[sunrise]

I am having a lot of stress lately and it seems to have all gathered in my right shoulder, from the top of the shoulder all the way down to the waist. It's very stiff and I can't really twist my body without pain, such as when looking over my shoulder when I'm driving. When I wake up in the morning, it feels like I slept on my shoulder all wrong, a hundred times over, and takes hours to even partially unfreeze. This has been going on for about 10 days. I am sure it is all just stress, as I don't have an injury. I wonder if getting a massage would help?

Has anyone here ever been to a massage therapist? I have never had a massage before and would not know where to find a good person to provide this service. Any tips on how to find a place to get a massage? Do you go to a "massage parlor"?--what is that anyway? Is this the sort of thing a doctor would give a referral for? I just have no idea where to start. My daughter went to a physical therapy clinic once (sports medicine). Might that clinic have someone who gives massages? I really am clueless. Is a massage a medical service?

[Brian37]

there are licensed massage therapists...check your local yellow pages

many are in with day spa's and places like that or operate out of some type of clinic

I did a few sessions with a licensed massage therapist a few years back...I highly recommend it...I've never been so relaxed after the massage...it takes awhile just to get up off the table

[bebop]

don't go to one of those parlors! even a chiropractors office sometimes has a true massage therapist! or look in the phone book. there might be a massage school in your area. they are much cheaper too!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by bebop

don't go to one of those parlors!

what is a parlor?

I think I'll call up my doctor's office and see what they say. This is something new to me. I mentioned to my daughter about getting a massage and she wants one too. She says her shoulder and back are full of knots.

I'll also look in the yellow pages.

Hi sunrise,

I don't know your history so this may not apply, but survivors of abuse need to know that it can stir some stuff up. Most massage therapists are aware of this and will check in throughout the massage to make sure everything is okay just in case.

Ask around, there's bound to be someone you work with or socialize with that goes. My T was the one who recommended me to someone.

[Buckeye]

Originally Posted by sunrise

I am having a lot of stress lately and it seems to have all gathered in my right shoulder, from the top of the shoulder all the way down to the waist. It's very stiff and I can't really twist my body without pain, such as when looking over my shoulder when I'm driving. When I wake up in the morning, it feels like I slept on my shoulder all wrong, a hundred times over, and takes hours to even partially unfreeze. This has been going on for about 10 days. I am sure it is all just stress, as I don't have an injury. I wonder if getting a massage would help?

Has anyone here ever been to a massage therapist? I have never had a massage before and would not know where to find a good person to provide this service. Any tips on how to find a place to get a massage? Do you go to a "massage parlor"?--what is that anyway? Is this the sort of thing a doctor would give a referral for? I just have no idea where to start. My daughter went to a physical therapy clinic once (sports medicine). Might that clinic have someone who gives massages? I really am clueless. Is a massage a medical service?

the massage t I see is with my chiropractors office in the same office suite.

[bebop]

massage parlors are normally fronts for prostitution. don't go to those.

[sunrise]

bebop, thanks for the tip. It would be just like me to make some sort of faux pas like that.

I did call my doctor's office and asked if they gave referrals to massage therapists. They said they would check with the doctor and call back. So a nurse called back and said the doctor wants to see me first. I told her I thought a massage could probably take care of this problem, but she wants the doc to see me and scheduled an appointment for Thursday. This is really strange because 2 weeks ago I was at my doctor's for something else (to see just a nurse) and I tried to get an appointment with my doctor for something unrelated and they told me they couldn't give me an appointment until the end of April because she is going on maternity leave in the first half of January and her schedule is booked solid. So today I call with a "non-problem"--the massage question--and she can suddenly fit me into her schedule in two days.

Well, that's off the massage topic, but I'll see what my doc says Thursday.

OrangeBlossom, thanks for the tip. I have not suffered sexual abuse so I hope I will be OK with the massage. I'm kind of a private person, but if they are professional and stick to the injured area, hopefully I will do OK.

[bebop]

you will love the massage! like I said too if there is a massage school in your area you can get one for like $30! they are wonderful!

[sunrise]

My doc examined me and then prescribed 8 massage therapy sessions. She thought massage would be really beneficial for my injury. She said if it is not resolving after a few sessions to let her know and she would reconsider the treatment and perhaps prescribe physical therapy. The great part is, since she officially prescribed massage, my insurance will pay for 90% of the cost of the sessions. I called to get a massage appointment today, and as soon as they verify my benefits, I can get on the schedule. I'm looking forward to this! It will be a new experience.

[kim_johnson]

I'm glad you got a referral. 'Alternative therapies' can be more or less physiologically informed and a doctors referral is probably more likely to be to a good one. Otherwise, I was going to suggest a physiotherapist.

[Beholden]

Hi Sunrise,
I was a certified massage therapist and loved my work. Keep us posted on how things are going. Hope your injury heals and you are soon pain free!

[ECHOES]

Sunny, a massage is wonderful and I hope you'll try it!

When I was younger a friend went to classes to study massage therapy and she gave me several full body massages. The warm oil feels so good. The relaxation just keeps getting deeper. It is really heavenly.

When I had my son 30 years ago, she came to my hospital room and started pushing tables and trays out of the way and gave me a healing massage right there!

[Perna]

Oh, I'm sorry you have that stress, Sunrise; hope the massage works. I use to get that kind of pain in my neck when I'd start a new job and it would last 2-3 weeks until I got more comfortable. Always great when you're at a new job to also feel so handicapped (working on the computer all day and not able to bend your head at all without pain).