Massage Without Manipulation/touch?

[Chava]

I won't re-hash my recent stuff on pain or why I won't do regular massage (I know it's fantastic for some people but it's not a good option for me). But I do love my new shower head and how the water stream feels on my back. I'm not sure what I can find in my area or what to even look for, but are there massage therapists who just use like gentle vibration tools? Or has anyone done the warm stone thing? I think that sort of thing could feel nice within my comfort zone. Acupuncture is an option where I'm at but I'm resisting that for right now (other reasons). More looking for light touch, nobody's hands, just something that can help stimulate or relax those muscles super gently.

I just can't make an appointment for a massage and go in and say, "Don't touch me!", right? Also not something I can maybe afford right now but would like to find an okay way to treat myself to spa stuff someday, or have more options for helping myself through winter...but leave feeling a little better, not worse.

 

[sun seeker]

Hi Chava,

Sorry about the pain you are experiencing. Some time ago you posted about it and I wanted to make a suggestion but it seemed more like you wanted to vent at that point than be given suggestions (which is just fine - happens for me sometimes too). But since you ask, here are two ideas: how about a chiropractor who uses one of those zapper thingies? I don't know what they are called but if you called around to ask, they would know. They'd probably need to touch you at least some to find where to put the zapper though. I don't know if that would be okay with you.

The other thing I was thinking of that might help and is totally hands off, is chi gong distance healing. Is there maybe a school of Chinese medicine you could call to see if there is anyone who does this? I was going to say "in your area" but really it could be anywhere. A couple of times recently I've had bouts of intense hip pain and chi gong was the only thing that helped. I mean, really helped, not just "well, maybe it's a little better but I'm not sure." There were times I was in all-consuming pain and even prescription pain killers weren't enough. I have a friend who is studying chi gong and supposed to practice on people she knows (I think the practitioner has to have some idea of who they are working on so they can get the right person), and both times I called her up and said "help!" and after she worked on me I could feel the pain subsiding so much that I could skip the painkillers. I'd check with her later and she had done the treatment right before I felt relief. It's also very calming and grounding.

Good luck, hopefully you find a modality that helps.

 

[Chava]

Thanks @sun seeker I haven't heard of the distance healing thing. I like qi gong movement stuff and know we have a Chinese medicine practitioner who does acupuncture...not sure about this part...will have to look into it.

I know my therapist (somatic-focus) can sometimes lightly, lightly, lightly touch my back. Other times a light touch will "burn" (in quotes because it doesn't really burn but my body reacts that way) and I make a hissing sound (and she removes her hand). And sometimes I can just sense someone too close and feel the same reactions. There is some intense energy in that space even around my back, especially when I'm on edge. Anyway, very cool you found something that helps you. And thanks for sharing.

 

[Hashi]

Does it have to be someone else doing the massage, rather than yourself?

I don't know what they're called but you can get balls that you put on the ground then lie on and move so that it's a massage. Actually, you can use your own tennis ball or whatever if you follow instructions on what to do. I expect you could find a chiropractor or similar who could help you to use them in a session.

You can also get hand held battery massage tools to use yourself, or massage pads that you plug in and put on the back of your chair.

I really like Japanese "bongers" which are a rubber ball on a bouncy arm that you can work on particular areas with - the arm means you can reach anywhere. At the other end there's a small wooden ball on a hard spring that you can use on very tight areas.

You can also get manual massage rollers and foot rollers and things.

Or Kenkoh sandals that massage your feet as you walk?

 

[City Slicker]

or massage pads that you plug in and put on the back of your chair.

My gym has one of those massage pads that has rollers or something inside and also heats up. The coach puts it on the weight bench and you can adjust the bench to whatever height is comfortable. I really, really like it - it's hands off and it goes where I decide it goes.

 

[Kefira]

If you can find a wellness center or holistic spa that offers a range of services and you want to treat yourself at some point, maybe you can call and ask them what they think would be best stressing that you really don't want much contact with your practitioner. Other things like steam treatments and hydromassage don't require physical contact, so places that offer things like that may be able to give you a good number of options.

If you're into energy work anyway, Reiki can also be done over distance, just make sure you find someone who's actually committed to the work. I can point you in the right direction if you're interested.

E-stim machines are sometimes used by chiropractors, but you can pick up on for home use for a couple hundred dollars and get a decent machine. It sounds weird and scary, but you can use them on really low settings and work your way up as you get used to it. you put pads on the skin and they send a pulsing current through the muscle. Obviously you have to be a bit cautious and read directions since it is electricity, but if your muscles are always sore then it's nice because it basically tires the muscles out by making them tense over and over, and then they relax.

You can also look at things like back buddy or other such massaging 'canes' that use your leverage to apply force onto the problem areas. There are a number of decent handheld massagers, but I don't personally find vibration to be particularly useful because my shoulders are so tense all the time. I really like the shiatsu mimicking things places like Brookstone sell. Maybe you could go somewhere like that and try a few things out just to see if you like any of them.

Wish you luck. It's really hard when you're in pain all the time.

 

[Leigh925]

I have done hot stone massage and I liked it. I actually really have found massage helpful so I don't feel the same way but I wanted to add that you can call a massage therapist and explain what you need and many will respond positively. I was open with my massage therapist because I was so scared the first time and I was afraid I would dissociate or have a flashback in front of her. She knows I can't have the sheet or anything touch my neck or be around my neck.

I have cried many times during massage. The first time I told her....I think I am going to cry. It doesn't have anything to do with you. I guess I am just releasing something.

She was fine with it and handled it well.

Funny it is the only time in my life I have spoken up or advocated for myself. Not sure why I was able to but glad I did!

So I don't think it would be unusual to call ahead and say....I would like hot stones but not really massage and they would go for it.

I also know that she was trained to work on people fully clothed and in whatever emotional state they come in.

I know a lot of massage therapist and most of themselves consider what they do to be healing. More than half of them belong to community programs that have to do with women's rights, domestic abuse and sexual assault prevention. So it has been my experience that they are very open and sensitive to peoples needs.

Hope you find something that helps. Good Luck!

 

[Chava]

Thanks for some ideas everyone. I'll look around for a sort of massage pad. I do love my balls, rollers, and myofascial release props but can easily over-do them because I'm a body-mind idiot (I think the pressure is a little intense maybe, but some days it's perfect).

When I think of it, I'm maybe looking more for safe sensory input (and nice if it can involve someone else, but not touching my back directly)...a little massage, but really an okay or positive experience for the pained muscles in my back. They are too reactive. And anti-social. It looks like I could get healing stones close to home, but would probably call in to ask for a half session that doesn't also include the manual massage bit.

@Kefira the e-stim sounds a little like ultrasound (not the diagnostic kind). I've had that done in physical therapy. I like the idea of gentle pulses or waves, slow or low vibrations....like if I could just play a cello backwards..:singing:

Can't find sound healers in my area but that seems really interesting too because I do understand the soothing power of sound vibrations...but a little awkward to whack a tuning fork or bowl on my own back, even if I have hypermobile shoulders. Once when I was releasing some of the junk in my back in therapy, I felt really low vibrations all over (it made me think of lowest cello tones or...blue or purple, even if those wavelengths don't scientifically correspond). That was kind of soothing. But normally my back doesn't cooperate well. It's like the part of me that doesn't want to do therapy. I'm just carrying it along with me. :confused: