massage and fits

[Michael Emmerik]

Can anyone throw any light as to why my mum should have a small fit after having her upper arm massaged? This has happenend three times. The last time her upper arm was not massaged and a fit did not happen.

My mum had a brain tumour removed 20 years ago and the only other thing which might set her off are camera lights.

Just wondered if any readers had any knowledge on this subject. Thanks.
(We are waiting to see a neurologist.)

 

[Bronissesurce]

hi twizzle,

i see you have had no answers and you wont be getting one from me either!

however, epilepsy, if that is what your mum has, is contraindicated for massage and it looks like your mum is perhaps a little unstable with hers at the moment... has it been diagnosed ever or is the first time its happened?

as i am not a doctor, i dont know if that is the problem, but i think it advisable to do no massage at this time, until you all know what you're dealing with.

massage boosts circulation... could be that the rush of it is not suitable at the moment.

 

[SgtXcom]

Hi Rosie

Why would epilepsy be contra indicated for massage? the worse case scenario is someone will have a fit which they would have had anyhow, I cannot see any reason why massage would affect an epileptic apart from making them a bit more relaxed.

I do not have not had any problem with any of my epileptic patients.

Hi Twizzle

If you try massaging the side of your mums neck on the effected side it should highlight the nerves which are possibly affected when they operated, the part to try is directly in the middle from front to back and just above the shoulder, try it on yourself first and it will give you funny sensations in your arm but with your mum it might be sending those funny signals to the brain? just a thought

 

[Libs lay off]

see, now thats the reason i avoided this post earlier!

paul, we all know the whole contra indication thing goes round and around. we all work within our own beliefs and limitations.

having said that, if i had massaged someone 3 times and each time a fit had resulted, i think i'd be wary.

whilst there is uncertainty about any under lying condition, i think it would be prudent, in this instant, to not massage... depends on whether one is happy to keep apparently bringing on a fit!

i dont accept that a fit may have happened anyway... thats a total unknown. i daresay your patients are on meds to control epilepsy or at least it is controlled.

this particular case, as i read it, is waiting diagnosis.

 

[Dads boy]

Thanks everyone for your replies,

Mum normally only has the occasional fit; about 2 or 3 a year; which we discovered was brought on by camera flashes.

She has been having massage once a fortninght for the past three years, but the excellent therapist has only just started working on mum's "rigid" upper arm.

Thanks for your replies, and it'll be interesting to see what the specialist says.

 

[Brookie]

Hi Twizzle. I am going to ask Andrew (Anahata) my business partner about this tomorrow, he is an osteopath and usually has the answers. My first thought was that it was a connection to nerves, but I really don't know.

I don't have a problem massaging or treating anybody with elilepsy, but agree with Rosie that I would be concerned if it happened more than once. It does have all sorts of implications such as the client injuring themselves and although I rarely bother about contraindications I think it would bother me this one.

Will get back to you tomorrow night.

 

[This is NOT a Brothel]

That's one to sleep on!

Won't promise anything, but other info that may help:

Which side brain was tumour?

Which arm?

You mention 'rigid' upper arm - is the rigidity a result of the tumour, operation or a previous fit?

Age? Any other known problems? and has she been any different as a result of these recent fits?

Andrew.

 

[marriedmomof2]

Hello Anahata,

The tumour was on the right side of the brain. The operation left her left leg and left arm both weak.
At times her left upper arm becomes "tight" more than rigid, and she has to consciously send thought s to relax it.
she has problems with spacial awareness and when she first came out of hospital I had to draw diagrams so she could re-learn how to dress herself. once she had re-learnt it, she was able to throw away the diagrams.
She is roughly 75 years old, and has sufferd no ill effect as a result of the fits.
Also I always make sure Iam nearby when she has a massage, so I was able to deal with it instantly. Two of the fits only lasted 5 minutes and were small facial ones.

 

[Soulmate]

Hi Rosie

I am all for being cautious and referring to the Dr etc but if we made a list of everything that has been posted as a massage contra indication on this forum we would only treat about one in ten patients who arrived for treatment

 

[PE2008]

hi paul,

horses for courses, then! candie and i think alike (i'm glad to see) and whilst as professionals we may not be as concerned about contras as we are as students, i would not like to be the one responsible for giving my client any discomfort or cause for concern. i would say, there has been cause for concern, which is why twzzle is asking.

 

[cheetaking243]

I think we all agree on the contraindication thing. Probably wouldn't treat anybody if we stuck to that.[&:]

I have gone back and re-read the post and missed the 'small fit' bit and now see that the fit involves the face. This wouldn't worry me so much. I was thinking it was more serious. I have seen an epileptic fit and it isn't nice. That was my initial thought and it worried me because of that.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I think we are at cross purposes with the definition of contraindicated, to my understanding if something is contraindicated then you do not treat that person without the permission of their doctor otherwise you are invalidating your insurance.

So if someone requires leg massage with varicose veins then I automatically get them to see their Dr to see if the veins are thrombosed, if not no problem treating them but if the Dr thinks they are likely to be thrombosed then no leg treatments without exception, so you see I do take contraindications very seriously.

A contraindication to any form of therapy is generally put there to avoid the therapist making something worse or inadvertently causing some other serious problem to that patient and most are obvious.

I do not recall epilepsy being on my list of contra indications so have not taken it into consideration as something to avoid but reading the posts I would be very interested to know if the fits stop when the trigger points in the shoulder are released.

 

[Toni]

Hello Paul,
The small facial fit did not occur when pressure was being applied. If it had been that obvious we wouldn't have had to think about it, as to what might have caused it.
The fit occured at the end of the session after getting off the couch and into an easy chair.
The specialist will probably say that the strength of her tablets need to be increased slightly.
Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[drrvzogl]

Whist I'm hard pushed to consider any part of ourselves that is not amazing - the brain does seem to excel in adaptability & flexibilty, but then what else could one expect from something that is mostly water & cholesterol. If a certain area gets damaged in some way, then those in reasonable health seem to be able to compensate, reprogramme and another area can take over the duties of and compensate for that which is lost.

With opposing side of brain controlling opposite side of body, my initial thoughts were that of which you describe. The weakened leg & arm, probably still don't work as well as previously and unusual signals back to the brain from these may be still liable to misinterpretation.

If the fits are decreasing after massaging this area, then your mum may just need some more recovery time on the treatment table. If they consistent or worse, then we need to think of another approach.

Andrew.

 

[awbball4]

Hello,

Just as a point of interest, it was the doctors who recommended the therapist.

Anahata, I agree with what you say. It is actually fascinating how the brain compensates for our physical disablities.

Thanks again.