Questions from a patient...

[debi65]

Hello,<br><br>I love reading this forum even though I am "just" the patient.  I learn so much from you guys.<br><br>Questions:  I have degenrative disk disease, a bulging disk in my lower back/sacrum, and severe bursitis in my hops.  I am currently receiving massages every 2 weeks.  I get deep tissue with extra emphasis on my problem areas as well as cranio sacral.  After each massage I feel great for a few days before the pain comes back full force.  Right now my biggest problem is the bursitis in both hips.  I am not able to do Curves or walk on the treadmill becasue the pain is so intense.<br><br>I'm wondering if there are any other types of massages that may benefit me?  I can and will ask my MT as well but wanted feedback with you guys.  Also, do you find that when a patient is down a lot due to pain that the massage is not as effective?<br><br>Thanks.

[jujubean]

I'm sure there are other MT's that will have a lot more advice for you than me. First of all I would tell you to see a chiropractor, and a naturalpathic (sp?) dr.  if your not already, as MD's can pretty much do drugs, eventually surgergy- and not much else for you- which won't actually help you 'heal'. I don't know what all they could do for you, but advice on diet and supplements could be very helpful. Take a magnesium supplement to help your bones, as calcium needs it in order to absorbed. Drink a LOT of water, like toward a gallon a day, seriously- drink water. Also, I would suggest you look into getting myofascial release, as apposed to deep tissue. If you recieve myofascial release regularly, the effects can become permanent- where as with deep tissue work, your body will go back to the way it was. And maybe you could get work done weekly for a while. Passive stretching could be very helpful for you, if it's done myofascial release style, very slowly and waiting for releases- if your really tight the therapist could easily spend a whole hour on just hip strethes. Good luck to you! I'm curious to see what everyone else will say.

[Katykangaroo8]

I agree with Jujubean.  Try some different forms of therapy.  Deep tissue is great, but some people with chronic pain benefit much more with myofacial release.  Maybe even try acupuncture or some energy work.  Passive stretching is awesome when you find someone that does it really well.  <br><br>Do you have a stretching routine of your own?  I'm very pigeon-toed, and throughout high school and college I'd get terrible bursitis whenever I was very active.  I also have some degeneration at L5.  I was totally non-compliant with the stretching routines that I was given, and I relied on pills and injections.  Cortisone injections and NSAIDS only mask problems like yours and can actually slow healing when used for chronic pain.  If I'd only known then...<br><br>Now I get chiropractic adustments on a regular basis and I stretch daily.  About two weeks after stretching my back, hamstrings, and hips religiously, my bursitis was gone.  It's been five years since I had serious lower back and hip pain.  There are a few things that I do that  trigger it to start to come back, but stretching, an adjustment, and a soak in epsom salts usually nips it in the bud.<br><br>When you start a stretching routine on your own, it might be uncomfortable and even a bit painful.  If you keep it up, you'll begin to look forward to it, and it'll feel great.  <br><br>How about learning tai chi?  It can help your breathing and posture as well as strenghthening your legs and helping take some pressure off of your back.<br><br>Katykangaroo

[debi65]

Thank you so much for the responses.  I talked to my MT as well and he is recommending Myofascial release too.  great minds think alike!  :)  <br><br>It's funny that you mentioned steroid injections becasue I am scheduled TODAY to have injections in both hips.  I'm desperate for relief.  I need to lose weight but am miserbale with any kind of exercise program.  My doctor keeps saying once the weight comes off then the bursitis will go away.  Ugh!<br><br>I will look into all the suggesstions made.  Thank you so much for taking your time to respond.<br><br>Deb

[merlescuz]

Addressing your last comment, debi65, depression can be a common side-effect with chronic pain. I imagine it could slow the healing process, particularly if the treatments don't seem to be helping. It becomes a viscious circle, thinking the treatment isn't helping which makes you less invested in trying to make it work, which makes the treatment less effective...<br><br>Have you considered psychotherapy? It might be helpful for the mental/ emotional side while you research the physical.

[Texas-gal]

I am a big acupuncture fan for deeper pain.  I think it does quite well in breaking the cycle.<br><br>I'd definitely suggest getting a recommendation from someone though.  The good ones and REALLY good and the bad ones, are, well... not so good.<br><br>And please don't let cost tell you who is good.  In our city we have a lady who charges $45 for a session and is absolutely EXCELLENT.  Someone else charges upwards of $75-120 and I don't particularly find as good of results.<br><br>Of course, you probably know that, but I wanted to add it just in case you don't have much background on acupuncture.<br><br>Hope you feel better, very soon!  :)

[mush]

acupuncture- i third or fourth this!<br><br>i'd also say you should get into your local YMCA for exercise in a pool, unless you're fortunate to have one. <br>feel better

[debi65]

ok, acupuncture scares me (only because I am not knowledgeable on this subject) but I will look into this form of therapy.  Yes, our Y does have a pool but I have just not been in it yet.  I will start doing this though so that I can get some form of exercise.<br><br>Debi

[Texas-gal]

debi65,<br><br>If you provide us with a City or State where you are located, maybe someone knows a good acupuncturist there they can refer you to.  Just a thought.  If not, I completely understand.<br><br>Also, I am deathly afraid of needles.  Had a quick visit to a dermatologist the other day due to my hands having problems with detergents in my sheets, and they mentioned they may have to give me a shot.  Made me very unhappy for the entire week before going, stomach issues and the whole nine.  I even asked to have "pills" instead.  Just so you know I am not making this up about my phobia of innoculations.<br><br>Nice thing about acupuncture.  It is not an injection.  The needles are solid and fine, so it is virtually painless.  You feel a pricking sensation and the best way I can describe it is if you take the center plastic ink holder of a bic ballpoint pen and place it on your arm.  You feel the plastic, it doesn't hurt, but you obviously know it is poking on you.  Don't use the ball point part, but the plastic part at the other end... the little fine plastic holder, not the outside hard pen part.  The part inside where the blue or black little end thing is, that as a child you would remove with your teeth... the part inside there, is what I am talking about.   ;D<br><br>So anyway, once they get the fine needles placed and tapped into the skin, you have this feeling of "fishing weights" in all of those places.  They usually stay in for about 45 mins.  Some places more or less.  And you will usually have a heat lamp applied over an area to keep you a little more warm and relaxed.  <br><br>Give it about 8-12 sessions to really notice relief.  Though, as a personal experience, I lost function of my shoulder a number of years ago and couldn't practice, which is why I ended up going to an acupuncturist in the first place.  I cried the whole time (once again - the needle phobia), but was amazed how much it "didn't" hurt and in about 72 hours I had about 70% function back.  Went back three days later and was up to about 90% function in another 72 hours.... seems I heal up fast but it takes a few days to "take" on me.<br><br>And let the rest work it's way back in to full function.  Again, because I am a woose!   ;D<br><br>All I can say, is I am a firm believer and now when I get a chest cold it is the first place I go.... as I have another positive experience of the acupuncturist getting me over a nasty bout of walking pneumonia in about two weeks. (Yep, I wouldn't go to the M.D., once again, due to that aversion of needles)!<br><br>Good luck!  :)

[merlescuz]

Another treatment modality you might consider is watsu. It is shiatsu type massage done floating in a pool of warm water. It is a great experience, and might help issues such as yours. There is no pressure on your skeleton from gravity, so it really helps open up joints.

The following link to WABA has a list of practitioners, and a little bit of description of the treatment if you're interested:

http://aspen.forest.net/waba/

[ymdw2004]

Regarding WATSU ----- it's really something to look into --- especially in an acute phase of a painful condition.  I often get referrals from other MT to do WATSU with a client during those acute phases, and then of course, I send them back to their regular MT when they're doing better.<br><br>WATSU has all the similar contraindications as table massage, and a few extras related to being immersed in warm water ...... but it's gentle enough to be OK for some conditions that I wouldn't want to touch on the table.<br><br>The WABA site is a great source ----- but email them directly if you can't find anyone in your locality.<br><br>Linda in NC<br><br>PS--- anyone in NC want to trade and experience WATSU.  I'd love it!

[debi65]

Thank you all so much!  I found 2 WATSU practitioners close to me and have sent off e-mails.  I'm so excited.  :)  I also just realized that the pain management doctor I go to does acupuncture.  I have an appointment to meet with him on Monday morning to discuss my options.  <br><br>I hate living with pain on a daily basis.  I've had this now for 1 year and 3 months and I'm miserable.  The only thing that keeps me sane is my massages every 2 weeks.  If I could afford to go more I would.  I wish I would have discovered massage work a long time ago.  I'm so thankful for all of you!<br><br>I'll let you all know what hapens.<br><br>Thanks again for taking the time to respond to me.<br><br>Debi

[Moonstone]

Debi, I don't know if you will be back but first I hope you feel better, second, recent research has shown that massage was right under medication and in some cases more effective than it, when it came to depressed patients!! I love this info and if I could put in my 2 cents, When you get a massage, you are getting physical relief, but consider this, the mind and the body are one and if you treat the body nicely your mind will follow, works almost every time!!! But if you find that it is not just where you want it to be, I would highly recommend seeing a natruopathic Dr. they are great, and do not prescribe narcotics that can have vicious side effects!! Worked for me! I am living NATURAL proof that not all depressions are created equal!! Feel better and thanks for joining us!!

[sagetherapist]

Debi,
This is not a ploy to advertise, but we offer a far-infrared wrap at our place that helps alot with pain management and weight loss without exercising. Do a search for your area for FormoStar Body Wraps or Infrared Body Wraps. Worse case (meaning nobody near you is present on the internet), you could email for a place offering it in your area from www.formostarusa.com or www.formostardirect.com. The fella (Jim) at FormoStarUSA has given me referrals twice, so they are willing. There are videos (like short infomercials) on both of those sites. Your doctor could even read the pdf links to the clinical studies, etc they provide to see if this might be appropriate for you.
Good luck.
Jill/Sagetherapist