Adhesions and nerve growth and massage, oh my!

[cjsmith]

Yesterday was my first physical therapy appointment for my foot pain. Last time I went to the doctor it was rediagnosed as neuromas: abnormal growths of nerve tissue. Nerve tumors, basically. Benign but sometimes causing pain. I can feel them with my thumb. Big and lumpy and wrong-feeling.

Physical therapist decided metatarsals 2-4 too stiff, so he bent and flexed each foot for 10 minutes or so. Boy are they sore today. Expected. Annoying.

Last night, got a shoulder massage. Professional. One hour just on shoulders. BAD knots and adhesions in there. Today I feel bruised and swollen all over my upper back. VERY swollen. Achy: wearing a purse hurts. Expected. Annoying.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Ow, poor body. :(

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping it's all therapeutic pain... er... I mean pain indicating changes which happen to be in a positive direction. Both the PT guy and the massage gal indicated I'd be sore later.

It's nowhere near menstrual-pain level [she said, knocking on pressboard]. :)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Ow! Wouldn't have guessed... you looked so vibrant and healthy and pain-free at the picnic last weekend.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Vibrant yes -- pain-free I rarely am. Ah well. Life.

Fun things like picnics are very nicely distracting. :-)

[jmkelly.livejournal.com]

Ice would have been good on those shoulders for the first 24-48 hours--on for no more than 20 minutes, off for 100-120 minutes, repeat as needed. And lots of water to drink, and maybe an analgesic/anti-inflammatory like aspirin or Ibuprofen. Presumably the bodyworker told you all that already--if not, I'd think about looking for another bodyworker.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ultrasound is wonderful too. Got some of that today.

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

Have you tried lidocaine patches (http://www.endo.com/patients/products/lidoderm.html)? I saw a recommendation for them on fibromyalgia a few months ago and asked my doctor for a script for them. They are marvelous! The first time I tried them I had bilateral back pain sort of halfway down, bad enough that my usual dose of Ultram wasn't doing enough, so I got K to put on a couple of patches, one on each side. Wow! It eases the pain for 8-12 hours, and by the time the effect wears off the reduced pain is easier to control (since it's always easier to keep pain from getting bad than it is to control pain that's already severe).

They come in a package of 30, and you can cut them to fit (http://www.endo.com/patients/products/lido_faqs.html) your foot and use up to three at once (e.g., two on your shoulders and one on your foot). They really do help -- ask your doctor if you can try them.