hi I booked a massage today but when I went the therapist said osteoporosis is contraindicated in osteoporosis.and I will need a doctors letter. I have contacted my doctor but wondering if anyone has experience of having massages. I have severe osteoporosis. My spine reading is -3.8 hip -3.5. I was diagnosed after fracturing a vertebrae lower back in April.
im struggling with getting active again which is why I hoped a massage may help. I have quite bad spondylitis and my neck muscles are very painful and hard which I was hoping a massage would help.
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Sid31
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Thank you. My GP has just rung and said I am ok to have a gentle massage but he can’t write me a letter. I’m thinking asking for a Swedish but I guess I risk any problems. That said I fell again in October onto all fours and no damage so it gives me hope.
That’s brilliant. I have managed to find a salon local who are happy to work with me. After one I could honestly go back every day 😂 the difference it’s made is fantastic. I’m waiting for a hot water bottle that goes around the shoulder as suggested here and trying a little bit of self care around taking some time to relax something I’m not good at.
I fractured 7 vertebrae (all lumbar + 2 lower thoracic) 4 years ago and I have been having regular gentle massages ever since. Not sure if it's connected but everyone says I have made a good recovery with only a slight kyphosis. I still get muscle spasms unfortunately, with pain in my left shoulder, neck and head. The massages usually release the spasm. Perhaps you can try one and see how you get on.Best wishes..
Thank you. We sound similar other than the amount of fractures bless you. I am struggling with my neck to the point it stops me. When the nurse and anyone feels my neck and shoulders they all say how rock hard they are. My daughter took a picture of my back when I was laid down and it is very hunched. She did a gentle massage as best she could and it really helped. Where I booked needed a doctors note and I think most will here when I say about the osteoporosis unfortunately but I will check round and see thank you.
Can I ask if you take medication? Absolutely no problem if you would rather not say. I have been prescribed calcium with vitamin d and hydrologic acid but I struggle badly with digestive problems and have atrial fibrillation. I have changed from a vegan diet and my fracture was because I was pulling and twisting a large bush while standing off one leg. My friends husband did exactly the same so I’m deciding if I can mange with diet change and ask fora review in a year.
Hi @Sid31 In answer to your question, I took alendronic acid for two and a half years with no side effects but the more I read about it the less I wanted to continue. I finally managed to get bioidentical HRT instead and have been taking it for 2 years now with nothing but benefits! I last fractured in early 2021 . As it was the Covid era I had no help from my GP at all and had to go private to get a CT scan which confirmed my severe osteoporosis diagnosis. I take loads of supplements including calcium, Vit D, boron, zinc and magnesium and include bone balance collagen powder into my regime. I also invested in a Marodyne Liv vibration plate which I use every day. I had a REMs scan in 2023 and have another one booked later this year so I will see then whether my self- help efforts have improved my bone density (from 3.6 spine and hips).Wishing you all the best
Thank you. That’s how I feel I would rather try and improve on what I have as I don’t feel just at the moment I want to medicate. Thank you wishing you continued progress it sounds very positive and I hope your next scan shows a positive improvement.
Thank you. I was actually looking at those last week and said to my daughter I wondered if the would help as heat certainly helps my lower back. I have put one on my shopping list for today. Thank you.
Hi I go to an Osteopath who massages and loosens the tight muscles that cause me pain and spasms. She won't use manipulation of the bones because of the osteoporosis. It has certainly helped with my neck and shoulder pain also less back spasms. I've noticed my left rib doesn't stick out as much now! And I've been more mobile. I went weekly at first then once a month I only go now when I need to.
They are trained in musculoskeletal problems so more knowledgeable than general massage therapist I assume?
Thank you. I will definitely explore this. I am in so much discomfort tonight with how tight my muscles are. It is making me miserable. I used to have massage which helped.
