Ruth Werner
Author, Educator, Artist
A client with frequent nosebleeds works with a massage therapist on TMJ pain, and something unexpected happens: she goes from 3-4 bleeds a week, to about one. The therapist has referred her to get more information about her sinus health, which is a good idea. But is there anything else they can be doing?
Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-442-episataxis-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner
A person with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus develops new back pain in her mid-upper left side. It feels like “it’s coming from under my ribs,” she says. First, it’s diagnosed as arthritis, but interventions don’t seem to make a difference. Finally, a year into this unremitting pain, a rheumatologist asks about her breathing and discovers she has developed a complication called pulmonary thrombosis, probably related to her autoimmune diseases. They start treatment and voilà, her back pain is gone.
This is a good example of a case in which massage therapy was definitely NOT the best choice.
Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-436-pulmonary-fibrosis-aberrant-matrix-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner
A client uses fentanyl patches to manage chronic pain from a back injury. What kind of risk does this present to the therapist? And, if we’re not careful, the bigger risk might be to the client. Check it out on this episode of “I Have a Client Who . . .” with Ruth Werner.
Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-430-fentanyl-patches-another-look-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner
A client was recently treated for colon cancer—and it didn’t go well. She had surgical complications, a bout of sepsis, and more. She has substantial abdominal scar tissue, which is giving her a lot of pain. But after finding a massage therapist who is helping a lot, things are looking up . . . until she gets COVID. And now she’s having a long, slow recovery.
The highly educated MT wants a little more information about COVID-related clot risk before they go back to work. How can they determine when it is safe to proceed? We discuss all that on this episode of “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner.
Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-424-cancer-clots-and-covid-complicated-client-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth
A young client is comatose after a series of ischemic strokes. They have frequent painful episodes of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity, during which their muscles become spastic and their heart rate and blood pressure rise. Their palliative care team wonders if massage therapy might help the contractures of their limbs, and the massage therapist is willing to try . . . but the results are unexpected.
Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-418-neurostorming-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner
Blood clots, legitimate concern about blood clots, and well-honed knowledge about blood clots are all part of our profession’s requirements for safe practice, right? And over the years I’ve been doing I Have a Client Who . . ., I’ve received dozens of stories about blood clots in one context or another. Today, we’ll look at yet another: a condition called Factor Five Leiden.
Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-412-factor-five-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner