Wrist pain

[KEELEY]

Help! I am a student that is about to finish my 600hr. school soon. My right wrist is KILLING me. I am thinking it is tied in with my thumb??? My school says to keep my table low, another therapist tells me higher. I think I need a new technique....I love this profession and this scares me. I certainly would hate to stop!

 

[Ggg]

You really need someone to look at you, and that is obviously what you have already done and learned that each person looks and works differently. Rest your hand. Do not use your thumb or wrist until they are healed. Then when you begin to work with them again, do it with awareness. Notice what position gives you strain. If your teacher tells you to put your table lower, but you do not change your body mechanics, that won't help. The same can go for the higher table. Ultimately you need to be aware of yourself.

This may be your wake-up call. Become aware of your body, in the moment, or loose your career.

My other suggestion is to get a large mirror and put it in the room that you most work in. This way you can look at yourself and study your posture/technique. Invaluable.

Good luck.

 

[Boo!]

Definately rest your writst. Also when you do go back, keep your wrist as straight as possible. don't over extend it. I had wrist pain the first time I did massage, had to take some time off to let it heal. And don't forget to get some work done on it. Time to take advaneforum.xxxe of the healing power of bodywork.

Jason

 

[tinkrbel93]

Thanks for the advise. I will rest it as much as possible. I appreciate your response.

 

[Sweet Cat]

Helga...that's funny! The other professionals at my office call me affectionately by the name, "Helga", too!

Your wrist pain is just the beginning of what awaits you as a professional MT. It doesn't get any better, I'm afraid to say. Our wrists simply aren't designed to support our full body weight many hours a day.

Unfortunately, 70% of massage clients want deep tissue, a technique which requires you to take full body weight into your wrists many hours a day.

My unofficial research shows that the average massage therapist's career lasts 6 years. This number matches up with the numbers the massage schools in my area are telling their new students, as well! I'm in my 6th year as a massage therapist. Guess what's happening to me?

All is not lost! I'm using the money I make as a MT to find a NEW career path that is less destructive to my body and suits my personality better....and so can you!

 

[SuzzHuzz]

Unfortunately, 70% of massage clients want deep tissue, a technique which requires you to take full body weight into your wrists many hours a day.

Which method of deep tissue taught you this? Who are the instructors that teach putting your full body weight into your wrists?

 

[The Only Logical Solution]

You can learn several techniques that allow your wrists to rest and heal, and then to not be re-injured. Talk to one of the instructors about it while you are still in school - they may be able to help you that very day.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I've been pulled into many conversation from folks who have the positive intent to help. I do appreciate everyone's positive energy. In fact, I welcome it!

However, my intent on this board is to show an opposing side of the massage business. It is not a popular view on this board, and that's why I've decided to state it briefly and move on.

Just think about what I've said...take it, or leave it!

 

[My Bastard Son Has AIDS]

Another thing to keep in mind as you heal and work your way back into work - if you spend your time warming tissues well (SO many techniques available, as well as using heat) you'll find you can get deeper into tissues WITHOUT using loads of pressure. If you're bearing down and trying to smash your way through your client, you will get hurt.

Take your time, stack and support your joints, and feel yourself sinking slowly through the melting layers of tissue. If at any moment you START to feel discomfort, then stop and change what you're doing immediately. Change your angle or change your tool. Are you using your elbows? The busier I get, the more I use my elbows - you'd be surprised how sensitive you can get with them. The other thing is to avoid fatigue (leading to wear and tear). If you're working and a body part starts to tire, again - immediately change what you're doing. Never do anything so much that it gets uncomfortable or wears you out.

I had problems with my right wrist out of school myself. I found that rest and plunging my hand/wrist into ice water after working REALLY helped me bounce back quicker.

 

[ALEX!!!!!!!]

I've been pulled into many conversation from folks who have the positive intent to help. I do appreciate everyone's positive energy. In fact, I welcome it!

However, my intent on this board is to show an opposing side of the massage business. It is not a popular view on this board, and that's why I've decided to state it briefly and move on.

Just think about what I've said...take it, or leave it!

My intent in asking was not to engage you in some sort of helpful conversation but to know which methods and teachers to avoid as I look into more clinical styles of massage.

 

[T. Le]

Actually, Helga, it does get better. If you learn proper techniques and take care of yourself, with experience you can have a basically pain free career. But it does take diligence on your part to protect yourself. Don't get sloppy with your work. Always be aware of your body's position relative to your client's. And you have to keep yourself in good shape as this is a strenuous job. No where have I heard that on deep tissue, you put your body weight on your wrists. That is just false information. Using forearms is just an example of other methods available.

I've been doing chair massage for 8 years. I can easily work a show for 6 hours. But I'm always aware of my technique and, outside of massage, I have a pretty good athletic program going for myself. This, despite having 2 illnesses that are relatives of arthritis (therefore, having my joints, as in wrists, involved). I also have a rebuilt (and 70% mobility) left elbow...due to a cycling accident. And I'm 53.

Helga, if I can do this work, you can do it.

 

[lasnochas nicolas]

To Ouch:
The reason some folks drop out of this work is that it simply isn't where their heart is. Also, there are those who get injured, as this work is physically demanding on the body. Yet another reason to keep your body mechanics in mind at all times, & never hurt yourself to "serve" the client better (Major Mistake). Then there is the matter of how to run your business if you're self-employed vs working for someone else. It's all part of it, speaking as a practitioner of 18 years.

Hello Helga,

Following the advice of your instructors & many of the posters, you can recover fully from this injury, to carry on for many years to come:

Let your wrists heal & watch your body mechanics. Speak with your instructors & let them guide you.

