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I had a good, but sort of feel bad day.
I work in a busy spa with 12 other therapists...My day was not that busy for a Saturday. I had an hour opening before my next client.. I was tired anyway.. As I was walking to the break room, right behind me one of the new massage therapists was bringing her next client into her room.. He was a big man.. well over six foot.At least 230lb.. She was maybe 90lb soaking wet... She was a new therapist about 21 years old fresh out of massage school.. Ive been doing massage almost every day for nearly 30 years. Im 58 years old.. She asked him if there was anything she needed to know.. I eves dropped just outside the door... They both couldn't see me. He started telling her what he needed.. I could see her face and body language as he explained to her about his condition and why he needed a massage... He had a serious trampoline accident as a young boy where he basically jackknifed his lower back(hyper extended) that has been a constant source of pain sense...He went on to explain the three severe auto accidents that he has been in sense then.He has constant pain from his neck to his hip on the right side of his body..And a really bad pain between his left shoulder that wakes him up at night so bad he cant sleep....He was in his early thirties from my guess.. He explained to her that he has had many deep tissue massages and has spent thousands of dollars on chiropractic care as well as seen numerous physical therapists and MDs...and he is in constant pain...and he wants some deep work to give him a little bit of relief because he is going to be working on a fishing boat here in Alaska and knows its going to be hard work...He is from Montana and needs to make money for his family.. and asked what she thought...I saw by her face that she was overwhelmed...I waited outside the door...She came out and saw me. She looked at me with stress on her face... I told her...I think I can help him...She said can you? Because I don't know what to do....I told her this is highly unorthodox and maybe not right, sense its her client...But I think maybe I can help him. Maybe...Do you want me to come in the room with you...She said yea. I said ok, we will see what he says... We came in the room together...I told him Sir, I over heard your situation...Im a highly experienced therapist and maybe I can help you.. Would you feel ok if I worked on you for a while..I told the therapist I dont want money for this. She can have it.. But this man needs help... He looked at me and said ... He had never had a male therapist and that he would normally feel uncomfortable but if he thinks I can help him..go for it... I said ok... I asked her to stay in the room and watch, and she could finish the massage if I couldn't help him.. She said no problem.... I did my body scan and found him to be very sore in the right piriformis area and SI joint....His L5 lumbar erectors on both sides were very sore...The spinous process at L4 very very painful...and a massive sore spot between in his rhomboids on the left side..and very sore spots on his neck both sides around C4...The new therapist watched as I worked....Now keep in mind I have never taken over anyone's client in the nearly 30 years of doing this kind of work, and felt kind of bad doing it...After a couple of minutes she said...You are seriously trying to help him arnt you...I said yes.. Im doing everything I know and can to help this man out of pain... She said Im going to the front desk and tell them that he is your client...I told her I dont want to take her money, that wasn't my intention....She said no..I can tell your are serious about helping him...I again asked him if he was ok with me working on him...He said yes... She told the front desk and came back in the room and watched....I was doing my best to help that man and teach her at the same time...He really didnt mind at that point.He could tell I was serious..He was really hurt.. By the end of the session I was able to eliminate his left Rhomboid pain completely that was waking him up at night. As well as his left L5 pain and his right piriformis pain..and his neck pain...and about 50% of his right L5pain...but couldn't help him with the L4 spinous process pain. At the end of his massage he said...Can you help me with my left chest pain.. I said ok, turn over...he had a major trigger point in his left pec.. I was able to eliminate that quickly.... After the massage he only had that L4 spinous left.. it was bad though.. All together he said he felt 50% better, and that he has never gotten up off anyone's table feeling that good.... And that he knows now has wasted thousands of dollars on chiropractors.. He said awesome work...Ive been looking for someone like you...That's what I need. I will definitely see you again when I get back next month....The new therapist said Gordon Ive never seen such serious work before... Its your money...I feel bad for butting in on her client though..Ive never done that ....Im going to give her a free massage or something for that...I just couldn't help it. Ive never done that before...I feel good about helping him...but feel bad about butting in on someone else s client.She needs money like the rest of us.. That was part of my day though A different experience for me. I just thought Id tell you guys. Sense we are all massage therapists. Should I have not butted in???
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on
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That would have been a hard call for me, too. But I think given how much money he's wasted and the amount of pain he was in, I think you did the right thing. She learned a LOT, and you were careful in how you approached the situation. She made the decision to tell the front desk, because she knew you wanted to help him and not take a client from her. She was probably very glad you did what you did. You will be a valuable resource for her now that she knows what you were able to do.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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Yea you are right...But I still feel bad...I saw her today and said I would give her a massage for no charge or trade obligation...I got a new client out of it... So I do owe her...It was rude of me, but good for the client. I'm not going to do it again...
Therese Schwartz said:That would have been a hard call for me, too. But I think given how much money he's wasted and the amount of pain he was in, I think you did the right thing. She learned a LOT, and you were careful in how you approached the situation. She made the decision to tell the front desk, because she knew you wanted to help him and not take a client from her. She was probably very glad you did what you did. You will be a valuable resource for her now that she knows what you were able to do.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Mackay on
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Primarily what got me into massage was being in massive chronic pain and having a massage therapist take it away for me. Had I been that client who was hoping for pain relief I would be extremely appreciative that you stepped forward and offered to help especially when it was apparent (to you) the assigned MT was overwhelmed or unable to do the work needed. From someone who has been in pain and has sought relief I believe you were called for a higher purpose.
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Permalink Reply by Linda LePelley, RN, NMT on
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You did the right thing; the client is happy, and the inexperienced MT was relieved to have you there to take over a complicated case. She is obviously a caring therapist who put her client's needs before her own. You were a good example to her, and she likely came away from the situation with new ideas of how to work, as well as affirmation that the field she has chosen to work in is as valuable and effective for serious musculoskeletal problems as it is for stress reduction and relaxation.
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Permalink Reply by Gael Wood on
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Sounds like it worked out for the best, as things tend to do.
I had a client with terrible knee pain and she was planning a trip to Japan with lots of walking. Probably her last trip home. My massages wasn't helping so I went and got my friend to see if she knew any different techniques. She said the tibia might be out and we sent her to the Chiro we refer to. It was! and she went to Japan PAIN FREE!!! Asking for help is a good thing to know how to do.
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Permalink Reply by elizabeth mount on
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She's interested in learning. you could pay her back by teaching her some of what you do, and increasing her confidence. In the end she'll make way way more money then she lost from one massage. this situation was very clutch for the client. The boats are hard hard work.
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It will be interesting to see him when he gets back...He is on a boat out at sea fishing for a month or so..That's hard work.. Im going to pay her back by giving her an hour and a half massage with hydrotherapy...Its a nice service done in a $50,000.00 water massage room..Vichy Massage.. She needs to learn that too.so.she is happy.. Working in a spa is not easy for a new massage therapist...Its easy to be intimidated by clients.. They come in the room saying they get massages all over the world , and visit the best spas and so on... Ive been doing this a long time..and feel very confident...for the most part..lol
elizabeth mount said:She's interested in learning. you could pay her back by teaching her some of what you do, and increasing her confidence. In the end she'll make way way more money then she lost from one massage. this situation was very clutch for the client. The boats are hard hard work.
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