Massage (including sports massage)

[Finarda]

Primer on Massage Therapy for Hypermobility Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

This is a really good article written by a massage therapist whose sister-in-law has HEDS. I'm planning to print it out and take it to my new massage therapist.

http://ftfisher.livejournal.com/1928.html

Fiona

[gila]

thanks for posting this!
it's bookmarked now
xxg

[EmilyG]

Thanks for this, it's hugely interesting!

Emily x

[Rachel1985]

An interesting article thanks for posting it.

I actually find during sports massage that there are many muscles through.near to your bum and linking into the IT band that I find very beneficial in easing stiffness & tension - obviously it should be discussed before your treatment but it certainly isn't uncommen in my experiencing of receiving them and being qualified in massage too.

[barkingmad]

Thanks for posting the link. It was very interesting..have printed it off!

[chinnybarbados]

Hi there,

I have tried to have a very light soft tissue massage several times to aliviate the symptoms of HMS and have a nice treat! However every time I have a massage (which is suppose to be good for this condition) I seem to have a flare up and go completely fatigued and end up on a bit of bed rest to be honest.
Does anyone else experience this or know why it happens?

Thanks

[lil_miffy]

i went and had a massage at the beuaty place near me last week. I asked for one that would give my muscles a good poke. I felt wonderful afterwards. Its been so long since iv not had any muscles all tensed up.
Iv decided to go once a fortnight. The woman was loverly and i felt very comfortable with her. She asked about my condition too so understood to be careful around the joints.

cx

[leashy11]

I so wish massage helped me, I used to love a good massage. Chinny if your flare up is just fatigue it could be due to the toxins that are relased from the muscles during a massage and drinking lots of water will help flush them out but if you're like me and massage causes a full blown "pain through the roof" flare up I've found it's because too many of my muscles have been released in one go. I can only have a couple of areas released before this happens so massage is pretty much off the cards for me right now.

[lil_miffy]

i get totally wiped out energy wise after a massage and have needed to go to bed as soon as i get in from my appointment and sleep right through to the next day. Now i know why! If anything this is another benefit of massage as its the only time i get a good amount of good quality sleep.
Oh and last week i found out my massage therapist is hypermobile as are her kids. none of them have been diagnosed with hms and it sounds like they are just hypermobile but with some hms issues but nothing that cuases any real problems. How ironic for me to end up with a bendy therapist!

[lil_miffy]

brilliant article! Going to give it to my therapist.

[Jill]

I tried massage only twice - first time it was back, the second - lowerback and hips.
The next day after the back massage muscles started aching while I was shopping, like they were trying to get into the usual tensed position at high speed, definitely not the best day of my life. The same story happened after the second time - I never knew that muscle pain in hips can be so intensive, and it was just like the pain after the back massage
Is that normal for HMS? I never experienced anything like that after chiro.

[Rosie]

Hi Jill

Yes, some of us react in this way. The last massage I had was very gentle, the masseur knew about my EDS and so was very gentle with me. He had commented on how tight my muscles were and worked to relax them. I woke up the next morning with my neck and back in spasm, couldn't move a thing, and it took a few days to wear off. Needless to say, it is something I haven't repeated. Like most things, works for some of us, doesn't work for others.

Rosie

[Jill]

Thank you , Rosie! Did you find the alternative for massage that works for you?

[Rosie]

Hi again

The best treatment I have found for muscle spasms is heat, either baths (can't actually get in/out one any more), hot showers, hot water bottles, heat pads, wheaties and so on. The most effective way though is to try and work out what is causing the spasms, and try to prevent them in the first place. Not easy, I know. When I was still working, mainly sat at a computer, I had bad muscle spasms across the top of my back/shoulders. It was only after an 'Access to Work' assessment that I found this was caused by the weight of my arms in my shouders as I was working at my desk. I was supplied with lower arm rests and they helped me no ens. I also drive with my left elbow resting on the arm rest and this helped as well.
When I gave up work and was able to pace myself better, that helped as well, but I am unfortunately back to muscles spasms each day cos I am currently doing too much.

Rosie

[loosebones]

I have a regular (well when I can afford it) Hot Stone massage and it is truly wonderful! Definitely the one to have if you find that heat works. The stones work as an anaesthetic and soothe the muscles so the tension is eased out gently. My massage lady knows nothing about EDS but it's not stopped her learning and she works on whatever needs working on that session. It is crucial after to drink plenty of water and to rest otherwise you are undoing the good. I made the mistake this week and went to the gym after which means I've not felt the true benefit of the massage but I still feel better than I did before it.