Massage - make you feel better or worse?

[warmwaters]

I'm just back from vacation. The person I was travelling with treated us to a massage. I was totally excited - it's been many years since I had a massage, and I was looking forward to getting relaxed. (Yes, I know the gin and tonic can do that, but this is healthier  )

What a mistake! The masseuse really worked all the attachment points where the muscles connect to the joints, and it was excruciating. She went over my hands and feet, and I ended up with  huge painful joints in my left thumb, wrist and shoulder. Felt more like RA, which I don't have, and it took a couple of days and a lot of ibuprofin to get it under control. She retriggered a pulled muscle in my back, and I could hardly walk.

So- does any get massages? Do they help? Any advice how to describe what you need to the masseuse? I have one acquaintance with lupus who feels massage is vital to her well being, so I'm curious about other folks' experience.

[bloodless]

When I got a pedicure, it hurt when she massaged my legs. I asked her to rub lightly. I would have thought a gentle massage of joints would be helpful. I'll keep you experience in mind.

[Daisy1234]

Sounds like what you've gone thru has had more to do with the masseuse than getting a massage in general.  I only get theraputic massages, from the same therapist and the masseuse takes a complete medical history from me before she even gets started the first time and updates her file each time I come in.  That way she knows what's what and won't irritate any arthriticc issues that I might have.  Also on the subsequent visit, she follows up with me on my reaction to the previous massage and tweaks hers approach so that the experience is even more favorable to  my overall wellbeing.  
I personally wouldn't go for any resort massages or one time massages myself, I think that would just get me the same results you experienced.

[Lesleybird]

 Hi, I get a massage a month and I usually feel better for about a day afterward. I do not let them massage my arms or my legs because they are too tender for massage to feel good. I let them do my neck, shoulders, back, hands and feet. It does not increase my joint pains. It feels really good when they work out my upper back as it relaxes these tight muscles.  Lesley.

[Joe S.]

I do my own massage, reflexology, and Reiki. I also do a meditation massage that helps.

There are many massage techniques. I try not to use Pain erraseure on other people because of the pain levels.

It sounds like they were doing a form of Rolfing on you. This is a very painful technique for postural re-alignment.

[eyeamdry]

I love massages and always have even before SJS.  When I was so sick and sore before diagnosis and could hardly move, a massagee was all I could think of to maybe make a difference.  I couldn't even drive the 5 miles to the place and had my husband drive me.  When I was working more than 5 years ago, I'd get one every month and if I could have afforded it, would have gone weekly.

I ask for a firm massage, but my masseuse knows my body and how and where to do more pressure, etc.  To me, the extra pressure on pressure points about kills me, but always feels better for some time after.  I've had a massage with a soft toucch before and it felt ok while I was getting it, but afterward I couldn't tell I'd had one.  We are all so different.  I have an artificial knee and of course, she is careful around it.

It's been some time since I've had a massage and mine has moved, so I have to get used to a new gal. :-(  Lucy

[ohiolady]

Massage always helps me and if I was rich, I'd get one every day.  I always tell my therapist this while she is working on me.  I've used the same therapist for several years and she is EXCELLENT..   I've had therapist work on me that I wasn't as pleased with the results so the right therapist is really key.

Anna

[kwolfsheimer]

I have severe back pain so massage is a double-edged sword.

It does help to relieve the tension.  I get frequent deep tissue massages.  However, a massage is breaking up knots and releasing toxins into your body.  And it can aggravate arthritic areas.  One things that you can ask for is for your therapist to work on pressure points by just pressing key stress points and allow you to breathe and relax the tension in these areas rather than manipulating and rubbing the sore spot out.  You will be incredibly sore after a first massage for days.  Don't let this scare you off.  Ask for a Swedish next time and go back after a few weeks.  It is like exercise-- you have built up all this pain, you also must work on taking it out gradually.

I wish my insurance would pay for a massage.  They will pay for all these expensive cortisone shots and physical therapy, but no massage. 

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I'm in the minority. I hate massage. It's something I've never liked. It hurts - and now it hurts more - so I do my level best to avoid it. It doesn't just hurt when they are doing it - the pain lingers.

Take care - Scottie 

[warmwaters]

I wish my insurance would pay for a massage.  They will pay for all these expensive cortisone shots and physical therapy, but no massage. 

I used to have physical therapy for some problems a few years back, and eventually, my therapist would give me 10 minutes of exercise to make the insurance company happy, and then spend the rest of the hour putting heat on the affected muscles and massaging them. So maybe you can find someone like that? It really helped a lot more than the exercises (which I could do at home anyhow).

[eyeamdry]

Scottie, a lot of people I know do not like massage.  Some people just don't like to be touched (by a relative stranger.)

I love massages and yes, they do hurt, but in such a good way.  I love being punished like that.  I do not liike that mine moved away and I'll have to try out the woman who took her place.  Lucy

[Shani]

Massages hurt too badly by me, I'm not really a big 'fan' of them.

[Elida]

I don't mind being touched. But I hate massages. I'm too achy to handle it, even though the person massaging is a professional and know what he/she is doing. So I stopped having massages some years back, because it makes me feel worse. My body has a mind of it's own.

But I find it very relaxing to be touched, so my I ask my husband to cuddle me like I do with the cat! So there we are, me running my hands over the cat and my husband over me! 

[mac]

I dream of having a massage a few times a year...  never happens.  I get a pressure point treatment when my daughter has a few minutes on her visits but that isn't as satisfying as a full body massage.  It does help with the pains.

Had an arthritic flare of hip joint to where I needed to use crutches to make sure I didn't fall if hip gave out and after dear daughter worked on it could not get up off the floor without help but within hours I was able to walk without much pain and in days it was almost all gone.

Tho since I was dx'd last year have not had much experience with them so don't know if they will help or hurt.

Guess I'll have to find out someday!

Doesn't help to have one in the family...they are always too busy with other things when we visit each other.

[Epson]

Depends on who's doing the rubbing and what parts being rubbed.