LMTs who have chronic pain issues

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Comment by Lynne Stiller on November 25, 2009 at 4:49pm

One of the most common causes of joint pain is when muscles aren't balanced around a joint (smashing your elbow or knee does a good job of causing joint pain too as I found out today). To stretch only the shortened muscles on a side or sides of a joint can cause instant reduction of inflammation and reduce pain for several days to several weeks. Afterward regular personal maintenance and occasional (monthly at least) assisted stretching can extend the effects to long-term pain relief.

Comment by Choice Kinchen on November 25, 2009 at 11:00am

Kelly, I won't tell. The fancy smell good salts are good for the soul if nothing else. Let him spoil you.
Sorry about the Lyrica. it has really helped me...and no side effects.
I think my back up job should be weatherman. I'm a whole lot more accurate than they are.
My 4 year old grandson lives "Finding Nemo" Now that song is going to be with me the rest of the day :)

Comment by Kelly Grounds on November 25, 2009 at 9:09am

Oh Man! You just ruined my excuse to buy the fancy smell good salts! :-) Don't tell my husband.
I tried Lyrica, but had an allergic reaction. I get the Orencia infusion once a month and it has really helped but I think it's only for people who have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Some doctors will use it for fibro pain, others do not.
I can also tell the weather and barometric pressure. The weatherman will say "Sunny tomorrow" and I'll be like, "Nope. Rain coming in."
I like to keep Dory's song from "Finding Nemo" in my head..."Just keep swiming, just keep swimming..."

Comment by Choice Kinchen on November 24, 2009 at 7:33pm

Hate to break the epson salts myth, but there is no evidence that they work. It's one of the many massage myths that keep getting handed down. A hot bath will work just as well. With my lupus and scleroderma, I take Lyrica at nite before bed. It has made a nice difference in the pain and lets me sleep. There is prob some residual effect during the day, but most of the pain was at nite. I also take a lortab during the day if my body is really screaming at me. I'm still able to work just fine. To me it's about quality of life. Funny thing, I can tell when a major storm is approaching from about a day out....lots of joint pain and fatigue. As soon it rolls in, everything subsides. I have found that keeping active keeps the joints feeling better. Becoming sedentary just makes things worse. As hard as it is sometimes...keep moving.

Comment by Kelly Grounds on November 24, 2009 at 5:47pm

Hey Susan, I personally take ibuprophen when inflammation gets too much. I love hot baths in Epson salts. I get accupuncture once a week and I can really tell when I miss a session! I just ordered some cinnamon and tumeric capsules. Another LMT who has Lupus swears by them, so I'll let you know how they work.

Comment by Kelly Grounds on November 17, 2009 at 6:35pm

Gloria, I take about 1000 Omega 3 a day and 1000 vitamin D. I can tell when I forget to take them! I'll try boosting them up and see what that does, especially since it's cold and wet where I live now and the sun only makes a guest appearance!
I am a huge advocate for massage therapy, and living healthy. I try to get work once a week. I keep a food diary to track anything that causes me to flare. Right now, I am on Orencia, a once a month chemo infusion. It has been a Godsend. My other secret weapon is oatstraw infusions, a tea full of vitamin Bs and iron that I drink every afternoon. I teach at a massage school, so I've sort of worked this tea ritual into closing my classes. ::LOL::
What tricks and treats do you all have? Let's share and motivate each other!

Comment by Choice Kinchen on November 16, 2009 at 11:09pm

Interesting. In 1990 I had a diagnosis of Spondylothesis. I went thru all of the available treatments back then, incl. massage. After lots of research, I went for the surgery. I had L5 fused, using my hip bone vs. metal and had a laminectomy. I was able to return to cycling (bicycle) and riding 100 mile rides. Today, after 19 years,I have no problems I ski, snowshoe and hike quite vigorously. Just another side of the story.

Comment by Gloria Coppola on November 16, 2009 at 10:56pm

Hi Kelly
I'm not here to tell you what to do, but to make a suggestion I have also rec'd and tried due to Chronic pain from a "holistic MD". Lots of research showing that inflammatory type of conditions benefit from high doses of Omega's (Good source and quality). 4,000 units a day minimum is what I take.

He also told me that if it was an Rx doctors would be prescribing everyone D3 at 10,000 mg daily. FYI!

I deal with chronic back pain. Spondylothesis. I was told by an orthopedic surgeon that if i didn't get surgery I would not be able to walk.
Well, the proof is in the pudding. I walk, work and do many things I wasn't able to do a few years ago. I do have to pace myself and don't crank massages out, but I feel very fortunate that I no longer live with pain on a daily basis.

Comment by Kelly Grounds on November 16, 2009 at 4:11pm

Before being diagnosed with RA, I was told I had lupus!! I've never been so happy to be told "No, you have RA" instead. talk about your weird blessings! I try to use my pain as a way to reach my clients. Since becoming an LMT, I have ended up specializing in chronic pain and lo-and-behold four years later, I was diagnosed with such. I think my intuition was years ahead of me. I hope to be like you, Choice, and be still doing massages and laugh about the times I've been told to 'retire.'
Choice, your story is inspirational!

Comment by Choice Kinchen on November 16, 2009 at 9:17am

I have scleroderma and lupus. Both are bad ass cousins to RA. When I was first diagnosed I was given less than a year to live...that was 26 years ago. I have been thru a heart attack, 3 rounds of chemo and numerous ER visits. When I applied to massage school they asked, because of my crooked fingers, if I would be able to perform massage. I said, "Watch me." I've been doing it for 9 years.

I embrace my pain. It reminds me that I am alive and that I should live each day as if it is my first and my last. Even as winter approaches I am looking forward to snowshoeing even as I look forward to hiking when summer comes a calling. I used to be into cycling (bicycle) but after being hit by a car twice (the 2nd one having resulted in a rebuilt left arm..75% useage ) I retired from that endeavor.

Sure, I have days where I can't breathe well...due to lung involvement. Sure, there are days when I can barely move....such as when a storm is approaching. Sure there are days when my stomach goes on strike. But I smile, laugh and carry on. During one of my chemo rounds I sat across from another patient who kept us all laughing and in good spirits. What a remarkable person she was. Hard to believe she was only 8 years old. I vowed then that I would try my damndest to never complain about my lot in life again. Doesn't always work, but usually does.

I have short and long term goals. Every day I look forward to paper and coffee in the morning and a martini and tv or reading with my wife at nite. I look forward to seeing my grandkids. I look forward to work cause I love massage. I look forward to whatever life bring me.

Hopefully we can all find that place where we can accept what we have been given and make it the best way we can. As NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano ( deceased...cancer ) once said, "Never give up. Never ever give up."

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