Dear Mr. Pete,

My PT massaged the back of my head (occipital area, I believe it is called) on the 8th of 9th of July where I have RSD, and I suffered from excrutiating head pain for the following 2 1/2 weeks. It was probably the worst pain I have experienced ever in my whole life, and if I didn't like him so much I would have quit PT with him after that. I am fairly certain that he did not intend for the massage to end up having such a horrible outcome. It typically takes about 12 hours or so for my pain to emerge (I suffer a lot from delayed pain), so even though I was really dizzy and my head hurt a lot when he massaged it, the agony didn't appear until the middle of the night when I woke up and started to heave.

Since the first of 2 shoulder surgeries in May of 2007, I haven't allowed anyone to touch my shoulder. It's where my RSD started. My skin became desensitized last winter when I had to start wearing clothes. I need to put Lidoderm patches under my clothes first before I get dressed. But that's all I allow on my skin - no hands, NO MASSAGE. ever. I don't want anyone to touch me. When I wear heavy clothes it feels like I have a rock on my shoulder. What would be the point of massage?

Good luck with your patients. Remember to always ask them how they are doing.

Sandy