My Physiatrist wanted me to go to massage 2 x week for 6 weeks, first appt was last Monday and on Tuesday morning my lower back hurt more and my neck a little more than usual, the therapist said that happens a lot and should be ok.

2nd appt was Friday and last night I had the most severe pain but now in my R butt, back of thigh and foot/big toe, it was burning so badly, took a pain pill which did nothing so finally at 5am took a Tizanidine and a Meloxicam which knocked me out.

The pain was always in my left leg/foot/big toe never the right leg.

I just don't know what to do, what's going on with the R leg now!!??

Always had pain in neck, L shoulder/arm but now this.

Has anyone experienced this after a massage, is it just a coincidence? who knows, I'm tired of all this pain!

Am seeing a neurosurgeon next month but am so frustrated.

Hi Sitke,

Someone (physiatrist or therapist) should have given you some idea of what to expect; if not, ask.

Some types of "massage"—like exercise—require warm-up & cool-down exercises/stretching; if they're not done (properly), trouble can result. Also keep hydrated.

Can you tell if the pain is sore muscles or nerve-related? Muscles like heat & magnesium (pills and/or lotion/epsom soak); nerves like cold (ice for 20 minutes, then stop) & NSAIDs. Ask therapist what else you can do.

My suggestion is try to keep the attitude positive, and keep giving feedback to the therapist and physiatrist. My guess is that it's temporary, but if there's a problem with the therapist, ask for a different one.

Doc

Not meaning to highjack the thread, but how can one distinguish between muscle and nerve pain?

For some it's an acquired skill, hence, "Can you tell..." It's arguable that all pain is nerve pain because all pain is transmitted via nerves, but the difference lies in cause & source of pain. There are also perceptual differences in what is classified as muscle pain vs. nerve pain.

Nerve Pain vs. Muscle Pain: Understanding the Difference.

In some ways it's like differentiating between cervicogenic (stress-related) headache and migraine. I get both kinds, and while I can usually tell the difference, they sometimes fool me, and I can get both kinds simultaneously—a double whammy. Like nerve pain, migraines don't typically respond to headache meds—and verse-vicesa.

Doc

Hi Doc,

So sorry not replied until now, have problem with memory...

Well, the physiatrist was baffled as to why a massage would set my right leg off in pain, but since then the pain there has gone except for my big toe.

He wanted me to go back to try more massage but more gently and have to say I did feel better, more relaxed I suppose the next day, but after that the pain would always come back, have had 12 sessions and not going right now.

No one is sure where this pain is coming from, it is either nerves or muscular, am going for an EMG very soon.

I just wish some test would show what this is.

Do you know if after 16-17 months this could still be muscular??

Neurosurgeon said a disc is SO close to a nerve in my lower back but the herniated disc in my neck is not close enough to cause all this pain, but....the symptoms I'm having are classic for the C7 nerve damage so it's all so confusing.

do you know how muscular damage is treated?

My left shoulder slopes much lower than the left one too.

Thank you

Hi Sitke,

Thanks for your thread. I have numerous conditions which include PN and also spinal issues amidst many others. I have NEVER had a massage and have always feared that it could/would make my back issues worse.

I would love to have a massage to help with the muscle pain I get in my back but have always been too chicken. There is a health facility near me that offers massage and one day I plan to try a massage.

I am very interested to see what other responses you get to your thread.

Next time I see my pain management doctor, I will seek his advice on the matter. He has a form that patients complete at each and every visit that asks if they have had massage since their last visit.

I am sure massage can be very beneficial in many instances but is it safe for everyone? I also understand there are many "types" of massage so I hope some posters to your thread will mention what types are for what conditions and which are contraindicated for certain conditions.

Thanks for your thread.

A deep message is not for me.

Hi Sitke, sorry not to reply sooner, you may remember I posted about remedial massage a couple of months ago as the next day after the first one I was in horrible pain. I realised that the pressure being used was to strong after the 2nd session and on 3rd I said to her please no pressure at all. I saw a different therapist last month and said no pressure again and it was better afterwards. My husband who suffers no pain had a massage at the same time and the therapist asked if the pressure was ok, he said yes and the next day he was aching all over, even to touch his shoulder/peck muscles hurt him. The only thing I can liken it to is when you are unfit and you use muscles you don't normally use they hurt the next few days, a massage can be like that, they stimulate the muscles and they hurt/ache dully the next few days. Nerve pain for me is not a generalised dull ache like muscle, it's firing and I can't find anywhere to put the limb, trying to find cool surfaces to lay it on and an overall sensation of extreme agitation. I'm not having anymore massage my insurance pays $28 and I pay $55 and I just can't afford it on top of medication etc. I find out this Thursday if I need another fusion, feeling very anxious and almost ill over it all.

AFAIK, any kind/type of pain can be chronic.
Muscle is soft tissue, which often heals on its own in time. Treatments depend on the kind/type and extent of damage.

How Muscles Heal & Recover From Injury

Doc