Interesting...

[Ghana Banana]

Hi, Goodmoaning, Good evening, depends where you are... and how you feel about things today???

I am just about to embark on an interesting journey with someone, but first I wanted to ask your advice and see your thoughts.

A man called me today and wants to schedule an apointment. He had open heart surgery 3 weeks ago and feels very tight. His muscles in his upeforum.xxxody are telling him to get a massage.

I have no experience in this department and I was hoping you had.

Are there any contra indications I need know about?

I will use two positions. For most of the massage he will be laying face up as I massage the back of his head and neck. I can also operate and massage the shoulders from here also. The delt's also, triceps, in fact the entire arm. Front shoulder where it meets the pec's.

I would of course need to be careful not to pull the wound at all.

My final step would be to sit him up and relax him further from here, paying attention to sweeping all that bad energy from center out through the finger tips. I really like this position as it allows me to view and feel the body structure and position when the body frame itself and muscle systems are all sitting as normal.

Anything else I forgot? I would appreciate your thoughts and experience. Thank you in advance.

Max

 

[secretly submissive]

I would have him ok it with his doc first. I had a similar experience this past summer. I gave the client two massages and was careful etc. mainly working on his scalp, neck, feet. Very very superficial. However, when he went back to his dr and said he was recieving massage the dr. said no more. Mainly because of the cumidan(sp?) the blood thinner drugs massage is contraindicated. So just check to make sure of the meds he is on. With a serious condition you just can't be to careful i guess. If its okay then things I noticed is that they chill very easy, and may be light headed and dizzy often especially when getting off the table. So careful when sitting him upright. Also the arms, delts where very tender and rom is very limited. So to keep it comfortable moving the limbs as little as possible. Of course no over the head stretchs or anything like that. Three weeks out can be really early for some folks. Will you go to him or will he come to you? My client was most comfortable with a home visit. Then he could just climb in bed and doze afterwards. It really helped him sleep and he and his wife were very disappointed that he could not continue on. Hope my experience is helpful. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[soum]

Thank God for you

Thank you so much. I have read your text twice and by your suggestion I will hold off with the massage until he can speak with his doctor.

So, I can't say any more until I have this info.

He was going to come to my ord, but I think i will speak to him also about a home visit.

Will get back to you and we can watch the progression together. It certainly will be a learn for me. I like that.

In the meantime, any other thoughts or suggestions or...?

 

[Susiepolls2008]

Actually I have a friend who is undergoing a triple heart bypass today, so this is hitting a chord with me also. Though she's in another state... it's definitely a topic on my mind.
I talked with my friend by phone yesterday and she did mention that with this surgery her rib cage will be wired shut, and that lifting the arms overhead is something she won't be able to do for some time.
Because of blood thinners which I would think would be a "given" for a few weeks afterward, I'd definitely get Dr's permission. (My guess is that the client may also be on anti-depressants and pain meds, so it's always good to get the whole picture.)
I just located an excellent article this morning that you may enjoy Old Dog, published just a couple weeks ago by Time magazine.

Post Op Rx: Get a Massage
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1695812,00.html

 

[spencer J]

Truly appreciated

Thank you, Maestra. Your words were great and your article choice was right on, I thought. This is what I think also.

But like you said, I must wait until the pain meds and thinners are adressed by his Doctor.

Incidently I think that article backs up my thoughts on specializing as a MT. I believe there are huge untapped markets in MT if perhaps more of us would consider finding that special niche for themselves in the large field that we share. In this case it is massage for post op patients. I have seen others also.

Just a final side thought...

Our industry is growing and will sustain growth for a long time. May we all enjoy a bright future together. I have learned some amazing things while I've been here on this forum and met some great people like you, who obviously join me as we share a common passion for what we do. Thank you all.

Best wishes

Max

 

[Jizzflakes Jr.]

Just wanted to mention this to those who may not be in "the know".

It's rapidly approaching that more and more of the bypass surgery will be done by robotic assists and that will help with recovery time. So, if you have to go under, it may be something to ask about.

Here's one article. http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/surgical_robot.htm

 

[One week til Candice!!]

Thank you again Old Dog for bringing up a wonderful topic.
My mother (the barber) just had a client in here yesterday who had heart surgery a few years ago. He told me that as he was recovering he went through a program (in a different state, Ohio maybe?) where he would see a Chriopractor, then a PT, then a MT all at the same facility. He said the treatments were amazing and were really helping in the recovery of the muscle and skeletal tissue involved in the surgery.
He said he had to discontinue the treatment because he switched ins. co's and the new one did not cover part or all of the treatment. He made much progress, but still feels tight in the intercostals, and near the sternum. He claims it feels like it pulls constantly.
So eventhough it may not be apropriate now, don't forget to work the intercostals and break up the scar tissue when it is apropriate!

 

[David P]

Update

Thanks, Premo.

And that was. What an amazing experience I had today. I met with the man, and like I thought what a tough guy. He has always been a sportie so his healing time is really going well. He even lifted his T Shirt above his head.

He takes no painkillers so he felt his stressed muscles mainly in the top trap's. His neck was a bit tight also. I used the two positions, face up and sitting.

My application was more concentrated pressure in particular areas because I didn't want to move things around too much. The energy was good and he felt much lighter and more free afterwards.

He made another appointment next week so perhaps I can start some light intercostal work as well. I'll feel it when I get there. It surely is a great part of our work when we can feel the satisfaction of a job well done. And another happy, relieved person leaves our room.

We do a good job. Thanks for being with me and I wish you all well.

Max