thumb throbs after 10 years of massaging

[Alexamusic]

I'm besides myself with worry. About 2 weeks ago my thumbs started to hurt and feel tender when I was massaging and doing reflexology.
I've been on holiday resting for 4 days and have another 7 to go, but my one thumb feels very tender indeed, when I try opening a bottle or turning a tap on or trying to prise open a bottle of pills.

I work full time (but part time hours) as a massage therapist and have done for 10 years. I do a variety of treatments to prevent RSI but also teach and do talks and demos, so am not constantly massaging. I probably do approx 12 treatments a week.

I haven't had problems before except for the time that I typed a lot in one week and another time I did a lot of massages in 2 days.

I have just done a Hands Free massage course, which had been postponed since last November.

So, I have started taking Ibuprofen 400mg 3 times a day to see if it brings down the inflammation. I'm also using Feldene gel 4 times a day.

Can anybody suggest anything that I can do to help in the next 7 days as I've got to get back to work on tuesday of next week. And can you let me know if you recognise the symptoms - what is it? is it long term? and am I going to have to stop being a massage therapist - ie is it irriversible?

 

[Angi]

Hi everybody,

shame that there are no replies to this.

I'm still on Ibuprofen 400mg x 3 a day. I've just bought Glucosamoide and Collagen which I need to take 3 times a day to help with joints etc.
Still resting and only the odd twinge when I overdo things (like carry a bag with 2 bottles of wine!!!).

6 more days of rest, but should I do some self-massage or some exercises or is total rest the best thing?

Replies / discussions gratefully received.

 

[No God]

Total rest would be my recommendation. If you try to work with it before it is healed properly you will just make the damage worse - if you don't take care NOW, then you may find yourself unable to work for a much longer period of time.

I would also look further into No Hands or Injury Prevention massage - if you do reflex, then one of the last courses is No Hands Reflex massage. When I was on the course at the start there were reflexologists that were sceptical about the value of the course, but were completely sold on it by then end of the course -as an addition to rather than as a replacement for.

I'm not a reflexologist, but love the reflex massage in its own right.

Hope this helps.

 

[Escapist]

Yes I agree....total rest! Depending on where the pain is it could be a tendon that's irritated.... in which case I wouldn't massage over the painful area but more the muscles around it..... tendons don't seem to like being rubbed when they're agrevated! You could even put a cold pack on it for 5 mins at a time if there is any inflamation...

Elena )

 

[Maiciania]

Hi Poppyfields

With massage we are constantly using pressure the same way, I alleviate this by holding the thumbs or fingersflexed and try to extend them for 30 seconds, I work methodically through each joint in each finger and thumb, it works for me