Physical Therapy, Day Two
Posted on Wed September 16, 2009 in Endometriosis
Tags: lymphatic message
Views: 168
Thanks to everyone for the comments and messages about the lymphatic system and
the PT I'm doing. This seems to be an area that no one is quite sure about,
including me.
I went this morning for my second visit, and Joan and
I talked a little before the massage. We briefly reviewed my case, and then she
had me change into a wrap around skirt/gown thing and I laid on the table. She
did some gentle massaging and I asked her "So, you can really feel whether
my lymphatic system is flowing well or not?" She said that with her
training, she could even tell if it was flowing in the right direction.
Lymphatic massage is often used when breast cancer patients have had a lymph
node removed, but the lymph continues to flow to where that node used to be.
Massage can help "turn" the flow in another direction.
Well, while she massaged me, she was in a few spots that cause me pain. My
pain confuses me (and confused my doctors) because it is higher than you would
expect from pelvic pain. But Dr. Nath says it is likely referred pain. A few
times I was in some pain, but I told Joan and she would ease up. When I used to
see the specialists this past winter, they would poke and prod and I would be
sore the rest of the day. I told Joan that. She said she took a seminar once
with both MDs and PTs. She said they had to partner up and practice some
massage moves on each other. The MDs were so rough that the PTs ended up only
partnering with each other after a while. I typically assume some head-butting
between PTs and MDs, psychologists and psychiatrists, LPNs and RNs, etc. But I
still found the story interesting.
She also said today that we
would try this for a couple more sessions. If I'm not seeing any help, we will
try another treatment angle.
I worked out yesterday and had some
pain afterward, which is common. I took ibuprofen afterward and a nap, and that
helped. I didn't take any Vicodin yesterday, which was great! It was the first
day in a while I didn't need one in the evening. I think that ibuprofen and nap
combo is great, but I can't do that everyday.
About me
35 / Female
Member since Jul 2009
Profile Views: 935
Journal Views: 6485
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About Me: I spent five months in daily pain before finally being diagnosed with endometriosis. I understand the frustration of chasing a diagnosis, and the hopelessness that comes with daily pain. I'm still fighting the endo, as it has no cure (YET!) and I'm trying to share information as I get through treatment.
Location: Mountain View, CA
Interests: Reading, writing, wine-tasting, spending time with my husband, dog, and friends.
Medical Conditions: Endometriosis, depression, severe food allergies, migraines
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sandra says:
on September 16, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Oh, one more thing. My PT said as I left, "You might pee a lot today." Um, you think? Thank goodness I'm working from home; I've been in the bathroom every 40 minutes. I guess something got flowing!
Michelle says:
on September 16, 2009 at 05:20 PM
perhaps on nights when you can't take ibuprofen and nap - you could take ibuprofen and a hot bath? it might be the "forced" resting that's helping the drug do it's thing. :)
yea for not being on vicodin though! that's a step in the right direction!!
sandra says:
on September 16, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Thanks, Michelle. :) I guess the times I can't do ibuprofen + nap are at work, in the afternoons. But I love the bath idea! I will never pass up a hot bath.
Dennis says:
on October 11, 2009 at 10:09 PM
have you continued this? how is it working out so far?