Massage Therapy for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy

Massage Therapy for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy

Nerves are delicate organs in your body that play a crucial role in relaying information from one body region to another. Nerves are divided into either sensory or motor nerves. 

Sensory nerves are nerves that carry information from the body to the brain. For example, if your hand gets burned, your skin sends signals to the brain through nerves. Motor nerves, on the other hand, send signals from the brain to other body parts. When you get burned, the brain sends a signal to the burnt hand that makes you withdraw the hand from the source of heat. 

When nerve functioning is impaired, all these processes are impaired. According to a chiropractor El Segundo, one condition that affects nerves is familial amyloid polyneuropathy. 

Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy

This is a rare condition a chiropractor El Segundo also identifies as transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Roughly one in100,000 Americans have the condition. According to studies, people living in Japan, Portugal, and Brazil have an early onset of FAP. 

It is genetic and progresses slowly, meaning that it can take years before doctors detect the condition. The term neuropathy in FAP refers to a condition that damages nerves. In FAP, nerves in peripheral organs like the legs and arms are affected. It also affects the heart, kidneys, autonomic nervous system, and eyes. People with the condition have amyloid and protein deposits around these tissues and the peripheral nerves.

point mutation of the TTR gene causes the condition. In normal people, the TTR gene dictates the production of a Vitamin A transport protein from the liver and thyroxin hormone, but when the gene mutates, it causes the gradual build-up of proteins and amyloid deposits in the affected regions. 

Symptoms of the condition will depend on the severity and organs affected. However, symptoms of peripheral nerve damage are common in all patients. The symptoms include tingling or burning sensation and numbness of the extremities. Other symptoms are characteristic of the extent of organ damage. For example, heart damage from FAP presents with serious and life-threatening problems like blood pressure increase, irregular heartbeat, an enlarged heart, and ultimately, heart failure. 

Massage Therapy for FAP

Massage therapy in El Segundo has proven effective in the management of familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Massage in El Segundo is beneficial to FAP patients with extreme neuropathy of the legs and feet that causes restricted movement and daily activities. Activities like walking also stress the feet and legs, worsening the condition and its symptoms over time. Neurotherapy therapeutic massage El Segundo is effective in relieving the patient of this stress and nerve pain. Neurotherapy massage in El Segundo also benefits FAP patients in the following ways:

  • It initiates the release of endorphins from the body that naturally relieves nerve pain.
  • It improves blood circulation to the extremities, therefore boosting oxygenation and nutrient supply to the areas.
  • It promotes flexibility of joints, thereby improving motion range.
  • It promotes lymph flow in the extremities, which boosts the patient’s immunity.

Therapeutic massage El Segundo works in many ways for FAP patients to improve the quality of life. Massage therapy in El Segundo is also useful in reducing fatigue and anxiety and improving energy levels and sleep quality. A trained massage therapist should do massage therapy for familial amyloid polyneuropathy for maximum benefit.