Massage

[ally26]

Has any one been for a massage having fibromyalgia is it ok

[Redhots7]

For me a deep tissue massage is heaven.

[ally26 in reply to Redhots7]

Do thay not say thay have to be gentle and there you bad with pain the next day

[Redhots7 in reply to ally26]

I think everybody is different. For me, yes I am sore the next day but releasing those tight muscles really help, especially butt from sciatica.

[Sorebones]

I like aromatherapy massage as its gentle. But you have to do some research in your area to find a qualified aromatherapist and not just a massage using pleasant smelling oils. To try to explain, aromatherapy massage is a gentle massage. If you have a massage in a beauty salon etc the massage can be very deep and painful. That is my experience but I may just have been unlucky. A registered masseuse can explain the type of massage they do. As with an aromatherapist. I had 4 aromatherapy sessions at my pain clinic. Sadly I wasn't allowed any more 🐸

[Regnofibro1 in reply to Sorebones]

I am with you gently very gentle!!

[Regnofibro1]

It really does depend on what you can tolerate!

[Sorebones in reply to Regnofibro1]

So true. The deep tissue massage certainly helps with the muscle knots, but only if you can tolerate the pain. I used to have a massage where elbows were used in order to get in deep. That had to stop! I couldn't tolerate it any more.

It is very difficult to know what massage is which to be honest. I for one would like to know the difference between Swedish, Thai, hot stone, sports etc massages. What regulating body allows massage in beauty salons? What is required by the masseuse in the way of training etc. It could be a minefield for we Fibromites. 🐸

[Shazzzy in reply to Sorebones]

Hi Sorebones, I trained as a masseuse many years ago. It took me a year taking classes after work although it can be quicker obviously if u study full time. Swedish massage is a deep tissue massage, very relaxing and good for lymphatic drainage and keeping muscles supple. You tell the therapist what pressure is good for you and when they come to particularly painful areas, though they should be able to tell themselves if they are good st their job. They study biology and the functions of the body and train on several people before passing their diploma. Aromatherapy is more suitable if you feel very tender or low in mood as the combination of oils used are blended specifically for each client and how they feel at the time. It uses mainly soft flowing movements which slow the heart rate are more calming and less physical than a Swedish massage. Thai massage is vigorous and can involve manipulation of many parts of the body not at all suitable for fibro peeps ! Sports massage is for treating sporting injuries, for which they train further to the original diploma. Lastly hot stones massage is similar to Swedish massage but is done using heated basalt stones,which are round and soft on the body. Usually you hold smaller stones on your hands and beneath the toes whilst being massaged. It is heavenly as you get the calming effect of the massage combined with the heat retained in the stones. You feel like you are melting... Cannot recommend it high enough though not when particularly tender. Hope this helps,

[Sorebones in reply to Shazzzy]

Thank you so much for that excellent explanation. That really helps clear up my confusion. I have to be honest and say that I an extremely dubious about the effect of the oils used in aromatherapy, but have really enjoyed the massage.

I have been considering the hot stone massage for a while so your explanation and personal recommendation has made my mind up. I think my experience of the elbow digging has made me very wary. Thank you for putting my mind at rest 🐸

[Feather]

I have. It is ok during the massage for me but I can barely move the next day or sometime a few hours later. It's strange because long term it makes feel better, just the short term shock is a lot to deal with.

Other can't cope. We are all different in that respect. Anything that relax my muscle helps me.

[Hidden]

Hi Ally,

May I ask you to lock your post pls, otherwise it can be seen by everyone else that uses the internet.

Below you will see how the menu is laid out when placing a post. The final section asks who the post is for? If you click on 'Everyone' it is available on the internet. If you click 'Community' then only Fibro members can read it.

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If you require further assistance, pls feel free to message me

Sending you warm and soft hugs,

Elizabeth xx

[Telynores]

I had a massage yesterday. I've been using the same therapist for 8 years, she was still gaining qualifications in different types of massage but mixes and manages the types as she 'feels' what my body needs. In some places (sacroiliac) she sits on the couch uses her arm/shoulder. It's agony around my shoulder blade with lots of knots but if I miss a week my shoulder is almost immoveable and sounds like a dolphin talking

I have my treatments at home, she has an electric blanket underneath me, does my front before my back - from experience we found that I get very tense as my back gets cold if done first. When I first went she had a lovely little room and whacked the heat up before my appointment, she'd never treated anyone like me

I took reams of info to her in the early years related to fibro but also muscles' connections in terms of relativity to each other all around the body (she was doing a sports therapy course at the time.

Gosh, I do waffle. Practitioners differ, choose wisely. I certainly benefit, she would make a good counsellor too, double the therapy

[Kitten-kat23]

I find deep tissue massage, absolutely heavily. I wish I could have it every day.

[rosewine]

Unfortunately I find that even the gentlest of massages on my back leaves me in agony. I think it is because I seem to have almost permanent costo chondritis so I am always extremely tender over my back and rib cage with even my skin being sore.

I can imagine though if the primary symptom of your fibro is deep muscle aching that a good massage could be bliss. I feel everything is worth at least one go.x

[TheAuthor]

I went for several massages and every time I had one I couldn't walk for days! So gave it up. Mind you, there are times I would love a foot and ankle massage as they get so painful and achy. I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Shazzzy in reply to TheAuthor]

Hi Ken, why not try reflexolo

[TheAuthor in reply to Shazzzy]

I hadn't thought of that! Thank you my friend

[Hidden]

Hello Ally,

I tried Sports massage and found it to be too painful.

However, a hot stone or gentle massage works wonders for me. I find that I have to be cautious of the heat from the stones as sometimes it can be too much.

Regular visits to my wonderful osteopath tends to sort my back and other painful joints.

Best wishes,

Dave

[sbncmo]

I say a chiropractor who stretched my muscles, but the longer I went to him, the worse I got - couldn't even get off the table for half an hour & the pain was so much worse.

I now go to a doctor who does deep muscle release, but she refuses to go beyond 15 minutes per visit. She may do only my neck & shoulders in one visit, perhaps neck, should & back in another visit. It all depends on how bad my muscles are at the time. She said any longer than 15 minutes reverses any good that's been done. It seems like my pain is less after she works on me - certainly better than what I felt after seeing the chiro.