Sarcoidosis

[Sarahlol]

Hi everyone I'm new to posting but I've been visiting the forums for some time now.

I'm currently about halfway through my ITEC holistic massage course and have been a bit slack with my case studies, partly through lack of confidence (which I'm feeling better about now) and partly through a couple of family berevements.

My question is that I'm using my Mum as one of my case studies and she was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis probably a year or so ago now. She had been coughing really heavily and at first thought it was the usual cold + cough but when it hadn't gone after 6 months she went to the doctor.

She's been under the hospital and (reluctantly) had all the tests etc and they suggested steroids, which, thankfully, she won't touch with a barge-pole. It is much, much better now - no cough, although she has other symptoms such as swollen glands and a very dry mouth all the time, but it's definitely getting better. She practices Reiki on herself and she has regular reflexology, as well as seeing a Naturopath.

But my question is 1) Is this a contra-indication to massage? (I'm assuming not as she has been seeing other therapists), and 2) Do you think there are any particular massage strokes I could use or any particular routine that would be of benefit? I don't have too much knowledge of this disease but I know it's an auto-immune disease and can mimic TB - as that's what Mum was tested for initially. It'd be nice to be able to help her and also nice to be able to show that in my case studies.

Also another (probably ridiculous) question - in these case studies are we supposed to be adapting the massage to the client's needs and not just practicing an overall massage on them?

I would be so grateful for your knowledge/input.

T

 

[gynqanjd]

Hi Trudy
I recommend that rather than classic massage, you get your mum to a fully qualifed manual lymph drainage practitioner. Classic massage may well increase filtration and exacerbate the sarcoidosis. MLD may help to alleviate this. A few years ago I treated a 'sarcoid' patient - MLD helped to shorten the amount of time she had to take the steriods. She also eliminated wheat, corn and dairy from her diet - she was not sure which had the most effect! 3 years down the line, she is drug free. She moved house, having lived in a city centre, on a main 'A' road - she may have been absorbing particulate that aggravated the condition.
She had, in the past, worked in a hospital xray department - a number of other staff members also developed the disease - something to do with the developing fluids used some years ago. She tries to avoid being in smokey atmospheres, and avoids people who have coughs and colds, as, in the past, she would catch anything and everything, and end up confined to bed for weeks on end - not the case for the past year, but she still avoids them!
Don't know if this is of any use.
I would think that a pathology such as sarcoidosis is a contraindication, especially if you are not yet fully qualified, but you should discuss this with your tutor.

 

[SethSpeaks]

HI
I just found this post from yahoo when I searched for reflexology and sarcoidosis! I'm doing reflexology case studies and one of my case studies has sarcoidosis. He hasn't any real symptoms other than it has left him with a blind spot in one of his eyes. It was in his lung (still shows apparently) but doesn't give him any problems. My question is:
What are the direct and indirect reflexes for this disease? I'm guessing that it's going to be the eyes (as there is damage) the lungs (its origin) and the lymphatics as it's an auto-immune but what would the assisted be? i thought maybethe thymus andadrenals (some suggestion it's stress related) but got stumped there. Any suggestions?

 

[Nikki Tesla]

I know a little about this disease as my brother in law was tested for it when he had a sudden cardiac arrest last year (aged 44) with no explanation - no heart disease, etc. and it still hasn't been ruled out.

I would get her specialist's approval before embarking on any therapies (I would imagine it is a requirement of your insurance that you do so).

As it can suddenly affect vital organs, including the heart (my BIL was rescuscitated twice), I think it's really important that you get this checked out.

Sorry, I don't want to alarm you in any way, but it can be a very serious dis-ease.

Lesley