Herniated disk and massage therapy

[joebloe]

(I saw the previous "herniated disk" post and was prompted to post.
This post is in NO WAY related to that previous post.)

I have a herniated disk, L4-L5.
I have pain that is centered in my lower back region and the pain radiates
down into my knees.
My doctor referred me to physical therapy which includes ultrasound,
traction with heat, and exercises.
A waiter at a local restaurant that my wife and I frequent has just
completed his course in massage therapy and has recommended that I try
therapeutic massage as a remedy for the pain. I have been reluctant to
follow through with this mostly because I have never received a massage
before and I am not sure what to expect. (I'm a little gunshy.)
When I mentioned the massage to the physical therapist last Thursday, she
said, "We could try." She massaged an area in my right butt cheek for about
five minutes at the end of my regular PT session.
I was amazed! My right leg was free of pain for nearly 48 hours!
Today she mostly massaged my lower back and the pain has already returned.

My question is this:
Can I visit a local massage spa (as recommended by my waiter friend) and
receive the same level of pain relief?
How do I communicate this need/desire to the massage therapist?
Can the therapeutic massage be combined with a relaxation massage?
My wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis (soft tissue, not osteo); would
massage benefit her also?

Thanks in advance.

[Tim French]

ONLY REPEAT ONLY,if those giving the massage have a diploma licencing them
as an LMT or in some areas RMT. Dont go to Boopsies golden hands spa and
expect therapy. For now, keep working with the physical therapist,if thats
helping . Don't mess it up by shopping around. The 48 hours of relief you
get now will soon become five days then a week or longer as the area starts
to relax and as the area relaxes the PT can vary your excercise routine to
continue strengthining the area. Good Luck.

Post by joebloe
(I saw the previous "herniated disk" post and was prompted to post.
This post is in NO WAY related to that previous post.)
I have a herniated disk, L4-L5.
I have pain that is centered in my lower back region and the pain radiates
down into my knees.
My doctor referred me to physical therapy which includes ultrasound,
traction with heat, and exercises.
A waiter at a local restaurant that my wife and I frequent has just
completed his course in massage therapy and has recommended that I try
therapeutic massage as a remedy for the pain. I have been reluctant to
follow through with this mostly because I have never received a massage
before and I am not sure what to expect. (I'm a little gunshy.)
When I mentioned the massage to the physical therapist last Thursday, she
said, "We could try." She massaged an area in my right butt cheek for
about five minutes at the end of my regular PT session.
I was amazed! My right leg was free of pain for nearly 48 hours!
Today she mostly massaged my lower back and the pain has already returned.
Can I visit a local massage spa (as recommended by my waiter friend) and
receive the same level of pain relief?
How do I communicate this need/desire to the massage therapist?
Can the therapeutic massage be combined with a relaxation massage?
My wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis (soft tissue, not osteo); would
massage benefit her also?
Thanks in advance.

[joebloe]

Thanks, I wasn't planning on "Boopsies golden hands spa" :)
The PT is ending soon and the therapist said that massage by a "qualified"
(i.e. not Boopsies) might do some good.

[suzee]

Post by joebloe
(I saw the previous "herniated disk" post and was prompted to post.
This post is in NO WAY related to that previous post.)
I have a herniated disk, L4-L5.
I have pain that is centered in my lower back region and the pain radiates
down into my knees.
My doctor referred me to physical therapy which includes ultrasound,
traction with heat, and exercises.
A waiter at a local restaurant that my wife and I frequent has just
completed his course in massage therapy and has recommended that I try
therapeutic massage as a remedy for the pain. I have been reluctant to
follow through with this mostly because I have never received a massage
before and I am not sure what to expect. (I'm a little gunshy.)
When I mentioned the massage to the physical therapist last Thursday, she
said, "We could try." She massaged an area in my right butt cheek for about
five minutes at the end of my regular PT session.
I was amazed! My right leg was free of pain for nearly 48 hours!
Today she mostly massaged my lower back and the pain has already returned.
Can I visit a local massage spa (as recommended by my waiter friend) and
receive the same level of pain relief?
How do I communicate this need/desire to the massage therapist?
Can the therapeutic massage be combined with a relaxation massage?
My wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis (soft tissue, not osteo); would
massage benefit her also?

It depends on the expertise of the therapist, I do some clinical work
along with relaxation or you could go for a half hour massage,
concentrating on the lower back and hip area. Explaini to the therapis
about the herniated disk with lower back and sciatic pain. It sounds
like the PT worked on the gluteals and/or pirifomis muscles which attach
to the lower spine. The sciatic nerve runs through the area and a
tightened muscle will squeeze the nerver causing the pain down your
legs. Massage can definitely alleviate this.

Massage can also be beneficial to your wife; a relaxation massage helps
regulate the immune system response and releases endorphins.

sue