Reynauds (sp?) disease

[Shannon]

has any one ever massaged anyone with this?
I had a client tonight that had it and I wasn't sure what to do to help him.
He complained of his extremities being numb at times and extremely sensitive to the cold.
One thing I noticed during his massage was that ever single one of his joints were tight. Also in each limb there was one muscle that was tight from insertion to origin.

He does exercise but I have massaged plenty of other people that do and haven't felt that before (all joints and muscles tight through and through)

Nothing I did loosened them up. I stripped, CFF,rolling, alternating thumbs....
He never complained of pain though.
I will be massaging him again in a month and I would like to help more than I did tonight.

[Rubmyster]

Shannon,
Reynaud's disease where the fingers go numb and change color from flesh to ash or gray. It is a peripheral vascular disorder that is characterized by abnormal vasoconstriction in the extremities upon exposure to cold or stress. This condition is sometimes associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis or sclerdoma. It is not something that bodywork or manual therapy will really change. This is interesting, though, as it usually occurs in females.
You're probably helping this person more than you think. You might suggest that he wear gloves and continue with massage to reduce stress.
Good luck,
Rubmyster

[wellnessgarden]

Shannon, primary Raynauds will typically affect only the hands and feet and maybe the nose, ears and lips. Then there is Raynauds phenomenon that could be indicative of underlying condition like Rubyster said.

I have a female client now in her 80's, that was diagnosed with localized scleroderma about 25 years ago. She became a client about 3 years ago, and gets regular massages plus she works out at Curves several times a week. This approach has seemed to improve her symptoms of both scleroderma and raynauds. The skin on her hands isn't as thick, tight and hard as it used to be.

Has your client actually been diagnosed with Raynauds or any autoimmune disorder? Maybe he has PAD, peripheral arterial disease, or something like that as well.

wellnessgarden

[StressSolutions]

I've had a client with Reynauds, kind of interesting, huh. She was kinda heavy, and tight all over, too. Did no exercise, really. Did mix of relax with TrP to try to loosen her up.

Maybe heat up some rocks for him to hold in his hands, heat some socks for his feet, his socks would be even better. good luck

[Shannon]

Would made it tough was he had inclusion cyst all over and the first one I saw was on the palm side of his hand (looked very odd). He told me the cyst has nothing to do with reynauds (he has been diagnosed).

He told me that massaging the cyst actually made his limbs feel better...I dunno.

[JaeMarie]

One of my instructors at massage school had this, and she showed us the effects of cold on her skin when the class was working on cryotherapy.

That you mention tight joints and muscles makes me wonder if there's something else going on. I looked up raynauds, and from what I've seen it sounds like raynauds is a circulatory issue, which often accompanies another pathology (which could be causing the joint/muscle problems).

Here's some reading, if it might be helpful...

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 000412.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1993.htm

[Shannon]

Thanks for the links!
The second one helped me alot.

Still trying to understand the joint and muscles tight through and through though. When I informed him of that he said he knew of nothing else wrong with him. (he is a Eye Dr.) so I know he takes care of himself.

[Tatyana]

I had client with Reynauds and vascolitis at the same time.
There were really bad trigger points between her toes and sole of the foot. Worked them out and you could see change of color and temperature right away.

[MarionFM]

This sounds like fascial restrictions and I suspect his joints would respond to the gentle sustained pressure of John Barnes MFR. Look for the greatest area of restriction and apply that gentle pressure. Then move along the joint or muscle and do the same again. Always hold for a minimum of two minutes.

[stonegirl]

I've experienced reynaud's myself... for 2 years I had frequent occurances, and then, just as suddenly as it had come on, it was gone. I'm not sure what the trigger was. The only thing I did differently was I started soaking in a hot tub everyday. I did notice before that also that keeping my core body temperature up was key to avoiding an episode. (just the difference of wearing a hat outside sometimes was all it took)

And of course I always receive lots of bodywork - all different types - the hot tub is the only different thing I started doing. just my personal experience, I don't have any science backing up my theory or anything!

[CaroleHands]

I've experienced reynaud's myself... for 2 years I had frequent occurances, and then, just as suddenly as it had come on, it was gone. I'm not sure what the trigger was. The only thing I did differently was I started soaking in a hot tub everyday. I did notice before that also that keeping my core body temperature up was key to avoiding an episode. (just the difference of wearing a hat outside sometimes was all it took)

And of course I always receive lots of bodywork - all different types - the hot tub is the only different thing I started doing. just my personal experience, I don't have any science backing up my theory or anything!

Stonegirl,

I'm glad to know that yours went away. I've been experiencing various auto-immune disorders, and just this past winter developed Raynaud's. This irks me a bit, since auto-immune disorders tend to spawn others. The cold was so difficult to bear this past winter, that I'm seriously considering moving to Arizona within the next two years.

While I don't have a hot tub, I will try other things you suggested. Thanks for the input!

Namaste,
Carole

[crystal_compass]

I have been working with a client with chronic lyme disease and dealing with reynaud's as well.

Searching the forum for more info. She had a flare up after our last massage right after the work. This is the first one I have witnessed. She has been seeing me for work for the last year.

She is usually running super warm all of the time and because it is so hot now in the summer I left the table warmer off and wonder if keeping it on low is what I should do at this point to regulate her core body temperature although she did not indicate she was cold elsewhere.

[JLWmassage]

I have this. And it has been bothering me since I was 10 years old and I am 29 now. I have it in both of my hands and feet. I have the chillblains on my feet all the time now, but they only bother me when I am have a flare up. Extreme hot and cold can trigger a flare up for me but for the most part it is really not an issue for me anymore.

[JLWmassage]

I have been going to Acupuncture and it has taken 3 treatments for me to notice a difference. I am also on Dang Gui Si Ni Tang Wan to enforce the treatments

[JLWmassage]

I am going to be a guest speaker at the Scleroderma National Converention in Boston, MA. tomorrow. And I am going to be talking about being an MT w/ Reynauds

[YFChoice]

JLW, how did it go. I have had scleroderma for 28 years (have been thru a heart and 3 chemo treatments because of it) and have been a massage therapist for 10 years.