I have a weekly body massage with oil for an hour at 9 a.m. However as of late I have felt very below parr for the rest of the day and have thought of changing the appointment to the early evening, or even forgoing them altogether.
Just wondered what the line is about massages. Any advice would be appreciated.
I am on 7.5m.g. pred and hope to keep tapering each month at 0.5m.g. Was diagnosed in Oct 2022 and have had one or two flares. I keep my allotment work to 30 mins a day or less. I often have to sit down or lean against a wall for 5 to 10 mins in or outside the supermarket as standing too long brings on the common hip girdle pains. They go after a sit down.
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Motida
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Massages were right off the menu for me for long after I stopped Pred. Even now nearly 4 years after stopping Pred I expect to feel rough the next day after a massage. I go for Bowen therapy or reflexology, less of a body blow for me. I wonder if the massage releases inflammatory substances that have accumulated on the tissues.
Hello, Motida. I don’t think there’s anything set in stone regarding massage: it’s more of a personal thing and what sort of massage suits you. I would say that having your massage early in the day isn’t doing you any favours as you may not feel the full benefit if you don’t relax afterwards. Personally, I found hot stone massage very relaxing and soothing. Do remember to drink water before and after your massage if you continue to have them.
To add to 123-go's message, I agree and suggest changing the time to early evening.....I used to go once a month at 7 an hour or so after tea for a hot stone massage (still do now, though I'm no longer on steroids), and I sleep like a baby afterwards. Personally I'd recommend it, but it's how you feel as we're all different. I suppose you'd have to try it to see. All the best.
Like Snazzy, I found that even a shoulder, neck & head massage felt lovely at the time but next day I felt quite out of sorts........ not the rejuvenation I would have experienced pre PMR.
However, I do enjoy regular reflexology treatments which I find do indeed relax & restore me.
Like 123-go said though, we're all individuals and I don't think there's any hard & fast rule as to whether you should or shouldn't enjoy a massage. If you're currently finding it doesn't seem to suit you though, then probably sensible to avoid massages for now.
If it doesn't help abandon it. If you can't do so much gardening, reduce to a shorter time. It is so hard to come to terms with this disease -partly because we are fooled into thinking we have recovered when the pain is eliminated by the steroids...and we look ok (as people keep tellling me). But there is still a serious disease at work. Listen to your body..it helps in the long run.
I find massages very helpful - but you must bear a couple of things in mind: the action of the massage releases the inflammatory substances from their hiding places in the muscles and fascia and also attachments of soft tissues to joints, As a result you are likely to feel quite fluey after a good massage until those inflammatory substances are flushed out of the body, If you are used to massage and this fluey feeling lasts only overnight or so then fine. If it lasts longer, get them to be a bit less enthusiastic.
The other thing is that if they work on an area like a trigger point where there are high concentrations of the inflammatory substances, that region may feel a bit bruised for a few days.
The hip pain on standing may be a low back problem - maybe try some of the stretches for piriformis syndrome.
That was so helpful. You're description of what happens when having a massage, mirrors the reactions I experienced, perfectly.... and it makes complete sense.👍👍👍
Thank you everyone very much for your advice and details of your experiences with massage. I had not remembered that the area of inflammation in our bodies really means sacs of it hiding in the various muscles. Sometime back there was a CT/PET scan image flagged up which showed these inflammation masses in various places.
I am going to talk to my masseuse and change to an evening appointment and the type of treatment to see if that helps. Flares have to be avoided at all costs!
I agree with PMRpro. As well as being a qualified exercise teacher I am also qualified in holistic massage. We are taught not too massage areas which are inflamed or having a flare up. I used to have regular massages myself up to being diagnosed. Found it too painful and that it could set off a flare so stopped having them. I think it's a very individual thing so if you enjoy it and find it helpful then all good. However if it makes things worse I would probably reconsider. Maybe be try reflexology, reiki or Indian head massage instead of you are just looking for something to relax.
But the point is also that if the "flare" feeling is short lived it may well have been beneficial in the longer term - bit like a scrubbing brush to get the bad stains out ...
Yes I agree. In my case it set off week long flares so I decided to give up my weekly massage session. Not everyone will flare like that, most will find any ill effects ease within 24-48 hours
Me too...I gave up the massage after diagnosis, then tried to gradually re- introduce, even a lighter version for relaxation. I have GCA. The last one triggered a week of feeling woozy, so I have given them up again. Thanks PMRpro for the explanation...as said, it makes sense. 👍
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