I see a physio for muscle tension relief every 2 to 3 weeks ( old whip lash injury) . They do not touch my lower back due to the -4 dexa scan. However happy to work on my tight shoulders and bra strap area ( apologies to the men here but I can not describe the area better!) I always feel a lot better after as I need to keep everything moving..I think it's good the therapist asked you as it may be tricky for their insurance...I would check their level of qualifications, some massage therapists go to level 4 ( that's a first year degree. ) However some at level 3 are pretty knowledgeable ( A level standard)
Thank you. That is exactly my problem and the exact same reason. Twenty years ago I had severe whiplash and have suffered ever since. My neck muscle are absolutely rock. I’m sure if I could get them massaged regular it would make such a difference. I live in an area where we don’t have a lot of well anything really when it comes to physio. I saw a physio after I fractured my back but I have to admit it did put me off a bit. He was very .. backs need to be bent and basically your anxious so your not moving as you should. To be fair he/I didn’t know I had fractured my vertebrae or that I had osteoporosis. I was pulling a bush up in my daughter’s garden when I heard a crack and had the worst pain I have ever had. Daughter rang 111 as I could feel my feet and my legs were going the same way. I think adrenaline had made me able to get into the house but the pain was indescribable. 111 said I needed an ambulance and one was coming staright away. Then they rang and said could I get to hospital as it was a four hour wait. They thought I was having a stroke apparently. I don’t know how I managed to get to the hospital but my husband and son in law got me there. I was seen after shuffling into the doctor again I don’t know how I did it. He said pulled muscle gave me diazepam and said take paracetamol. Without going into making this an essay the problems I was having ranged from severe pain to ones that told me I must have done some damage around my bladder. That was August I went to the doctor with pain in October as I was still struggling a lot. I had had the physio by then and was doing basically everything I shouldn’t have been doing now I realise. Lifting bending although the pain did stop me getting back to my normal level of fitness and I’m still struggling. Thankfully a nurse practitioner sent me for an MRI she was brilliant and back came the fracture diagnosis followed by the osteoporosis in January. I’m just so wary at the moment but I’m also in so much discomfort in my neck. I have bought a back massager today it is just the neck area. I’m so grateful for your reply I will look at finding out if there are anywhere locally and see if they would be able to help.
Oh Sidi 31 this sounds a terrible 6 months for you, so sorry to hear this. Not surec if you find this but the winter tends to make me hunch up and carry any worries through our shoulders making things worse... good spring is coming.
Glad to hear you will get a gentle shoulder and neck massage to get rid of some of those knots! I have just started Thi Chi this week. I believe you can do it in line too, I sence it can not do any harm....might be worth a try...
Thank you. We have had a rotten few years to be honest we said goodbye to out little dog in July last year, he had been so poorly over the last year and we had focused on looking after him so we very tired and stressed. I’ve had my gallbladder removed after a health scare and then finding I have the osteoporosis all contributing to so much stress. I actually managed to book a gentle massage and have another booked next week. She did very lightly massage my lower back and I have had a little discomfort over night but nothing much and could be due to moving around more. The support here is fantastic thank you. I was feeling quite low but it has prompted me find the help. I also have a brain injury so my balance is t the best. A lady who also has a brain injury mentioned Thi Chi but where she had been going has lost the use of the building but I will definitely search out any other groups. Thank you.
Sounds like the Thi Chi might be helpful, it's ever so gentle... its was also quite slow in the class I tried so hopefully would improve balance...I am trying to get a 3 month referral from our GP for the local sports centre. It's at a reduced rate of £6 per week for everything they offer.
Yes I will have a look. We really do struggle here with having facilities etc. I hope you get the referral. There really isn’t enough information and help I’m finding after diagnosis from the medical side.
I have multiple spinal fractures and higher readings than you. I spoke to my doctor re massage and physio. He said it was fine but gentle massage is better. I've been going for lower back massage once a month and it's been a big help for spasms. Heat treatment and gentle massage only.
Thank you. I have found a lady locally to me and had a gentle massage last Thursday with one booked this Thursday. I definitely felt some relief last week.. I am really struggling with how to cope at the moment. I do forget that heat helps I will look for a heat pad.
This is quite an interesting little article, and they do mention massage as a therapy. I'm sure there are physiotherapists who have knowledge about how to safely massage a person with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, so keep asking questions of those you contact. 🍀
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