soft tissue therapy?

[imhayley]

Hello there I was wonderfing if anyone could tell me if it is okay to get soft tissue therapy at the chiropractor. I injured my leg (have no idea how) and was first getting soft tissue therapy with a massage person at my chiropractors office. After one visit I was black and blue all over those areas where she worked. It was helping however I was concerned about the bruising and called my Coumadin clinic to double check if this was okay. They said to stop the therapy due to concerns of tissue damage. So my leg got worse and today I went in again to the chiropractor and they did another type of therapy where they put patches with wires attached to a machine which delivers a pins and needles type stimuli to the areas. Is this okay? I have called the Doc again to see but havn't heard back yet and felt posting here would get me answers quicker and of couse by people who might have the answers I need. I can already see tiny lil bruises which I'm not concerned with but just wanted to make sure I'm not doing any damage......SAFETY FIRST Any info will help as the Doc still hasn't called and its past closing time on a friday Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Ross]

Ask Backdoc, he's a Chiropractor.

 

[BackDoc]

soft tissue

soft tissue

I just replied to your private message. I hope you don't mind, but in the interest of possibly helping anyone else with the same questions I will also post my reply here:

I can't give you any specific treatment recommendations over the internet. I can give general advice. I was on Coumadin for almost 7 months last year following a DVT. So I am well aware of Coumadin. Under no circumstances should you receive any manual manipulative procedures to the cervical spine-neck. Gentle instrument procedures should be ok if you experience any neck problems.

Now to the specific question you asked: I believe the massage therapist simply did too deep of a massage. I would most definitely hold off until the bruising subsides. One of Coumadin side effects is thinning of skin tissue--hence the bruising. Only the most gentle massage techniques should be used. Make sure they are aware of the Coumadin. In the meantime the therapy you describe sounds like electrical muscle stim. I do not know the specific type of e-stim machine you are using, but if used properly it should be safe and effective. The pins and needles you felt were gentle electrical currents-it does have beneficial effects. However, only let them turn it up until you just begin to feel the current. Do not have it turned up so high that your muscles begin to contract. Also, therapeutic ultra-sound may also be helpful.

However, you do need to discover the cause of the injury. All therapies are contraindicated if a clot, or DVT is suspected. Also--absolutely no electrical therapies if you have a pace-maker.

 

[Ross]

Thanks Backdoc.

 

[geebee]

I have regular therapeutic massages for my fibromyalgia. They know not to "knead" too hard and I only have an occasional bruise.

 

[Ross]

I have regular therapeutic massages for my fibromyalgia. They know not to "knead" too hard and I only have an occasional bruise.

Ooo, I bet they have fun doing it too.

 

[imhayley]

SO many thanks!!!

SO many thanks!!!

Thank You so very much! Your input has put me and my mind at ease. I appreciate everyone who took the time to post! Thanks Backdoc for such a speedy reply also!!!

 

[Marguerite53]

I was on Coumadin for almost 7 months last year following a DVT. So I am well aware of Coumadin. Under no circumstances should you receive any manual manipulative procedures to the cervical spine-neck. Gentle instrument procedures should be ok if you experience any neck problems.

Backdoc. I was hoping you could elaborate some on why those people on coumadin should not have any "manual manipulative procedures to the cervical spine-neck." I am not on coumadin (tissue valve) but so many here are that I know it would be appreciated if a bit more info were in this thread. Enough of us use or would use chiropractors through the years that this important information would benefit our future responses to each other. Thanks for your response so far.

Hayley. Hope you are feeling much better now!!

Marguerite

 

[BackDoc]

soft tissue

soft tissue

for the same reason they tell you exercise caution in certain physical activites/exercise, such as always wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle when on cumadin. The drug can increase the chance of causing a bleed in the verterbral artery as it passes through the brainstem and enters the brain.

other drugs and life style risk factors have also been identfied: oral contraceptives, use of tobacco, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries.

A bleed in the vertebral artery results in a stroke. If there is an unknown weakness in this artery, combined with cumadin or any of the other factors, combined with a quick rotational or back and forth movement of the head, and the risk of stroke, although very small (reliable studies show that it's been estimated to be less then 1 in 5 million chances), can be increased.

better to err on the side of caution.

 

[RandyL]

Wow, I didn't know that and I guess the 2 Chiro's I have seen in the past 3 months didn't know it either. I received manual adjustments from both of them along with spine stretching on a machine, unfortunately none of it worked for me. Don't get me wrong I have been a big fan of Chiro's over the years, they have helped me tremendously just not this time.

 

[BackDoc]

soft tissue

soft tissue

Randy, I am cautioning only in regards to manual adjustments of the neck. other areas of the spine are ok.

I recommend the use of an instrument such as the activator, impulse, or arthrostim for adjustments of the neck if there are any increased risk factors like I described above.

the "spine stretching" sounds like a form of traction, and thats ok.

 

[imhayley]

Many Thanks

Many Thanks

Thanks everyone for posting. Problem solved and I appreciate all the feedback.

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Wow, I've got thumped a few times with "The Activator" method. Seems like that would/could leave some bruises...Just another reason I'm so glad not to be on that stuff everyday. I haven't needed my chiropractor since my surgery, but since saying that, I'll probably throw my back out tomorrow.
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