Massage after Surgery

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davidfortune

Several of y'all have recommended massages after surgery for the relief of back pain. I'm assuming that it cannot be the typical massage lying facedown. Were you massages given standing up (maybe leaning on the wall) or sitting in a chair?

Did you go to a professional massage therapist?
 
David,
I didn't get a massage but did go to the chiropractor. He has a couple different types of tables, one has a split down the center which he used and also placed a foam breast form on it. I had no problems with it and of course he was much gentler than he usually was.
As for a massage, I wouldn't go to anyone but a registered therapist. I know that some have a chair, like leaning of the back of a kitchen chair and if they had a cushion or some kind of padding that would probably work.

I just noticed on your signature your surgery is approaching very quickly. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery.
 
I lucked out...I was a favorite of one of the nurses, she gave me a massage in the hospital, i was sitting in a chair. Although that was probablby the only thing that actually went my way.

I didnt have a professional massage on laying on my chest for 3 or 4 months.
 
David:

I don't know about getting massages while lying face down ... but I was surprised to be able to turn onto my stomach about 2 weeks post-op w/out much discomfort -- other than having to have help turning back over. (I used quite a few pillows to pad the bed.)
I was also able to sleep on my left side -- another big surprise, since it had been extremely uncomfortable to do so for many years.
So, perhaps you could have a massage lying on your stomach if you are on something with a lot of foamy padding.

Immediately post-op, however, I would think a massage while sitting up would be best.
 
I had a massage in the hospital. I think it was what they call a soft tissue massage. I don't remember the explanation much, but I think the goal was to stimulate the body's glands to help the body rid itself of excess fluid faster. I had a little fluid buildup in my legs and ankles at that time, but it was mostly gone anyway by the time I had the massage, so I'm not sure it helped with that. The massage did make me feel good though. I felt like my body got lighter, had less chest pain, and could breath more freely.

Last week (8 weeks post op) I had a massage by a nurse who was also a massage therapist, at my cardiac rehab. It was a more conventional back massage sitting chest down in the massage chair. I have very little pain in my chest at this point, so it was no problem.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery!
 
Thanks all for the replies.... Keep em coming. Thanks too for the well wishes.
 
My cardio cleared me to see my chiropractor three months after my AVR -- he's a gentle chiropractor. I had some numbness in my hands (and still do sometimes) from something too tight or too loose up in my collarbone area, post-op stuff. The chiro helped those issues. I then went to a highly recommended massage therapist and had a deep tissue massage, which was a mistake. It was too intensive and I got really ill afterward. A gentle massage would have been a better choice I think.
 
Massage post surgery

Massage post surgery

David, my back was a mess post surgery. I have had back and shoulder problems due to my job as a firefighter. In fact it was a pre-op check-up for my shoulder that led me to the cardiologist and saved my life. In the hospital they kept asking about my pain scale and I would say well my chest is about a 3+ but my back is a 5! When I got home a friend recommended a massage therapist who was more than happy to come to my home. He set up his table and we talked about possible ways to do it. He was so attentive to my concerns. What we did was I used a body pillow and laid on my side with my arm dangling over the body pillow. He communicated with me a lot about the intensity of the pressure he applied and he just worked his way along the spine and up to the neck one side at a time. When he was done on that side we took a little break and I had to sit all the way up to switch sides and move the pillow etc. but it really worked. He came about once a week and the last 2 times he came I was able to lay face down. Eventually I was feeling so much better we stopped. He gave me a reasonable price of 70 dollars for an hour massage. I have tried to get the wife to do more massage but she has pretty weak hands and it is hard for her to really press down. Oh well, she was so awesome with all the other stuff. I am a very fortunate man.

randy
 
Yeah, your back definitely feels like it's been in a train wreck after OHS. I got a massage about 8 weeks Post Op. Waited till the sternum was nice and healed. I did have it done by a Professional and I told her about my surgery. I did have her massage my back while laying face down. She didn't apply a great deal of pressure to my back just to be cautious. Other than that, it felt great.
 
My back muscles were really aching so 2 weeks after surgery I had my 1st massage. Done by a professional , he was gentle and soothing, he worked only on the back & shoulder muscles. I remember it was tricky to roll over to lie on my stomach but once on there it was easy.(The nurses put me on my side 1 day after surgery while I was still in a coma, so it is possible.)

I had originally wanted to go to an Osteopath but they wouldnt see me until I was 6 weeks post-op. Those hot wheat bags that you microwave became my best friend, the warmth on the sore back was fabulous.
 
Susan/Randy/Mike/Aussi,

Thanks for the ideas. I'm a little concerned about the whole back/neck/shoulder thing particularly because I broke my neck a couple of years back and it kinda hurts (low grade) all the time. I CANNOT sleep on my right side at all or on my stomach with my head turned to the right. Road bike riding is also now completely out due to intense pain after 15 min on the bike.

I've communicated to my surgeon my neck issues and have asked that he inform everyone to be as careful as possible with neck positioning during surgery as I would like to be able to turn my head after surgery :D .

I'm just expecting that there may be some additional soreness due to the incumbent "exuberant arthritis" as my spinal surgeon described it.
 
Just keep reminding everyone when you get to hospital that you have a 'very delicate neck' due to an old injury and hopefully they will do their best to minimise any extra stress there...I lucked-out and spent 4 days on the vent which really stuffed my neck up.

P.S. Bring your own favourite pillow from home for after you leave the ICU.
 
davidfortune said:
Several of y'all have recommended massages after surgery for the relief of back pain. I'm assuming that it cannot be the typical massage lying facedown. Were you massages given standing up (maybe leaning on the wall) or sitting in a chair?

Did you go to a professional massage therapist?
Click to expand...


I would recommend one, especially for your neck and shoulders. You'll be surprised how tied up you feel, I think I hurt more there than my sternum. I couldn't lay flat for a while after surgery (ended up with a pericardial effusion) but could sit in a chair next to the massage table and put my head on my arms which rested on the table so the massage therapist could do my shoulders and back. Helped ALOT. I still get a massage every few weeks, because I tend to carry all my tension in my shoulders so they sometimes feel like they are made of concrete!

Cleveland Clinic has actually added a massage therapy room on the same floor where I stayed after surgery. Family members can also book a massage, and the prices aren't that different from what you'd pay out in the community.
 
My chiropractor has a massage therapist on staff so I had the best of both worlds after surgery. Also, the therapist had a massage chair as well as the table. The chair allowed you to sit up kind of straddling the chair which exposed your back to the therapist. This did not put much pressure on the incision.

I also found that a neck and shoulder massage helped me the best and you don't have to lie down for that.

My SO stayed in my room at the hospital and he gave me massages - definitely a keeper.;) :D ;)
 
geebee said:
My SO stayed in my room at the hospital and he gave me massages - definitely a keeper.;) :D ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd say so..... ;).


Massages are ssssooo good. I haven't had one in a long time, tho....hmmm.....



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My back hurt worse than anything else hands down. I was going insane until about 2wks post-op my cousin who is a massage therapist, came by for sunday dinner and I talked her into giving a neck massage. I just sat on on the floor and she sat on a chair behind me. It was short but wonderful! She said before though that she can and usually will do the neck and upperbody with the person lying on their back. You couldnt get any lowerbody done but the rest possibly.
 
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