Rianne Chavez

A client reports having Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS)—a version of shingles that affects the facial nerve. Her massage therapist can’t find any useful information to help guide their decisions. But they were able to establish that it isn’t contagious, so they pulled on their gloves and got to work.

Listen to this episode of I Have a Client Who . . . with host Ruth Werner to find out what happened, and why you might be seeing more about massage and RHS soon.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-368-ramsay-hunt-syndrome-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A potential client—we don’t know how old, or how healthy—has sickle cell disease (SCD). There’s very limited information about safe massage therapy in this context. What’s an MT to do?

One option is to reach out to an expert and hope you’ll get a quick but thorough response—if you get one at all. Another option is to check your bookshelf: you might be pleasantly surprised. (And if you don’t own a pathology book, maybe it’s time to remedy that situation—see some options listed below.)

SCD is a complicated and serious condition with lots of decision points for massage therapy: What are the complications, how is the person treating it, and what is their risk for infection?

Listen on for a short primer on faulty hemoglobin, collapsing red blood cells, and implications for bodywork.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-364-sickle-cell-disease-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

Are you a manual therapist with joint mobility issues? Then this episode of “I Have a Client Who . . .” is for you. And if you have a client with joint mobility issues, you’ll want to tune in too.

My colleague Natalie Pendergrass recently reached out to me to share her experiences with being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

EDS is a genetic disorder involving the formation of abnormal collagen. It occurs in 13 different identified subtypes, starting with hypermobility of joints and covering a wide spectrum of variations in connective tissue problems.

Natalie shares what it’s like to receive massage as a person with EDS, but also the special challenges of being a massage provider with EDS. She developed practices that allow her to do demanding work while protecting her joints.

Natalie also recently started some contact points for people with EDS so MTs can get more of this important information.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-359-mt-eds-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

I received a story in which body odor was a factor. I turned the question back to you . . . and got hundreds of responses!

In this episode of “I Have a Client Who . . .” we discuss what kinds of body odor issues turn up in massage therapy settings, when it’s appropriate to discuss it, and some strategies for how to make those conversations compassionate and supportive.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-354-body-odor-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

Waaay back when I was in massage school…

We looked for one-size-fits-all answers to highly individualized questions.

That doesn’t work anymore!

In this episode we consider a number of questions about massage therapy for surgical patients—when, where, how, what, and more. Of course the answer is always “it depends”—but WHAT does it depend ON?

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-349-post-surgery-questions-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

An 88-year-old man is preparing for his third decompression surgery for spinal stenosis. His friend wonders if massage therapy might be helpful, or even replace this risky procedure. Join us for a closer look at spinal stenosis and the risks and benefits of this common surgery!

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-346-spinal-stenosis-surgery-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner