All of us have good days and bad days, some days with tremendous pain, some with no pain, some with average pain. My question is are your TENDER points always tender?

Actually, they are always there to some degree. My massage therapist finds them when she's working on me. When she finds a spot, I'll say "Ouch!" and she'll always say, I'm sorry....and keep pushing on the spot to release it, LOL!

If it is a trigger point it can be released and needs to be for best results, but they can come back too. And releasing trigger points can make the other hidden or latent ones show up.



A tender point won't be able to be released like a trigger point.

I find that all my trigger points are at the least, somewhat painful everyday. Some days are better than others, but lately it seems they are much more than somewhat painful.

I wish I could afford to go to a massage therapist. Seems I might get some relief even if only for a day or two and that would be so very welcomed!


Always,
seara

Seara, yes, massage therapists are expensive. But I honestly think if I weren't doing this, I'd be in worse shape. Our local hospital has a physical therapy unit and there are physical therapists who also do massage. They are a lot cheaper than the therapists in private business. Maybe that could be an option for you??

A good Myofascial Triggerpoint Massage Therapist will teach you (or a partner/caregiver/etc.) how to treat those chronic trigger points (the ones that keep coming back every few days) at home, which can/will $ave a lot.

There's also the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook
http://www.triggerpointbook.com/

As noted, this is not for tender points.

Doc

Yes, if you are having trigger points you can work on many of them yourself.
just a tennis ball or a rubber dog ball , golf ball anything that you can use to apply the pressure to the area.

i used a tennis ball on the floor or against a wall - just roll it around til you hit the sore spot and hold pressure til it fades away usually 30+ seconds.
But some times you just need somebody with a thumb or knuckle to get the spots you can't reach.

TrPs are only in the muscles so stay away from bones, joints & veins & arteries.

There is lots of info on the web , even videos on you tube etc that will show how it is done.

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...t+therapy&aq=f

It also occured to me (20-20 hindsight) that some trigger points can return (or other problems be created) if the treatment is not followed up properly with further massage, stretching exercises, etc. - sometimes on the opposite side of the body than the original trigger point. This was explained (and stressed) by my therapist (I don't recall if the books/videos go into it sufficiently) as a 'balancing'. It's been a while, so my memory is a bit fuzzy, but we learned it as part of the process, so it's become automatic and we don't think about it - just do it.

Doc

I have the trigger points book. Its very good. I also have a massage therapist and a PT that I had to start using again. Its because of a car accident this time. But the massage therapist I use most of the year.

Donna

Many years ago when my journey was beginning I learned that there are massage therapists and there are massage therapists. Licensing/certification is different in almost every state as far as education/training and testing/examinations go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massage#United_States

The first therapist I went to was licensed by the state, but did not perform the type of massage she was licensed for (even when I requested it) because she said it hurt her hands, so she limited her practice to Shiatsu. Turned out the only training she had in Shiatsu was a weekend long seminar and reading a couple of books. On the third visit she began waving her hands over me and chanting.... that was enough - I was outta there.

Eventually, I found a licensed therapist certified in myofascial trigger point therapy (and others) with credentials up the wazoo, member of the NAMTPT,15 years experience, and college level instructor in same. It made all the difference in the world, and her rates were the same as the first bozo.

Check these "therapists" out carefully. Quiz them about their education, licensing & certifications, experience in the type of massage you're seeking, professional affiliations, etc., and then verify.

Doc