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palpateit wrote:What the cleint states and what the doctor states can be quite diferent, AND, what the doctor states and what is really going in, might be quite different. ???<br><br>There are many different terms to describe spinal disc pathology, and all are used differently by different health care practitioners. <br>Some examples of terms used to describe spinal disc abnormalities include:<br>Herniated disc (or herniated disk)<br>Bulging disc, ruptured disc, or slipped disc <br>Disc protrusion <br>Disc degeneration (or degenerative disc disease) <br>Disc disease <br>Pinched nerve <br>Sciatica <br>There is no agreement in the medical field as to the precise definition of any of these terms. :-/<br><br>In nearly all cases, massage is indicated for herniated discs, not contraindicated. The suggestion from texts or other sources that massage is a contraindication, is based on incomplete understanding of anatomy and treatments, or from "hand me down contraindications" from instructors, to students who later become instructors, who repeat information to new students.....the cycle continues. :-/<br><br>First separate cervical from lumbar. <br>CERVICAL discs tend to make the neck muscles hyper reflexive - which means loosening up too much in a session may cause reflexive spasma or some other wierd symptoms. <br>Caution is advised, but the neck can be worked.<br><br>LUMBAR: <br>If it is truly a hernitead disc, the pain will tend to refer in a belt like pattern - into all the glutes, and perhaps anterior or inferior.<br>If the pain continues, those muscles and ligaments will likely develop trigger points. These trigger points can then become a chronic pain syndrome which can last long after the disc condition has subsided (if it does subside).<br>MT"s can work the disc referral regions to prevent the development of trigger points.<br><br>If sciatica is a symptom...well one must address it on an individual basis. The sciatica may make the legs hypersentive (need to be very light), or make the legs spasmed and achy (deep work appropriate)<br><br>All the above assumes the diagnosis was correct. <br>The cleints pain may instead arise from trigger points in the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis and back (or from several other conditions - facet syndrome, SI joint dysfunction, etc.)<br>If it is trigger points, that is where we come in to treat trigger points, (or in the case of a herniated disc, prevent).<br><br>
coppertop098 wrote:I have recently acquired a client who has stated he has "right laterally compressed L3 and L5 discs where there is no fluid left in one and the other about half," "sciatica down the left thigh," "numbness down the entire lateral side of his right leg," "neuropathy in his feet" ( the last two possibly from compression of the femoral nerve?), and has localized pain at L3-L5 on the left. He has good posture and no major imbalances. He requests deep tissue.
He was a weightlifter at one time and he first injured himself some years ago during an 800 lb squat. He's further injured himself after two fairly serious falls. One of which was very recent. This also causes him some depression as he's a fairly young guy.
He is not currently under a doctor's care and has elected the "no surgery" option, but instead has chosen MT to help in the reduction of his pain and to increase his functionality, but sometimes has to rely on medication to manage it. An MRI was done. I haven't seen it yet, but I have requested it.
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I was hoping to get some specific advice from experienced therapists on this topic.
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