Massage

Hi Everyone!

I'm doing well at over 10 weeks post op!

I'm starting to dream about my next deep tissue massage and wondering if anyone knows when massages are ok?? I am seeing my surgeon in 3 weeks but figured I would ask all of you in the meantime .

[rich1752]

Jamie, I wasn't able to lay on my stomach after 10 weeks post op. I still have problems laying on my stomach. My rods don't want to bend in that direction. Maybe your back doesn't have that problem.

rich

[debbei]

I can lay on my stomach, but it's not very comfortable. (It used to be my favorite sleeping position prior to surgery.) The other thing is, I am very leary on having anyone touch my back. I know that massage therapists are trained, but they don't know the hardware in my back! What it they push on something that they sholdn't! The only person I let do some massage on my back was my physical therapist.

[titaniumed]

JamieAnn
It would be interesting to see how many posties get massages after their surgeries. I used to have massages quite a bit before, but after my surgeries, they just don’t feel all that great anymore. Maybe it’s the pressure over the rods, or scar tissue.

And yes, the stomach position is not the most comfortable position after fusion. I think it has to do with the neck. On a bed, you have to twist your neck 90 degrees while laying on your stomach, other sleeping postitons do not require the extreme “neck twist”.

Good to hear that you are doing well at 10 weeks.
Ed

[Elisa]

My son likes to go to the chiro on Mondays after school as he says it feels good. The chiro said that even when/if he gets surgery that he can still come for treatments on the un-fused parts of the spine but I would be really worried that the chiro might unintentionally move things around and make things worse. Do any of you who had spine surgery ever go for chiro treatments? Just wondering.

[Doodles]

I still go to the chiro but I didn't until I was about 14 months post-op. I was having some major leg issues and that helped. He only uses the hand-held device (not activator--but similar) and it has helped me a lot. My hips feel "freer" and move easier. I would guess it's not something you would consider until after fusing. Janet

[nanlo]

hi JamieAnn,
I started getting massages again after my 12 week post op appt. I really depended on massage before surgery to prepare my muscles for the way they would be repositioned after surgery, and I missed it a lot. So I started back w/ just lying on my back, having the therapist do my neck and upper shoulders from underneath, as well as legs, arms - everything is trying to adjust. In the last 2 weeks (now I am 15 weeks out) I've started lying on my stomach for a limited time and she is massaging the muscles on the sides of my spine, w/out touching the vertebrae, and being super super gentle and careful. I think the most important thing is that my massage therapist has had another client who had the same surgery, and she is very informed and mindful of what I have. Also, my massage therapist and PT communicate w/ each other through me which is kind of cool. I wouldn't get massages unless I was totally confident that she wouldn't do anything to mess me up!

[JamieAnn]

Thank you everyone! I didn't really think about lying on my stomach for that long, that makes sense. I can do it though - but maybe would have to keep it to a 30 min maximum. I am more concerned about damaging the un-fused bone graft.. not sure if you can move it around? I can't imagine the hardware can get damaged by a massage. But anyway I will hold off regardless until I see the doc. And like some of you said, I will avoid that fusion area regardless. I would love to start working the muscles back into place in my lumbar area, which is not fused.

Thanks again!

[karena]

Hi JA: I got clearance from my surgeon first (3.5 months post op) before getting massages. Have had one and going for a second one this week. I just make sure they do it gently, and know that I have my condition. Good luck.