Podcast

A client has a history of a triple A: an abdominal aortic aneurysm. If it ruptures, it has an 80% mortality rate. A few weeks ago, the client had surgery to correct another aneurysm, at her left subclavian artery—and this involved a 10 day hospital stay.

Is there any possible way that massage could be safe for this person?

Surprisingly, yes! Listen in for a great example of gathering the information we need to make good clinical decisions.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-253-arterial-aneurysm-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client with reduced heart function and a portable oxygen tank books a 90-minute massage. A doctor’s note has been obtained, but the massage therapist hasn’t seen it.

What is going on with this person’s heart? And can they tolerate 90 minutes on a massage table? As always, it depends. Listen in to find out what it depends on.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-250-heart-failure-and-more-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A 75-year-old client has had several vaccines for COVID and other infections over the last 9 months, and now she has pain, weakness, and limited range of motion in both shoulders. Typical massage appears to make it worse. What is happening, and what can we do about it?

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-248-sirva-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client in a student clinic has a chronic, debilitatingly painful condition: trigeminal neuralgia. She gets surprising relief, if only for a short time, from massage—not on the painful area, but close by. Why did this happen? Can we recreate this success? Can we prolong it? 

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-246-trigeminal-neuralgia-tic-tic-tic-douloureux-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth

A person reports sporadic episodes of unexplained goosebumps all down one side of the body. No other symptoms are present: no pain, tingling, numbness, or anything.

Is it dysautonomia? Is it a weird kind of seizure?

What are goosebumps good for, anyway?

It turns out they might be more important than we thought.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-243-goosebumps-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A weightlifting client who has never had professional massage wants help with back and leg pain. Simple enough, right? But in their first interview they reveal a 4-year-old history of thyroid cancer, thyroidectomy, and lymph node removal.

What repercussions does this have for their massage? Can we move forward? Do we need to look for signs of lymphedema? Does lymphedema even happen with lymph flow in the neck?

Stay tuned for a look at thyroid cancer, and some excellent information-gathering practice guidelines.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-241-thyroid-cancer-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner