Massages Could Cause More Pain Than Relief

Massages Could Cause More Pain Than Relief

Massages Could Cause More Pain Than ReliefHEALTH NEWS ¡ª People often feel better right after a relaxing massage, but many people leave the table feeling ever worse. Experts say what you don't know about massage may cause more pain than relief.

Mary Schreiner loves adventure, but her active lifestyle has had its downside. She broke her back in a climbing accident and her shoulder in a scooter mishap.
Mary Schreiner who gets massages says, "I had this constant ache, which made me want to get massages, which I did every week."
Mary went to massage therapists she found in the phone book, salons, and even referred therapists for help.
She says, "The massage always helped it, made it feel better at the time, but then it would get more aggravated within a day or so."
Rehab Specialist Doctor Rober Gotlin says about fifteen percent of patients who get a massage end up needing corrective treatment afterward. He says the initial problem usually isn't the muscle.
"It's really the bone or the nerve that's the underlying problem that's really causing the pain," says Dr. Gotlin.
Meaning -- massages could make it worse. He says thin people should steer clear of deep massages. A nerve, muscle or bone near the spinal column could be injured. Also, a person who has weak muscles or who has trouble moving their arms, back or legs should seek medical help before receiving a massage.
If you attempt a massage at home, Doctor Gotlin says don't go too deep on your partner and use gentle strokes known as a spindle technique along with deep breathing.
In the end it took cortisone injections for Mary to find relief. She says, "For three weeks she was agonizing over it, and it was over in three minutes."
Now, she works out on her Pilates machine to keep her muscles in shape.
Dr. Gotlin says if you want a better chance of a safe massage, look for a therapist with credentials from the American Massage Therapy Association. He also cautions that if you have nighttime aches, then see your doctor. It could be a bone injury, arthritis or or more serious problem.