Massage - never again!!

[Constance13]

Thought I’d try massages again. I gave them up a couple of years ago, but down to 3mg now and thought I’d give it another try.

The first one was great, a little pain and stiffness the next day but not too bad. I made another appointment and got a different masseuse, told her about my illnesses and she said “all noted”. Several times she hit very painful places and I said “gently gently, please”.

The next day I was in agony, but took it easy. Yesterday I had to stay in bed most of the day.

I really thought a gentle massage would lift me up, instead it’s knocked me for six.😡 I’ll try aqua movement from now on😀

[Hidden]

Yep l gave up them when l was diagnosed (after the Physio Experience!) and l stopped facials after a while too as they always seemed to ‘upset’ me in various ways.

I’ve gone back to having facials recently but only very gentle & no deep tissue massage 💆‍♀️ or lymphatic drainage!

Just sometimes you’d like someone to just lay their hands on your muscles gently but they seem to insist the massage will be good for you!........

Hope you feel better soon. 💐

Mrs N 💅🏼

[Constance13 in reply to Hidden]

I tried reiki once, unbelievably relaxing, and they don’t even touch you - just ‘hover’ over you. I didn’t believe it would work at all (it was done in a medical centre) and said so - the nurse just said “try it”. No one who does it nearby otherwise I’d try that for a few weeks.

[Hidden in reply to Constance13]

I had that done a long time ago & it was very, very relaxing 😌

[Rose54 in reply to Constance13]

Hi

Reiki can be hands on as well

And yes it is unbelievable how much it can help

I had a Jack Russel who had a aggressive tumour on his Jaw

He was given weeks to live

7 years later we decided it was time to call it a day Vet twice asked for results to be retested as she though a mistake had been made but no results where the same.

He had a happy life treated when ever he needed it

We where referred to Super vet who wanted to remove the left side of his Jaw but I thought he had been through enough.

Even now the Vet says I don't understand it but it worked.

Anyone can do Reiki you don't need any training just practice on yourself .

Relax close your eyes hold your hands like your holding a invisible ball .Then play with that ball turning and feeling it in you hands you should begging to feel warm heat.

If you do that's universal life force Reiki

Transfer that to your body start just on you highs see how you go .

Never do over or around the heart .

Funny for me since having PMR I find Reiki does not work I believe its my body way of telling me I need to preserve energy for myself .

[SheffieldJane]

My hairdresser, Laura, gives the most wonderful head massage. My head must be always in a state of tension because I just want her to go on forever. My husband plays with my feet and that really distracts me from feeling rotten.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

Lucky you! 😉

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I’d go barmy if my hushpband “played” with my feet (and I think HE would go barmy if I asked him too).😂

[SheffieldJane in reply to Constance13]

Are you ticklish ? I find it really soothing, it is a therapy isn’t it, parts of the foot correspond to parts of the body - I can’t remember what it’s called, is it reflexology? Anyway I’ve given you a laugh. 🤭

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

Quite right!

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Strangely enough I could let a complete male stranger mess around with my feet, but not my husband.😂😂

[SheffieldJane in reply to Constance13]

How intriguing. 🙂

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I DID mean a therapist!😂😂

[SheffieldJane in reply to Constance13]

Of course you did! 😆

[bunnymom in reply to Constance13]

Hahaha!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It does have to be the right massage therapist - and one who listens.

If you have a deep massage where you can feel tender spots it is likely that they are myofascial pain syndrome trigger points. They form hard knots in the muscle and are composed of the same cytokines that cause PMR. So if a massage therapist does some manual mobilisation of those spots you will experience what is effectively a flare of the PMR as the cytokines are released into the circulation. You should always drink loads of water after such a treatment - and possibly consider taking a bit extra pred for a day or two.

[linda49]

Recently a therapist who offers Myofascial release treatment has set up in our village within a chiropractor’s clinic. She has been an equine therapist for 18 years and has now done additional training to work with us humans.😀

Following mention of Myofascial release on this forum I thought I’d give it a try as I do have back pain around my rib area which moves about. Ive tried Bowen therapy previously without any success and also physio which helped my general mobility but not the rib pain specifically. My new therapist admitted that she had not heard of PMR before but would look it up before my visit. She was very thorough at the initial consultation and we spent some time talking about PMR and the effect of strong massage on the intolerant muscles when someone has PMR. I’ve had 3 sessions now. The first session was very gentle and I didn’t have any ill effects. Second treatment felt firmer and although relaxing at the time, I did feel discomfort for a day or two afterwards. Was that the treatment or the travel in the car and sitting about all day at the Portsmouth roadshow? Who knows?

By agreement, treatment 3 was more gentle and included some cranial-sacro therapy too. I definitely feel more “flexible” and haven’t needed painkillers so regularly since last treatment. We are having a short break now with a further review and treatment session at the end of the month.

I’m hopeful that this treatment can make a difference that can be sustained maybe with a regular maintenance session. I feel very lucky to have found her as there don’t seem to be many qualified MFS therapists in this area(West Sussex).

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to linda49]

Lucky you - I used to have reflexology as a practice subject for someone who was doing the course to work with horses!!!

[Longtimer]

Gave up on them after feeling worse when I got PMR.....always have facials for a treat now, but some come with "gentle"massage of shoulders/head.....too painful even now after 6years...amazing how intolerant of touch we are......😕

[TooSore]

I'm lucky. I have both a well trained cranial sacral therapist who helps teach courses to new learners and a very knowledgeable massage therapist. In the beginning I just did the CS and it helped make me feel better emotionally as well as physically. I still go once every month to six weeks but I find the massage more beneficial. I seem prone to the myofacial knots and she works them out gently. When she hits one, she backs off, works around the area, comes back and works it a bit. Says never let her go higher than a 6 on a scale of 1-10. Usually it hurts for a moment and then you can feel the muscle let go and relax. She uses bio freeze afterwards and pushes me to drink more water. She's so good I'm afraid to let anyone else touch me. I try to go once a month to get the kinks worked out before they become a real problem.