posted
Our LLND recommends shirodhara massage treatments once per week for six weeks to help with my daughter's headaches. This type of session involves a steady stream of warm oil on your third eye, or forehead area, for about 20 minutes.
Does anyone have any experience with this? How much do you feel it helped you? I am trying to budget the next phase of treatment and would like feedback as I prioritize things for her. This is not the only treatment currently but an add-on to abx and herbs etc.
Posts: 42 | From Northeastern US | Registered: May 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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- I did that oil stream massage and it absolutely drove me insane. Made vertigo much worse and was just unnerving, the opposite of what most others experience. I think that sensory hit of a steady stream of oil to the forehead can be far, far too torturous for a lyme patient, especially if there are any sensitivity issues.
What also drove me mad was having to leave the oil on my face and head for a day or more after the massage. I hated that. When I finally could wash my hair, it took forever to get that thick oil out of it.
Now, there are many other kinds of massage that did help but NOT that one. As for the budget, you can hire a LMT to teach YOU how to do some basic massage for her. See if you can get a couple for yourself, have her get a couple and then narrow in on the style that works best.
Trager is one I would suggest, in addition with more hands on, avoiding the spine. My hands are needing to stop now (no massage for me for over year and my body is much worse without it). . . .
Trager style does rock gently but, even with major vertigo, most of the times, for a few minutes, that was nice to help my muscles relax.
Massage was THE very best support method. I highly recommend figuring out a way she can get that 1 - 2 times a week forever. We all should. And this is where learning how to do some for each other is essential. That can't replace the years of training by a LMT but it can help stretch the dollar where it's thin.
For the neck area, though, only a trained LMT should be working that area. But a shoulder massage can be learned safely and that often helps, too.
For me, a gluten-free diet helped to reduce pain all over, also head pain. But I have to say that hands-on massage is fabulous for so very many reasons.
I'll be back with some notes later. -
[ 10-17-2010, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
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- This set is NOT to replace a LMT, however, you may find that your insurance would cover some hands-on work if you can find a P.T. who is trained in some of the techniques below.
Osteopathic doctors (D.O.) or Chiropractic doctors (D.C.) are also trained in some of these techniques. Just be sure that no DO or DC EVER does a quick "snap-n-crack" or "twist-n-shout" style with any lyme patient. The neck is far too tender and inflamed for anything other than gentle work.
Not listed here, BIOFEEDBACK training is often covered by insurance for a diagnosis of migraine. Biofeedback cannot replace the wonderful benefit of hands-on work but it can certainly augment the success.
---------------------- FOR BODY WORK: -----------------------
. . . Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a gentle hands-on therapy that works through the body's visceral system (the heart, liver, intestines and other internal organs) to locate and alleviate these abnormal points of tension throughout the body.
JOHN F. BARNES, P.T. is one of the top experts on myofascial release. After a surgery, this can help reduce - or soften - adhesions that typically occur.
Many other good links through Google, Bing and some video introductions on YouTube.
=================================
Low impact, non-aerobic exercises that are very powerful in a deep and gentle way:
Tai Chi can be excellent. So can Qi Gong (Chi Gong), which requires less turning of the head and less sideways movement. One of the most healing styles of Qi Gong is Soaring Crane. With either Tai Chi or Qi Gong, be sure it's a healing style. Some are more aggressive in nature.
Restorative Yoga is a good style.
===============================
Some find LED light therapy to help with joints. This is just one link for one of the more popular units. There are more links on the web - and several threads that can be searched here at LymeNet through the search feature/archives.
Add to list: BIOFEEDBACK -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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- To find a LMT to teach you some basic skills, you might find the closest massage school and see if they offer a class for those not intending to become licensed.
Years ago, there was such a workshop offered through a wellness group. Keep your eyes open for other venues.
You could also ask one of the massage instructors to teach you, if their fee schedule is reasonable. That would be best for a couple reasons, first of which is that they are TRAINED in how to TEACH.
Secondly, they may not feel slighted or insulted if you want to learn in order to avoid sessions. A LMT may have mixed feelings about that but most would really understand.
There may be a few videos out there of help but always get some one-on-one with a certified massage instructor.
And, if you have others in your family or friend circle, you might just get everyone some training. I'd gather everyone for a series and then you'll have a far broader circle of helpers.
If others chip in for training costs, you can get a better "course" designed, too.
Massage schools often have massage tables for sale right about this time of the year as some students usually drop out a month or two into the term (it is a very rigorous course of study).
Craig's list also has massage tables now and then. I got a $400 table for $100 a few years ago. That way, the LMT could come to me and not have to cart her table but many can do that. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Keebler, thank you. You always have the best info and so thorough! I feel terrible that I didn't mention that I am a massage therapist myself. I am not trained in Trager but I can imagine the rocking does wonders to calm the nervous system.
Unfortunately, at 16 my daughter is having a hard time accepting my offers for massage. I think she views me as the gestapo ordering her around, take this, did you do that?...too many prompts and I am under her skin...no pun.
Interesting feedback on the shiro tx. I suppose everyone finds different things effective. I think I will have her try one and see for herself. Maybe I can barter.
As an LMT I have taught couples or family members how to do a few techniques to help each other out and relieve discomfort. I never feel like it is teaching them how to replace me, I think we all should be more comfortable with touch and help our loved ones feel better. So much of it is intention.
I would agree with all your advice about contacting a massage school to receive reduced or free massage on a tight budget. Students are typically allowed to work on clients only after they have received a good portion of instruction and are supervised closely.
Posts: 42 | From Northeastern US | Registered: May 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- If she goes for one of these sessions and finds it not to her liking, the LMT should be able to then change to a different technique.
I'm trying to figure out how to tell if the drizzling of oil might bother her but, as her mom, my guess is you've got more insight into how irritated she is by sensory stuff. My head was so inflamed that each drop felt like a boulder hitting it and it would vibrate inside, it was even LOUD to my ears from inside of my head.
But it was also irritating like the tags of clothing (which I've cut out for years) - or jewelry (which I simply cannot tolerate, either).
Glad to hear you are a LMT and really do understand that she may not be accepting of healing touch by her mom at this stage in the life of an American teenager. Big sigh ! And decades from now she will be kicking herself, of course.
I hope you could find someone to trade services. That seems like an excellent idea. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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