QuestionHello, and thank you for your time!
Wednesday evening I had a massage. It was the first one I
have had in years.
Twelve years ago I had a car accident that left me with
numbness and tingling in my hands and forearms. An M.D.
thought it was thoracic outlet syndrome at the time. It
persists to this day and has never been helped by any
chiropractic or therapies. It is not constant but always
flares up if I have been lifting heavy objects or have to do
something where my arms are raised (when it gets bad, even
using a blow dryer, brushing my teeth, playing guitar or
using a computer keyboard and mouse will cause severe
numbness). Anyway, I thought perhaps massage could help with
that because it's been particularly bad lately; after all,
it's hard to live a normal life and avoid lifting heavy
objects.
I did not notice any relief in this symptom after the
massage (in fact, it got worse). I also felt pretty sore the
next day, mostly in my upper arms (and this is lingering
today somewhat as well). My bigger concern is the swelling
I'm experiencing, only for the reason that it doesn't seem
"right."
Immediately after the massage I noticed significant grooves
in my skin where the sheet had covered my arms and legs
(kind of like those imprints you sometimes get after you
"sleep hard"), and my ankles swelled up. After I went home
and sat on the couch with my feet elevated, they continued
to swell, and there was a deep indentation on my leg where
it sat against the footrest.
I thought perhaps rest would help and went to bed early
Wednesday night. My ankles were still swollen the next
morning and remained swollen all day yesterday. Last night
they swelled so badly, along with my feet, that there were
indentations from my shoes -- the skin outside the shoes
ballooning up and getting extremely tight. This morning the
swelling has gone done from that worst point, but they are
definitely still swollen.
Before you ask, yes, I've had plenty of water. I had already
planned on drinking lots of water after the massage (I drink
a lot of water as it is, but I know water helps flush out
toxins after a massage), and except for a Diet Coke or two
I've only had water ever since.
I understand massage helps drain the lymphatic system, but
is that what is going on here? (I thought you just naturally
"eliminate" the drainage, which is why you should drink lots
of water afterwards.) I know ankle/foot swelling like that
can be a sign of heart disease, but this definitely started
directly and immediately after my massage and I have not had
a problem with this before now.
Thanks for any insight you may have about either of these
issues; I very much appreciate your time.
AnswerDear Darcy,
I apologize for my delay in getting back to you.
1. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is typically caused by the scalene muscle in your neck. If you go to http://CarpalTunnelRadio.com there is a featured episode on the left hand side about "the muscle in your neck that causes carpal tunnel..." That replay will explain a lot to you.
A therapist who understands how bodies and muscles work and how to treat the scalene muscles (not all do) can help you with this.
It sounds like your therapist may not have addressed this area of your neck or at least not sufficiently or correctly.
Having soreness after a massage isn't unusual when it has been so long since you have had your last massage.
2. Massage moves lymph fluid when the massage works toward the heart or upper chest area. That helps move the fluid toward the part of the lymph system that allows it to move out of the body.
My only guess is that the massage therapist "pulled" the lymph fluid toward your hands and feet by working in those direction. Is that what happened?
Still, I have never heard of that causing swelling to the extreme you describe (or much at all). I admit to being at a loss.
My other long distance guesses are that perhaps you had an allergic reaction to something: massage oil derived from nuts? (Ask the therapist if you have a nut allergy). Something you ate? A new medication?
You are correct: drinking water helps move the metabolic wastes through the usual channels out of the body, not into the limbs.
3. You can find lots more information at http://CarpalTunnelPainReliefNow.com There are categories about Massage (how to find a massage therapist who can help), Causes of Carpal Tunnel, and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Lots of times people have TOS but the diagnosis is CTS so many of the articles will overlap both conditions.
Darcy, I hope this helps and I hope you are starting to feel better already. Please write again if you need more input on this.
Also, would you please take a moment to "grade" my answer here? I would appreciate it if you did. Thank you!
Warmest,
Kathryn
Kathryn Merrow
The Pain Relief Coach
