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Pain potentially curbing career in Medical Massage

Hi Everyone!

My name is John, this is my first time here posting! I'm excited for the community!

Here's my story:

My wonderful girlfriend has just recently gotten fully licensed in Medical Massage Therapy. She helped me recover through my L5-S1 Laminectomy last year while going through school. She is incredibly talented, however she coming to a crossroads of sorts with a problem.

Her hands/wrist/elbow are in constant pain these days. She originally thought it was arthritis, but she's not so sure anymore.

It mostly her elbow, I think, that is causing the pain in the rest of her arm. but it's keeping her from being able to give massages.

I've gotten her compression gloves and the sort, and they help relieve the pain for a short time but nothing long term.

She loves Massage, but she's worried her body isn't going to let her pursue a career in the field.

Has anyone had issues with sever hand/wrist/elbow pain? I would really like to help her through this.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on August 9, 2017 at 12:04am

For years I've been complaining about our education system. Here is the weird thing John.... Massage is the best therapy for your girlfriends problem. There is no other type of therapy better. But of course they aren't going to teach that in massage school? I have my theories as to why, but I won't get into that now.
Medical massage implies the the person with that training is going to be working with or getting referrals from chiropractors, orthopedic, rehabilitation docs, and so on. One of the types of patients or referrals your girlfriend would see, is someone with her exact condition.
Now here is the good thing. Your girlfriends real education in medical massage starts today. Now not to belittle your girlfriends pain....I know she is hurting, suffering, and afraid. And I know its debilitating. And it has ended many a massage career. But in truth it's a relatively easy fix. In real life I've helped dozens ofnew massage therapists with similar injuries. And even myself. But that's in real life, not typing online. The truth is she can fix herself and you can help her.
Instead of me trying to explain things in here. I would go to YouTube and type in "active Release forearms " , and go from there. Watch and see how other therapists and people work on themselves and patients with your girlfriends very problem. You could call it "Repetitive stress injury , Overuse syndrome " not sure what the current name is now? But it's a soft tissue injury. Trigger points, adhesions, tendinitis, inflammation and so on. Check out .....
www.mrtherapy.com. They don't use the word trigger points, but she has em, and that therapy destroys em. You could also go to www.triggerpoints.net for information. But youtube will give you actual practical things she can do. I'd only add protein supplements ( Whey protein) like the bodybuilders take. She has damaged muscle tissue from working incorrectly or overuse. Protein is the only thing that rebuilds damaged muscle tissue. You can look at it like she is not getting enough protein for her job if you want. Also I'd get a good electric massager from Amazon like the Whal Deep tissue Percussive Massager.
If ya can't fix yourself...How can you fix somebody else? Now her real education starts. Don't worry , as painful and debilitating as it is, she can fix herself. I've done it. Others have. Maybe others in here can give more specifics then me. But go to YouTube. Stay strong.. have faith. We have a high art. ( even though they don't teach it that way ).

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Permalink Reply by Alisa Alexander on August 18, 2017 at 8:28pm

Hi John, I suggest she study techniques that allow her to use her whole body more than just her hands alone. ashiatsu, massage done with feet where therapist holds on to bars or Thai massage that allows therapist to get down on the table/mat so that she can use her feet, knees and body weight . both are very comfortable and fun for the therapist once she learns the techniques . these will honestly help her massage career go on for ever :)

check out this link for video tutorials http://activehealing.us/video-tutorials/