I decided to try this regime of treatment. It took 3 weeks for therapist availability and yesterday I had my first session. She was/is lovely, has been doing it for 6 years and her background is in science. Very knowledgeable and as it's her own business knows only to well the benefits of being warm and welcoming.

She was very concerned at how tight the muscle tissue etc is in the lumbar area and additionally upper back and cervical. She worked on me for about 75 minutes and at times it was quite painful. She said for me to use heat packs particularly around my neck / shoulders repeatedly over the weekend and I'm booked to see her again this Monday morning with a further follow up in 2 weeks. She told me to tell her when anything hurt to much so she could back off on the pressure so there were some occasions.

Today my neck is hurting where I injured it in the car accident and my lumbar area also quite painful. Apparently that is to be expected after your first initial treatments. Has anyone else had the same experience?

Would be a way to go
I always said I I ever won the lottery
It be something I give myself
A massage in the morning
And then again before bed time
I hope this helps in the end looking
foward to the progress ahead
anything to feel less pain
Enjoy them
Maybe just ease up a bit all over
and a gentle workout on your body
Thinking of you
To cold to be at the pool today
Will go tomorrow
Love
Me

Hi PamelaJune,

If you've posted any background on this therapy, I'm sorry, I missed it.

Does this person have any formal education/training/certification/license in this discipline?
I find that a little concerning. Massage therapists here are licensed/certified, which requires specific educational & testing fulfillments.

I'm not familiar with this type of massage at all, but I do have some experience with myofascial trigger point therapy ("massage"), and that can definitely leave one sore/achey for a day or two afterward.

Doc

Hi PamelaJune,

I had my first massage on Monday, physiatrist wants me to go twice a week for 6 weeks to see if it helps.

My lumbar area is painful and my neck but more in the lower back, the therapist did say most people say they get soreness in their lower back and it should get better. She was so gentle as when she touched certain areas I almost jumped off the table.

Feel better....epsom salts baths can help.

Hi PamelaJune,

How are you feeling? how is your back?

I posted yesterday but last night I was in horrific pain, my left butt, back of thigh and foot were on fire, never had that pain there before??!

Pain pills were doing nothing so at 5am took a Tizanidine and Meloxicam and finally fell asleep as they always knock me out.

The pain in my leg is awful, it was always in my L leg before so wondering if these massages are doing this?

I sure hope you feel better, I am wondering?

Not having a good week, lots of pain and feeling very low. Will post when I feel a bit better! Thanks for asking

Hope you are not having added pain because of this therapy.

I would be quite cautious myself allowing someone to put much pressure on my spine or legs/feet. But, if there is a record of improvement showing this type of therapy being successful; guess I might be tempted.

When you feel up to it would like to know how you are doing. Also, if you feel this is a possibility that just needs time to regenerate and lessen pain.


Gerry

Yes, when you're up to it let us know you'e ok.

Today my lower back is still hurting a lot but my R leg is in and out of pain so maybe it's getting better.

Take care...

hi Pam,
I had 9 appts for massage therapy over 3 weeks, several yrs ago but at the time, my pain was mostly neuropathic. I was so tight from the pain, they were just trying to loosen me up.

To answer your question, the first week was very painful. The therapist warned me it was going to be more painful at first but then would recede, and it did. He had a word I cannot recall for having been in pain for so long, I was ultra sensitive to any strong touch. He said we had to work on that hyper sensitivity first, then address each area of pain. At the time we were just dealing with damage to my nervous system from Lyme infection, not all the issues you have. My muscles were like rocks from tensing from pain so he was basically working on release type massage and getting as much blood flow to as many areas as possible.

My concern for you is, you have had car accidents and multiple surgeries and whoever works on you has to be very cognizant of not doing MORE harm.
If this is a therapist that you can be honest with and just say, that hurts too much, back off in that area and they understand and work with you, maybe it is worth continuing.

Don't know if this therapist does this but doing abdominal massage can be amazingly beneficial. I had a guy who specialized in it and it is amazingly what massage and additional blood flow does to the area and how loose you feel, not to mention the benefits to your digestive tract.

I hope the pain has lessened Pam.
Take care, D

That can be a ticklish subject...

I saw my PCP a few days ago, and he likewise commented about the rigidity/stress/tension in the muscles around my pain sites—that and what he termed as a "pain posture". Then he asked if my DW could help by massaging my neck/shoulders once in a while. We both (DW, self) laughed, because she's been doing that almost every morning for some time now, and it does help a lot. My concern is that between our aging and her own health issues, how much longer will this be possible? Daily/frequent visits with a therapist, or continuous use of muscle relaxers aren't really practical.

For reasons unknown, I woke up with a level 9 headache yesterday that wouldn't respond to any kinds of treatments. DW cranked on it as long as she could, several times, and we did locate triggerpoints that were telegraphing (difficult to find). The only reason I didn't go to the ER is the ordeal they put you through just to get a rescue shot. The cussed thing finally broke, but we're both wiped out from it today, and those trigger points are sore as usual. Small price to pay in exchange for that kind of headache.

Doc