Also, do a search through the forum, as there are a number of very helpful posts by Livgreen on the hands & carpal tunnel which are very useful for the wrists, & arms as well.

Don't forget to work on your forearms (as well as the rest of your body!) regularly to break up the tension/tightness which develops during sessions.

And keep your table low enough so that you can work comfortably!

Best wishes in all that you do, both in your career & in your life.
Deb

 

[Little Glenn]

I really appreciate all of your helpful responses. You are very kind to take the time to help!
Peace & Love,
Helga

 

[PRETTY GREEN EYES]

My gf is a Japanese trained therapist. She is about 109 lbs. after a huge meal. Massage school is 3 years there. She has been in practice another 6. She has no wrist pain.
In her school they actually took bathroom scales and put them on the table and routinely measured the force they could support with the thumbs.
I empathize with Ouch, but am positive deep tissue etc. can be performed safely and with longevity.
Otoh, i have seen people damage themselves permanently in as little as 3 months, but they all made some mistake or another in form or focus.

 

[Matt St.James]

I think we all, at one time or another, suffer some sort of over use injury or an injury from bad body mechanics. I try not to look at this as a sign that I should "get out of the business", I look at it as a sign that it is time to re-evaluate my body mechanics, or my scheduling, (and not continue to overbook myself) and try some preventive intervention (regular exercise and a healthy diet).
I used to work in an office and I seem to recall having horrible headaches and neck pain from sitting in the office on a bad office chair, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder.. I think most jobs give us aches and pains when we don't take care of ourselves and use bad ergonomics.....
This is supposed to be a pep talk!! Not sure it comes across that way, but I don't know how to re word it,,, this must mean that it's bed time!

 

[Random Hangman]

I sympathize with the hurting folks too. My wrists hurt bad after 2 years in the biz. My clinic had an ergonomics expert help me change a few things. He said its impossible to give blanket advice because everyones situation is different. He said common sense listening to your own body is the best approach rather than listening to what everyone else has to say. I like that!

So Im trying to stay positive and focus on learning new techniques and other things besides myself. But the expert told me that sometimes the problem is simply overuse and you have to stop overusing it. I might be forced to quit, and it wont be because my hearts not in it. Sometimes thats just life.

 

[sunray]

But the expert told me that sometimes the problem is simply overuse and you have to stop overusing it. I might be forced to quit, and it wont be because my hearts not in it. Sometimes thats just life.

I really think that attitude has EVERYTHING to do with it. SaraBellam, I know you said you are trying to stay positive, but your words tell a different story.

I have had serious injuries as an MT. I did have to stop using my hands for several weeks. But I went back.

Before I started massage, my aunt told me that "MTs don't last more than 5 years. They get injured and can't work anymore." That was her belief system. I almost didn't go through training because of that belief.

Now, when my hands hurt, while I'm doing massage I imagine my thumbs and fingers as diamond thunderbolts. They are strong and healthy and can do the work I'm calling upon them to do. Then I do my part: I take care of them after the massage with heat and ice, I get massage regularly, and I stretch and strengthen before giving massage. (I also take care not to overuse in other areas of my life: computer mouse, gardening, knitting, etc) Above all, I believe and KNOW that my hands are strong and resilient enough to be massage therapist hands. Period.

 

[Pompal 09.]

OK.

 

[lucy v]

I am not trying to discount your viewpoint, Ouch. I almost put a little disclaimer at the end of my statement saying 99% of therapists or something. I know there are probably a small perceneforum.xxxe of therapists who just can't do the work, due to physical limitations. I don't think your warnings apply to most of the therapists out there, as real and authentic as your experience may be.

"Stop the overuse" in almost every case means "stop the overuse until the injury heals, and then go back to it when you are healthy and have good work and self-care habits"

Have you ever heard of a fantastic musician quitting because their hands gave out? They are doing much crazier things with their hands for at least as many hours as we are, and they manage it.

I can give an entire full body deep tissue massage with my forearms and fists. No wrists, no fingers involved, except on the neck, which is a small amount of time compared to the rest. I've worked massage full time for a week with only one hand. I joked with my husband the other day about what if my hands got cut off, I need to insure them! And then I thought, well, actually, I could probably figure out how to give a kick-ass massage without my hands. I know it wouldn't be the same, but I could do it. I could make a living at it, if people we'ren't totally freaked out by my lack of hands and rubbing them with my wrist nubs. lol.

Sorry, but I think you're being simplistic.

BTW I spent lots of money and training on hypnotherapy and Hakomi in bodywork. So I'm no stranger to that, either.

The reason why the vast majority of MTs don't make it past 6 years (or more like 3 years) is because they don't have the passion or dedication to devote themselves to the marketing that is needed to have that pie in the sky job they envisioned to start with ($70/hr, 40 hrs a week). They just wanted a "job" and it's so much more than that. Also, many people take the training as a whim or a lark, or a way of going through a major change in their life, or as part time thing, or as a retirement hobby. Those people are generally not on this forum.

I'm not saying you are any of that. Ouch, you are probably a person who cannot do massage due to physical limitations. But I think you simplify things by saying that all people who do not stick with massage are doing it for your reasons. OR by saying that all massage therapists need to be on the lookout for your issues. I think that by you posting that repeatedly, you are creating fear and paranoia where it doesn't need to exist. Fear and paranoia that may actually CREATE the very chronic pain that you wish you didn't have. I am replying to you in this way in order to put that in perspective.

 

[Fasty]

Just curious. This is a question for shivashiva and the 1 or 2 others who like to "put things into perspective" for the rest of us.

Has anyone responded to your "perspective" this way: "Now that you pointed it out, I am indeed [negative/paranoid/conducting my business poorly/etc]"?