Full body massage?

why not?

by dwelch - 2019-12-25 06:22:36

Not sure what one thing has to do with the other.  Other than to say you probably want them to avoid the site, dont want them being rough in that area, general pain for starters, wont hurt the device but might hurt you.

Despite 32 years with devices I am not a massage person so have not actually had to deal with this, but would definitely not and do not let folks fiddle with it much less put massage like forces in the area.

If you use the same person every time as a team you can figure out what works and doesnt.  If you have to get a new person every time then keep them further away from the area.

Just enjoy

by crustyg - 2019-12-25 10:08:38

Had a sports massage on Mon which really helped with my hamstring injury.

For folk who haven't experienced the muscle relaxation of a sports massge after hard exercise I can't recommend it enough.  For those who like the idea of a massage for stress relief, go for it!

Six years of massage therapy

by Theknotguy - 2019-12-25 11:05:35

You'll find quite a few posts on this forum with me recommending massage therapy.  My massage therapist has worked with me both before and after my pacemaker implant.  Six years with the pacemaker.  I highly recommend it.  And when my primary therapist was overbooked I had a second therapist working on me.

I also stress that you need to see a licensed massage therapist.  Key words are licensed and therapy.  My main therapist went back to her massage therapy school and got some additional training so she would be better prepared.  She also requested I get a prescription from my cardiologist so there was no question she was allowed to work on me.  

You will need to tell the therapist to avoid the pacemaker area and that includes the area the leads go under the clavicle.  Any work by them in those areas is to be strictly avoided.  I had them feel where the pacemaker was so they would know where to avoid it and I showed them where the leads were inserted under the clavicle.  They had no problems avoiding those areas as they have plenty of other places to work on the body.  

I had a lot of trauma from CPR - broken ribs, muscle spasms, and a lot of pain.  I also had muscle spasms on the left side of my neck from the muscles being  irritated from the leads insertion point.  Even though doctors tell me that isn't the reason I'm always surprised at how tight the muscles in the back area of my neck.   Consequently it took my lead massage therapist six years to work out all the sore muscles and kinks.  I also feel my healing went faster and I had less pain due to the massage therapist's work.  

My running joke with the therapists is you can't lie to the tech who reads your pacemaker and you can't lie to your massage therapist.  The tech just prints out the results and it's there in black and white.  My massage therapist just grabs hold of the sore muscle and says, "And you were doing what?"  It's best to tell them what you were doing ahead of time.  

Hope you can see your therapist soon and your adjustment to the pacemaker goes well.  
 

I guess

by Pacer2019 - 2019-12-26 00:58:08

It depends on what your concern is and the nature of this full body massage ?

i guess just tell the massage person " be careful with this area of my body ....I have a PM " 

Full body massage?

by Ret.Jurdoc - 2019-12-26 01:52:26

Sincere appreciations for all of the helpful comments and suggestions.

Regards!

Love that massage!

by Gotrhythm - 2019-12-27 14:55:36

Once the surgical wound is completely healed there is no reason to avoid massage. The only problem I ran into was that lying on my front was uncomfortable, due to pressure on the pacmaker. I'm very slender ant there is little natural padding in the pacemaker area.

I solved the problem with a piece of "egg crate" foam just wide enought to cover the pacemaker and long enough to go all the way accross the chest. With it in place, the masseuse could apply pressure to the back and shoulder area without mashing the pacemaker.

Go back to your massage. There is no reason to avoid it and every reason to think it will be good for you.

Full body massage?

by Ret.Jurdoc - 2019-12-27 21:35:21

Chest protection great idea. Actully pressure when face down and sports massage for the chest have been my concerns.

Thank you Gotrhythm

Go for it!

by RedRocksGirl - 2019-12-29 16:53:45

I've been going to a massage therapist every 3-5 weeks, getting full body massages and extra work around the PM area and on my left shoulder because of post surgery soreness/loss of range of motion since I was 2 weeks our of having mine re -implanted this past April.

Luckily my massage therapist specailizes in what's called peri-operative massage and works on clients who are pre and post surgery for all kinds of procedures. He works a lot on losening up tight muscles from guarding where the surgeries were and breaking down scar tissues.

It has helped IMMENSELY! 

For the first few months when I was face down on the table he would roll up small towels and place them under my shoulders which kept all the weight/pressure off the pacemaker area.

Full body massage?

by Ret.Jurdoc - 2019-12-30 12:51:55

Towel placement is a great idea. Thank you for the tip. Will see if there is a therapist in our area with a "peri-operative" focus.

Regards R..JD