based on the theory that these injections stimulate local healing of injured tissues. A treatment program may involve 15 to 20 shots given monthly for three to four months. Health insurance rarely covers the procedure, and per-session costs can run many hundreds of dollars depending on the joint treated. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP ) . PRP is made from the patient’s own blood, which is then injected into a painful joint. Blood is drawn, then prepared by spinning it in a centrifuge and separating out the desired parts. The solution injected into a joint contains a large number of platelets and proteins that have anti inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. This procedure is usually performed by an orthopedic surgeon or a pain management physician and can be delivered as a one-time shot or once a week for three weeks. PRP injections are generally not covered by health insurance and can cost up to $2,000 for the series. “Several studies show that PRP relieves the pain and stiffness in arthritis, but the jury is still out about long-term efficacy,” says Christopher Evans, Ph.D., professor and director of the Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and he warns that “it doesn’t lead to tissue or cartilage regeneration.” 59 Autologous conditioned serum (ACS). The patient’s own blood is drawn and incubated in a special container, usually overnight, resulting in an increased concentration of anti-inflammatory

Many of these treatments are not covered by health insurance and are quite expensive.

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