Non-LE massage

kcshreve

Requesting input please regarding non-LE massage?  I am going on vacation and was thinking about a massage...and then I remembered I have LE...and then I wondered if massage could make my left truncal/arm LE worse.  Are there specific instructions I could give a massage therapist so their routine could benefit me, rather than make things worse?  And what could they do which may make things worse?  I have to assume the massage therapist is clueless about LE.

kira66715

KC--the concern is that with deep massage they'll bring more blood flow and lymph flow to the tissues. That said, some of the women on this forum do get massages. I've had my PT do myofascial work, and she's just light with it. I think the key is not to let her/him work too deeply.

I used to get deep tissue massage, and tried once after bc and LE, but it was soon after radiation, and she pushed too hard on a rib and it hurt for days, so we agreed to stop them--and she read up on lymphedema, but it's just not how she works. She's great for my husband--but she works really deeply on his tight muscles.

Kira

cookiegal

I was told not in the quadrant with LE. Even tho my cancer center has massage people who think it's ok.

kcshreve

So, I'll tell them they can massage 3/4 of me.  

Mantra

I used to love having massages. When I was first diagnosed, my massage therapist gave me a gift card for a one hour massage to be used when I felt ready. She was also trained in LE massage and after she finished my first post op massage, she did this drainage type thing and showed me what to do incase I felt any LE afterwards. I did feel some heaviness in my upper arm and did the drainage type exercises she showed me.

I went back for two more massages and both times she did the drainage massage at the end. However, after each massage I felt the heaviness in the upper arm. Sadly, I have decided I better leave well enough alone and not go for any more massages. It's the only times I ever felt any type of LE symptom. Definitely miss having my massages!

Randi64

Hi I asked my LE therapist today about Swedish massage. She said if not trained to do lymphatic type massage in that quadrant,massage should be avoided in the affected quadrant. All other body parts good! So I plan on still enjoying an occasional massage, I love them!