Scar massage

[cjsmith]

I'd like a quick tutorial (if there is such a thing) on scar massage. My doctor mentioned there was scar tissue deep inside each foot, and she recommended I massage the area where my incision is.

mactavish? kineticphoenix? others?

I've googled and this is the most helpful thing I found.

Potential complication: pain is not a reliable warning sign in this case. Much of this area is now permanently numb except for phantom pain.

Comments

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

That seemed pretty through to me. I work with a lot scar tissue.

To figure out a sense of how deep to work with out good feed back try to find another sensitve area - maybe a place on your hands. See how much pressure it takes to work that area out then then use about half as much pressure on your feet to start with. As you get more comfortable with massaging you will probably get a sense of deep you can go. Little massage is better than none and too deep massage can delay your recovery. Though I don't know how strong your fingers are. Also the futher you are from the incision the less you have to worry about working deep.

Get a picture of the muscles, tendons and ligaments in you foot to help with finding fiber direction.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (And DUH for not listing your name. I *knew* I was missing at least one person who'd know, and I just wasn't thinking!)

Fiber direction I've got; I've been paying a lot of attention to foot anatomy lately. My fingers aren't very strong but (for better or for worse) I know how to be pretty effective despite that, so it's worth being careful. :-)

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

You are most welcome. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Here's one question. Much of the scar tissue probably sits between the heads of the metatarsals. The ligament connecting those heads has been cut (and not repaired). What about grabbing those bones and wiggling them a bit, one head up while the other goes down and then vice versa? (When I do this it does really feisty things to the severed end of the nerve. :-) )

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

That is a classic technique for foot massage. I would just be careful not to push the metatarsal heads too far since there is no ligament to hold things in check. See how far the go on a friend and use that as a guide.

Long story short - wiggling them a bit is a good idea. ;)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that information. All I've gotten was from chaiya, and her massage was very much as that page describes, and as I've been trying to keep up since.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Y'welcome! I'm glad that page turns out to be good stuff. I am often hesitant to follow advice found on the 'net until I can get it corroborated.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Your fingers don't have to be strong to be effective in massaging scar tissue. Any light stimulation of the tissue is a good thing - the danger is in going too deep - I currently have a groin pull, and am in my third month of slow recovery, after trying to go a wee bit too quick with a deep therapeutic massage.

Stimulating near areas can also help. It may sound silly, but throw three or four golf balls in an old sock and tie it closed. Roll it under your foot to provide pressure point stimulation.

Be well.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Knowing what's "too deep" is kind of odd when much of the scar tissue sits halfway between the top and the bottom of the foot, between two bones. :-) If I could only FEEL it!

I've got some racquetballs for the plantar fascia -- wonderful, those. Golf balls sound good for a little more focused effort on the ball of the foot.

I wish you a good recovery from your injury. Groin pulls seem to take time.

[perfect-autumn.livejournal.com]

The trick, always start light.

Wiggles are good - I rotate and wiggle every clients toes. It's just good for them.

If I were doing the scar work myself, I'd use my thumb, and make small wiggly movments over the area, a sort of wee back and forth motion to work the area. Because it's your foot - the muscle tissue runs from toe to heel, as does you incision (if I remember correctly) - the fibers will go that way as well. I recommend with fiber and cross fiber friction, since one will stretch the fibers and the other will prevent them from sticking together.

You can also place your fingers on either side of your foot (top & bottom) and put pressure on both sides, moving your fingers back and forth, will help move the tissue from both sides. Try on you hand first to get an idea of the pressure level.

And what everyone else said. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yep, I'm *definitely* starting light. I need to be cautious because of the lack of pain. (And yes, my incision is from toe to heel.) I hadn't thought of that last move you describe -- I'll try it!