I can't do anything right. Massage made it worse
 

So I've been going for a massage twice a week for a month. I've definstly made things worse. I can't Beleive this keeps happening. I think my physically damaged nerves from acupuncture just got physically damaged some more. Is that possible? My muscles / nerves ( I don't know what it is) have been vibrating for a while but for the last few weeks I've noticed that it has really turned into a body wide internal tremor? My insides feel like I'm lifting very heavy weights and all my muscles seem to be quivering under the pressure but I'm just sitting here, no strain on my body. The electrical buzzing is also at its worst.

I kept going thinking that the change waS because she "untrapping" my comoressed nerves ( not sure I had any, but I always thought I did). During my massages it always felt like pressure building in my arms and legs. Like she was pushing blood into my lower arms and hands. I thought this was a good thing. However, I think it was just an altered sensation Due to gabapentin. I used to not be able to touch my elbow area without sending jolts of tingling down my arm. I can do that now and just feel a bit of tingling, but feel a pressure. So I think she was majorly aggravating my nerves but since I didn't feel the tingling I imagined this was helpful And good for me. Nope, she just aggravated (hopefully, did not do any further damage). I hope this goes away in a month and it was just a long lasting aggravation.

There isn't anything else I can try but even if there was I wouldnt. I think my case is different than others becAuse I have nerves damaged by trauma all over my body. Some nerves in multiple spots.

Maybe glentaj has some thoughts in this? What has happened here? Will things go back to my normal? Is it possible that my nerves got dmaged even more? ( she was going pretty deep ( it felt good )

Pain Management
 

All I remember you taking is Gaba. It by itself may not be enough to help. If you tell your PCP that the pain is affecting your life, maybe he would take you into PM. You would have to be willing to take opiates. I know that is scary but they can stop the torture that it sounds like you are in. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

I understand the feeling well. I had to stop getting massages because I would be screwed up for days. It was so hard for me to believe that something I love so much and that I felt would be so healing could actually hurt me so much. It would feel good during, but then with in an hour or two after I would be a wreck with all my symptoms exacerbated.

I am much better since I stopped going.

I think it stirs up what ever your body (the systems that are working well) are trying to contain by moving the lymph all around. That would normally be good but for us I think there is some type of pathogen that is wreaking havoc. That's just what I think. Maybe it's a crazy theory, but nevertheless its the only way to explain how it makes me feel.
As far as that terrible shaking, I lie on the floor with my arms spread out and just meditate and it helps a lot to calm the muscles. When it is so bad that nothing works, I take medication.

Hi canagirl

Can relate - last year when PN and joint pain was overwhelming and I wasn't able to get urgent appointments for treatment I decided to get a massage - (not a normal thing for me as too expensive to do regularly). The masseuse was well trained and I told her about my condition so it wasn't a hard massage but my body reacted badly - particularly setting off a nerve which runs around the chest (can't remember the name of it). So having a new chest pain got me into the doctor pretty quick (wasn't a heart problem), but since then it's no more massages.

It kinda makes sense that a treatment which focuses on skin, muscles & joints, which is where a lot of nerve endings are, might aggravate those nerves.

Hope you're able do a bit of relaxation/meditation and get some recovery soon.

I forgot to mention. There are other energy healing modalities.
Reiki is amazing and will NOT hurt you. My mother is a reiki master and taught my 5 year old some techniques. It is very relaxing.

I think the sessions go for about the same as massage so it's really worth a try.

If I remember correctly, you tried massage back at the start of this and had the same result. I think you need to take massage off the list.

Are you seeing a pain mgmt doctor or is your PCP treating you? I think you need to up your Gapapentin, if he will authorize an increase. 1200 mg is still pretty low for your level of pain. 1800 mg would be a moderate dose. Keep in mind that many take up to 3000 mg a day. Your pain is severe...you need more than 1200 mg.

You might have a condition called allodynia. It is related to SFN. I think I sent you links on it before, but it causes hypersensitive reactions in nerves at skin level. It can cause severe pain from simply touching the skin...a massage would be quite painful.

I have often found it difficult to tolerate massage.

Healthgirl has mentioned energy healing modalities.
During those times, I have often found a massage practitioner with training in facilitating healing energy to be very helpful. This has included Reiki, Quantum Touch and other modalities. I had discovered I respond to these modalities when I held a great deal of skepticism. Allowing experienced energy facilitation practitioners to work with me had quickly shown me benefits. These modalities often paved the way for a comfortable massage.

Please always exercise caution. Fully licensed massage practitioners know massage is not best for just any/all conditions. If trying massage, start very gently.

To Our Healing,
DejaVu

Hmmm, when my wife runs my feet when they really hurt, its like heaven. She doesn't do it very hard, but boy do I love it.