Podcast

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

A client has a knee replacement on his RIGHT knee, but then develops nerve symptoms in his LEFT foot. It’s been five years, and he’s seen a variety of specialists, and no one knows what’s going on. His massage therapist has some strategies to help him, but what is really going on here? Spoiler alert: I have no idea, but I learned some fascinating things about post-surgical neuropathy!

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-238-post-surgical-neuropathy-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and ultimately terminal nervous system disease, is getting amazing results with massage and other interventions. How is this possible?

ALS is a serious situation, but if the client can communicate clearly, it is a great match for massage. Listen in to hear what this therapist has seen happen over the course of their work together.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-236-als-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

In my last call out asking for I Have a Client Who . . . stories, several people asked about working with people with psoriasis. There’s no specific story for this one, but this is a challenging condition, and the people living with it deserve all the support they can get.

Will massage cure psoriasis? No.

Will massage improve the quality of life for people who have this condition? You bet.

What does that look like? Listen in for more.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-233-psoriasis-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

In a follow up from an early episode, we revisit what we thought was a stubborn sinus infection but turns out to be something entirely different. This client’s sensation of stuffiness and muffled hearing persisted and got worse, long after her sinus infection cleared up. Further investigation revealed cysts growing in her middle ear—what in the world is going on?

Listen in for more information on cholesteatomas.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-231-cholesteatoma-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client has orthostatic tremor, also called shaky leg syndrome. But this condition can shake up a lot more than legs! Here is a situation with no information about the best role for massage. Is there anything we can do for this client?spondylitis, and what surprising findings we see in the research about massage for this condition.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-228-shaky-ground-orthostatic-tremor-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner