Trained, Licensed UNProfessionals

Massage therapists and physical therapists

are an essential part of a chronic pain person's life;

if and when you are worked on properly

for your respective damage/pain issues,

by capable, knowledgeable, respectful professionals.

Frustratingly, just because someone is trained and licensed

does not mean that they are able to provide the proper care

for someone with extensive spinal damage,

as I have found out the very painful way. 

Being a foodie, I use a lot of food analogies, so if that statement doesn't resonate with you, think of it like this: 

If you love Italian food of fresh, delicious, scratch made sauces, you wouldn't go to your local Chinese take-out, right? 

You'd go to an Italian restaurant because you know that restaurants who specialize in that cuisine are far more likely

to offer you the best in that cuisine's flavor.

Ditto your health and chronic pain needs. 

You don't see a foot surgeon to have back surgery. 

And you shouldn't see a massage therapist or a physical therapist,

inexperienced in the art of touching

a severely damaged spine, PROPERLY. 

Remember people,

being trained in something

is NOT the same

as being EXPERIENCED in it.

(Read that again because it really is profound!)

Unfortunately, in my experience with massage therapy, they all carry the same label and certification, so trying to figure out who will meet your pain challenges, is much, much more difficult.

It doesn't matter how clear I am about how severe and extensive my spinal cord and multiple disc damage is,

and/or how easily flared my pain is,

I have gotten a few cowboys and tough girls

who were into body building

with a "no pain, no gain" mentality,

who think they know my body better than I do,

worked me too hard and put me into

preventable and unnecessary severe pain flare ups. 

The "no pain no gain" mentality

is pure and utter BS in pain management

and anyone with that mentality

that works with severely injured people

has no business being in the medical field because we chronic pain people

aren't trying to win

a weight lifting contest,

but are struggling to raise our arms over our heads to wash our hair without pain, bend over and brush our teeth without pain, push a grocery cart, etc...

Thus, the next time one of you

"no pain no gain" UNprofessionals

want to push a chronic pain person too far, REMEMBER THIS ARTICLE because

our pain relief needs are about us

NOT YOU and your ego.

After all that I have endured in almost 11 years,

from a flattened spinal cord,

7 herniated discs and other damage,

I am willing to bet my life, that I have a higher pain tolerance then those with this inappropriate mentality.  

So when I complain about an exercise or a massage technique,

it sure as hell isn't because I can't handle pain;

it is because I and the hundreds of millions in my shoes,

all around the world,

have had more than enough pain for one lifetime. 

NO ONE should be forced to handle UNproductive pain.

Although you may know

the HUMAN body better than I do,

I know MY body

better than you.

I also know the difference between

good pain and bad pain.

Good pain is productive and conducive

to healing and wellness.

Bad pain is UNproductive and counterintuitive

to healing and wellness.

Last and far from least, is the principle

that I, nor anyone else, should have to

tolerate being flared into UNnecessary pain

by the very professionals from

whom we sought pain reduction/relief, simply because YOU are/were too egotistical

to respect our input and warnings

that a particular movement or touch,

isn't good, productive pain.

PRODUCTIVE PAIN.

THAT I understand. 

THAT I can and will handle. 

THAT is a part of every normal healing process.

That is NOT what I speak

against here.

The only time I could possibly begin to slightly understand,

(not respect mind you, but understand) when one of these no pain no gain UNprofessionals employs this wrongful mindset is when a patient's medical tests (MRI's, cat scans, etc...) show no actual damage, diagnoses and/or is not post (spinal) surgery. 

Then, and only then, I could understand how/why a P.T. may push someone hard to complete an exercise because

they have no diagnosed medical reason to believe

that the person isn't just being a big baby. 

I am not saying that mindset is right either;

I am simply saying,

I can at least understand it in that circumstance.



But even in these cases, the professional should err on the side of trusting the patient's need to stop a movement which they believe, isn't producing, productive pain.

If the patient is indeed, just being a whiner,

they will realize it themselves when they make absolutely

no progess because they didn't push themselves appropriately.

For those who have never had to do physical therapy,

even when done properly, IT IS PAINFUL. 

But as I stated above,

there is a huge and unacceptable difference

between the productive pain of properly done

P.T. and counterproductive pain that

only sets a person back in their recovery.

What I will never understand though is why

  the "no pain, no gain" physical therapist put me

into unnecessary pain flare ups post-operatively.

She not only had the operative report,

but as a very motivated and articulate patient,

I also verbalized it to her as such:

"I had ACDF of C5-C7." and I gave her this explanation of it:

I had discs C5-C7 excised (a.k.a. removed)

because they herniated so severely

that they flattened my spinal cord,

then my neurosurgeon inserted sterilized cadaver bones

where the discs had been, to offer each vertebra support,

he also drilled off all of my osteophytes

(a.k.a. bone spurs - which unfortunately, can grow back)

then he fused it all with titanium plates and screws.  



Additionally she had copies of my numerous MRI reports/diagnoses, etc...

thus, it was exceedingly UNacceptable

for her to push me as hard as she did,

despite my speaking up about the bad kind of pain

I was having from her suggested movements;

and moreover,

HOW EASILY FLARED INTO SEVERE PAIN I AM,

due to the permanent spinal cord damage,

remaining herniated discs, etc...

At the time that I had my 3 discs cut out,

I actually had 5 herniated discs in my neck,

but was advised to just have the worst 3 removed

because the more surgery that was done,

the lower the success rate became.

That made sense to me so that is what I  did. 

The downside is obvious, the 2 injured discs remaining,

still cause me, great pain, range of motion limitations, etc...

Additionally, she should have factored in that having my neck fused, also meant a more limited range of motion.

When I as the patient, the layperson to this relationship,

know these immutable facts, it is patently clear that her

  UNprofessional "no pain no gain" mentality

 had ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE in my post-op care.

Prior to my spinal surgery post-op physical therapy,

I had undergone no less than 12 dozen P.T. appointments in 2 other cities throughout my years of injury and chronic pain. 

Not one time had any of those physical therapists, (male and female), disrespected my input and need to stop an exercise.

Thus, the good news is that these UNprofessionals

are clearly not the rule. 

The UNacceptable news is that they do exist,

hence my being compelled to speak up about them 

to help as many other newly injured people realize their right

to SAY NO to any exercise that yields counterproductive pain.

If you're not sure, stop and describe it to your best ability;

mainly, listen to your body! 

I promise you, it knows things faster than you do.

To further validate how irresponsible her no pain, no gain mindset truly was, I had the massage therapist at this same facility tell me that when she (the massage therapist) was out for a day, this same P.T. (who was indeed a former competitive body builder) took over her massage clients for her,

and as a result of massaging a client too hard,

the client had to be taken to the emergency room! 

(Yes, you read that right!)

If to this point in reading, you have thought that

I have been excessively harsh on this topic,

after reading this last paragraph, do you still think so?

Who in the world deserves to end up in the E.R. from massage therapy???  Ahhhh, NO ONE! 

Since life is about perception, permit me to acknowledge

that some people reading this will likely have thought to themselves, "Wow, she sure was mad when she wrote this."

And you would be correct.

Part of it is because of how bad of an unnecessary experience 

I had and part of it is because when I did tell her I couldn't do a particular movement due to the bad kind of pain, I was nice about it, which got me nowhere as she flared me unnecessarily on more than one occasion, into severe pain flare ups.

Interestingly, she and I really got along well and these

no pain/no gain pushes by her and resulting flare ups aside,

I liked her on a personal level and it was mutual.

 But, when a person has major spinal surgery and is on the mend,

they are more often than not, still on strong narcotics and as likely, on multiple other mood and mind altering substances such as muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, etc...

  These Rx's do not permit a person to think clearly or well. 

And in addition to pain, they cause great fatigue. 

Thus, starting over with a new P.T. or other healthcare professional, is exhausting for a post-op

and/or chronic pain patient.

I always gave up to three efforts of communicating any issues to my healthcare team before I give up unless there is blatantly gross misconduct on the part of the medical person at the first visit.  Then a first visit, will be a last visit.

It was not until the third time that I spoke up, with anger, that she didn't dismiss/disrespect my input; my anger got her attention and she said, "Okay then, let's try this instead."

The thing is, no patient, should have to resort to anger

to get the attention and respect

of their healthcare professional.

If you are a fair and reasonable person,

with even a modicum of empathy and common sense,

you do not need to walk in my shoes or that of the millions

whose lives are altered by disabling injuries and severe chronic pain, to realize that this situation is UNacceptable.

I don't have to have my leg or other body parts blown off by an IED as many soldiers endure, to know that what they went through was its own special kind of hell and that unless I go through it too, I can't know, nor judge, their feelings.

And permit me to thank our United States military personnel for all that they do sacrifice and endure,

in order to keep us safe.

Thus, I share this page in hopes that it gets everyone's attention to allow this situation to become eradicated to spare others enduring this.

Also to alert those who love a person undergoing P.T. for severe injuries and/or chronic pain and/or post-op care, to check in with them and see if they need someone to advocate for their proper care and/or to help them realize they need to seek another professional for their best care; because, sadly, many, won't speak up and they literally are going to be the ones who suffer for it.

One of my numerous goals for Spinal Trap

is to IMPROVE the quality of life for chronic pain people,

as well as, educate those who provide us care

to understand where they are helping us

and as much, failing us.

You know the expression, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." 

Well, there is a lot broken in our healthcare. 

This mentality is a big item in need of fixing. 

The good news is that it is a SIMPLE and IMMEDIATE fix!

 
To say this is unacceptable is like saying the sun, is a little hot!

We who live with chronic pain have no choice but to trust that those whose care we seek, will not harm us.  

It doesn't matter how clearly I state my numerous diagnoses and pain challenges, and/or how many questions I ask

 in advance, finding a massage and/or physical therapist to handle my needs without issue has been a pain unto itself.

Bottom line - LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF!

Sad truth:

  Number of years of experience is

NOT an indicator of a competent,

capable, respectful professional. 

(This sad truth does not just apply to healthcare!)

One of the lousiest massage sessions I ever had was by a guy who said he'd been doing it for over 15 years. 

(He left me with Massage UNenvy...)

He had two arms but only used one hand as the rule! 

Then he did that horrible LAZY move of pushing his forearms over me because his hands were tired! 

NOT MY PROBLEM!  But he made it mine!

Throw in the fact that they ADVERTISE 1 hour massages

but ONLY give you 50 minutes

and they should be sued for false advertising

by every consumer and better yet, SHUT DOWN. 

In my awful experience with them,

they are the McDonald's of the massage industry. 

They advertise quality, they serve crap. 

(Their ice cream cones excepted.)

I spoke to the manager and should not even have been charged.

He took $10 off which was STILL A RIP OFF but I guess

Massage Envy must have enough unsatisfied clients

who go once and never again that they feel justified

screwing people out of good money for such LOUSY service.

I should've filed a credit card dispute

but I didn't because pain zaps your energy as does aggravation. 

Some of the best therapeutic massages I've had,

have been by pro's with less than 5 years experience

who had a natural knack

for knowing the body AND respecting my input. 

You see, respect is the critical selling point

that you need to figure out if a person possesses for others,

when interviewing a potential new massage or physical therapist.

Are they respectful of your input or too self-important to care?

Listen to how they speak; are their words about them or their clients?

They should be able, without hesitation to cite specific client examples of their work; not client/patient names of course,

as that would be a complete invasion of privacy. 

(Unless the patient/client gave them a written testimonial of course, than that is different.)

I'm simply saying that if you are a chronic pain person,

and they say "50% of my client/patient base are

chronic pain patients." well now, that's a lot and that should hopefully, indicate a stronger understanding

and ability to meet YOUR needs.

But to be technical for a moment,

and focus on the art of communication

and listening skills,

please realize that a quantity of chronic pain patients

 isn't necessarily indicative of high skills

with effectively helping chronic pain patients. 

Now, if after they say 50% of their client base is chronic pain patients they add on a truth such as:

"I'm the only physical therapist (or massage therapist) that doctors A, B, and C will refer patients to"

THAT is likely indicative that they do indeed,

know what they are doing.

The best advice I can give is before you tell them

what your status is and needs are, ask them:

"Do you specialize in any specific types of care?" 

If they say "like what?", simply say with a smile:

"You tell me, either you specialize or you don't." 

What you are looking for, without any prompting from you,

is to hear them say things such as:

"I have great success with relieving chronic joint pain."

or

"I specialize in relieving muscle spasms."

or

"I'm referred to by orthopaedic surgeons due to my success with post-op knee replacemenet patients"

 or

whatever it is that is true for them,

that you believe to be a good fit for your needs. 

Also, many people go to professionals simply based upon

referrals from other laypeople. 

Thus, if and when you have someone refer you to

their massage or physical therapist,

ask them FOR WHAT they see this professional? 

If they have no severe damage and/or chronic pain issues,

then they are not likely a great source for someone who does. 

(Think "apples to apples comparison" here.)

Now, if you get a referral FROM a person who walks in your damage/pain shoes, then by all means, call that professional.

Also, in today's online world, everyone's a critic. 

Again, take online reviews with a grain of salt. 

Everyone has different needs, different perceptions

and different motivations.

Plus, anyone can set up fake accounts and brag on themselves;

or as bad, set up accounts and falsely malign others.

When someone brags on or complains about any professional, really read both what they say, and between the lines, to try

and figure out how fair and accurate the assessment truly is.

In this case, despite the focus being on her wrongful

no pain/no gain mentality,

I still was fair in giving her credit where it was due.

An UNprofessional who cares more about booking you

and taking your money, like a con man,

is going to tell you what you want to hear;

hence my advice to not tell them first what you seek,

but to ask if they specialize and in what.

(Kind of like when you are buying a car, YOU NEVER tell the salesperson how much you want to spend!)

If you are guilty of not listening to and respecting

your clients/patients, and you still don't have the

grey matter to stop, let me put it this way:

Say YOU had a migraine and sought a medical professional

for relief of that horrible pain.

Would you expect the doctor

to punch you in the head? 

I think not.

Welcome to what it's like to be

YOUR UNfortunate client/patient.