Client with multiple rods in back

[Quizzard]

I have a client coming up next week who has had 4 back surgeries, and has 4 rods in. I've worked on a client before who has one rod in his back and really bad scoliosis, but never one at this level. his wife says he has a high threshold of pain, but going too deep on him will cause him issues the next day.

I'm wondering if anyone has had experiences with a client such as this and what kind of therapies you recommend. Obviously I need to be somewhere between swedish and deep tissue, but was curious if there were other suggestions that get good results such as mfr, and if there is anything special I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Well la-di-da]

Anybody??

*crickets*

 

[magidge]

I was hoping someone with experience would answer this. I have never heard of someone having more then one rod to begin with.

Sorry! Not very helpful.

 

[purplem00n]

I hesitated replying, simply because every client's so different. I didn't want to give you bad advice.

I'll just share the experience I had with one client who had gone through dramatic surgery to correct scoliosis. She actually has one long rod through her entire spine. One of her scapulas was also cut to a smaller size, and a few of her lower ribs were trimmed, when her spine was straightened. She had strong scar tissue along both sides of the spine, as a result of the surgery.

My client preferred deep tissue therapy -- the deeper the better, and never had issues the next day. Your client is obviously different, since his wife said you need to be careful not to work too deeply on him. I recommend asking him specifically what techniques he has found the most helpful and the least helpful in massages he's received from other therapists. I think your instinct on a semi-deep pressure, between swedish & deep tissue is a good one.

A funny side story about my client. She went to an energy practitioner who could visually see people's chakras. She said the practitioner's eyes bugged out when my client walked into her studio. She expressed concern over what she saw and asked my client if she was feeling OK. I think she saw a black hole running straight through the chakras (the rod). When my client explained the surgery, the energy practitioner was actually relieved that there was a physical structure causing that effect, rather than an energetic problem.

 

[amethystannie]

Much will be determined by what the client is coming to you for. If it is for pain in the region of pain vs. overall issues. This may not be answerable until the first visit. It sounds like the client may have shorter rods or plates, bilateral and anterior/posterior. If the region is well healed, MFR may be quite helpful. I've worked with a nimber of post-back surgery client with hardware that do well. The hardware will obviously prevent major structural releases in that immediate area, but gentler releases at and around the area can be quite helpful. More distant arm and leg pulls can free up the whole body, as can any local or regional releases.

It sounds like the client has some experience with bodywork post-surgery. As you do with any client, work within their abilities and limitations. Sorry that I can't be more specific, but don't let the hardware scare you. Start gently, with whatever modality suits you and him. Think and feel for what brought them to the place where they needed those 4 surgeries. Those areas probably still need to be opened up and released. Good luck.

 

[Margarete]

Thank you all for your responses. I saw said client last night...it went well I think, they booked for another appointment at least, but I cannot believe this guy is still alive. To see him walk and talk you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with him at all. However, included in the 4 rods is Rheumatoid Arthritis since age 17, both rotator cuffs torn, along with a laundry list of other injuries/accidents/procedures/medications.

He hasn't had massage since February, so I did my best to take it easy on him so he wouldn't be sick today. Apparently he went and saw one of my colleagues who knows his anatomy really well but doesn't quite have the personality to be....personable : and was sick for 3 days because this guy went too deep.

My goal now is to try and get him back to a good comfortable spot until his regular therapist gets back from Kuwait in October.

 

[This is NOT a Brothel]

Just from my experience w/RA clients, I would guess that that factor more than the surgery, brings on the "sick the next day" effect. My RA folks almost universally do better w/much gentler, slower moves.

 

[colorprodigy]

I have worked on a few people with permanent rods, including one athletic young lady who has two rods, one on each side of her spine. So far no problems treating any of them, as we establish good communication during the intake, and maintain it through each treatment.

Sounds like you did a good job with your new client! Maybe you will become his primary therapist...