Feeling terrible after massage
 

Hi!

My doctor advised me to get a massage of my shoulders and neck (I think this will help on my "concussion" headache). I did that on Wednesday. The masseuse was very, very careful and did not rub hard or anything and the massage was only for about 20 minutes (I could not feel it was affecting my head during the massage). However, after this I have been much worse. I've had a worse headache and feel dizzy and nauseous since Wednesday. What is you other people's experience with massage and PCS?
Seems like this is something I should avoid in the future... I always tend to do stupid things that makes me worse, so I guess I should start doing nothing at all...

Or to be precise. My doctor thought it would help.... From now on I will stick to getting advises from this website. My doctor obviously think I have some kind of "tension" headache, but it really doesn't feel like that.

Did they tell you to drink lots of clear fluids after the massage?
That helps to flush out any toxins the massage releases.

You might have trigger points that need to be released. Those can cause headaches.

A chart to find possible TrPs-
http://www.pressurepointer.com/pain_reference_chart.htm

TrP info-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread125577.html

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I did drink a lot after the massage, and the massage was so gentle so I can't believe I was became so dizzy afterwards and the following days (still have it).

Has anyone else with post concussion syndrome experienced the same?

I did about 6 session of very gentle body work, and even then, I felt like it was very painful. I also would get dizzyness, nausea and intense headaches after massages, but I know now it is part of my on-going vestibular issues.

I stopped massages, and now do acupuncture, daily walks and vitamins. I sometimes apply gentle pressure with my fingers (ring or middle finger) on the pressure points (around eyes, behind head/near ears, behind neck) and ice, this may help.

I think you would need to see an osteopath or gentle chiropractor who has dealt with whiplash or cervical pain after mtbi/ head injury.

It really is hard to find the specific experience to help with this condition. best of luck to you-

Physio not good either
 

Just after my accident I went to physio, I did very little, they just put the electroids on my neck.

I was always really sick after and finally gave up on it all together.

I did have a lot better success with chiropractor.

Good Luck.

Hi, I had cranial massage about a month after my injury, as like you my doctor suggested I was very tense. Well after the first one the following day I felt terrible, nausea stomach pains reanalysing bad headache. Had to lie donw rest of day. I did five more of these but finally gave up as felt so bad.
I now do yoga and have reflexology which is working for me.
I guess we all respond differently. I do hope you find something that will work.
Sometimes though we can over do things, maybe less is more.
Rest seems the best for me also.
I wish you well, you will get there. I know. Just takes time X
Carole x

Hi,
The same thing happened to me, I kept going back because for a full minute after the massage there was no pain, which was quickly followed by much worse pain. Later I told my nero about it and he said Duh its going to hurt more they didn't teach you the exercises to keep it loose instead they just loosened it and the loose muscles didn't know what to do with themselves so they tightened up suddenly and much tighter. If you get a massage you have to do the exercises after to teach your muscles to stay loose. He sent me to physical therapy which I haven't done yet. But, I can feel the tightness of my muscles in my neck and head and back.
Good luck!
In Christ,
Margarite

Thanks Margerite and you other people for your answers. I will definitely not do any more massage. However, once again I sit here in pain because of my bad choices. I had a bad feeling about the massage, but thought I had to give it a chance because my doctor believed it would help me so much. I'm so tired of getting bad recommendations from him about this condition. He does not understand my concussion symptoms anyway...

Girl from Norway,

Have you tried reflexology? I found this very helpful and relaxing also.