QuestionHi Kathryn.
I have had 3 massages and after each one when I get up off the table to take my first step, I experience extreme pain in my lower back (feels like it's coming form my spine) and it takes all the strength that I have just to stand up straight. Each step feels like someone is ramming a rod through my spine. Because I'm fighting the pain, I get real hot, sweaty and actually shed tears. I come close to passing out. I end up spending the rest of the day fighting to just walk to my car and try to get home. The pain lasts for 3 days. I asked a couple of doctors about it and they couldn't answer this. I've talked to one masseuse and she had no answer for it. Anyway, I want to get another massage but I'm afraid to because I don't want to experience that pain again. Have you ever heard of any one experiencing this?
Thanks!
AnswerHi Darrin,
It sounds as though you finish your massage laying on your stomach? If so, there is a different pressure on your spine than when you lay on your back in your own bed.
I can certainly see why you would be reluctant to have another massage. Sometimes just laying in one position for half an hour on a massage table can be too much for a body.
Here are some suggestions:
Instead of staying flat on your back or tummy for half the massage, ask the massage therapist to have you do a quarter turn every 15 minutes. That means you will be on your stomach, left side, back and finish on your right side, for example--kind of like a chicken on a barbeque spit.
Or you could have the entire massage in side-lying position, half on the right and half on the left. You may have to find a therapist who knows how to work on people in side-lying position.
Yes, I have heard of and even had people who had lower back pain after laying in one position for a period on a massage table, either facing down or up. It apparently creates pressure on nerves or causes muscles to go into spasm.
One more option would be to have a pillow under your knees when you lay on your back, but that probably already happens.
Another option might be seated massage. It's not quite as pleasant as a table massage but, depending on your size and shape, might work better for you. There are special massage chairs for seated massage that some therapists have.
And then there is this possibility (and it's a biggie):
There are muscles in the front and inner side of your thigh that attach to your hipbones and spine. If your therapist(s) are spending lots of time on your back muscles but don't also address these muscles on the front of your body (which attach to your spine) and if those front muscles are 'too tight' and pulling on your spine, then they are allowed to pull even more on your spine.
If you request massage for low back pain and happen to go to massage practitioners who don't know how to release the iliopsoas muscles (those front of body muscles) they are creating a further muscle imbalance and that, in turn, can cause your additional lower back pain.
Darrin, those are my best long-distance thoughts. I'd love to hear back from you and know which of these suggestions may work for you because I'd love for you to be able to enjoy massage.
Good question! Thank you for asking!
Kathryn Merrow
The Pain Relief Coach
Also, http://SimpleBackPainRelief.com has lots of articles about back pain if that is a common problem for you.
