Podcast

A pregnant massage client, who is consistently late and unusually demanding, wants deep—really, really, deep pressure on her hip. The tricky part? She has been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome: a condition that often begins with an injury but complicates to chronic, intractable, and sometimes spreading pain. And massage can make it worse.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-198-crps-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client stiffens up when the therapist touches her upper leg, but doesn’t know why. The therapist responds with compassion and sensitivity, and creates some amazing possibilities.

In this very special episode Ruth sits down with Pamela Fitch, author of Talking Body, Listening Hands, an expert in the role of massage therapy for people with histories of touch-related trauma, to unpack why this situation worked out well, and what kinds of skills we need to provide the best care for our clients. And it concludes with a special bonus: Pam’s own IHACW story.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-196-trauma-informed-care-interview-pamela-fitch-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth

There’s a condition that is not well understood. It creates a lot of common signs and symptoms: headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and a few others. But it hides a lurking danger: weak blood vessels that may bulge in some places and become dangerously narrow in others. It can contribute to stroke and kidney damage. It is usually found only by accident, during testing for other issues. Fortunately, it is fairly rare.

What is it, and what are the cautions for massage therapy for people who have it?

Listen in for more on fibromuscular dysplasia.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-193-fibromuscular-dysplasia-fmd-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A middle-aged, otherwise healthy woman woke up one day and found that her face had sort of collapsed on one side. Very alarming! Her doctor diagnosed her with Bell’s palsy, gave her some heavy-duty anti-inflammatories, and told her to protect her eye while she was recovering—which could take a couple of months or more.

The clerk at the health food store told her that she needed to get massage, and that would fix her right up. So here she is, in your office.

What’s going to happen next?

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-191-bell-s-palsy-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client wakes up with a limp arm and wrist. He’s a carpenter, so this is a problem! What is going on, and can massage therapy help?

Join us for a closeup look at nerve damage and radial nerve palsy.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-188-radial-nerve-palsy-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

Sixty minutes into the session, a massage therapist discovers the client has a fentanyl patch—that they did not report on their intake form. Is the therapist at risk for exposure? What are some good practices regarding medicated patches for massage therapy clients? Listen on for more.

Full show notes available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-186-fentanyl-patches-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner.