Back trouble and Thai massages

[short 215]

jackcorbett, on 02 Oct 2005 - 23:12, said:

Just 15 months ago, just one month prior to my first visit to Pattaya I hurt my back while moving from one apartment to another. The pain was so bad I'd spend most of my time on the couch and would use crutches to move around. If I had to go to the restroom I'd ask myself: "How bad do I need to go?" Then I'd hobble to the toilet and just hang on those crutches while urinating. The pain would be very severe by the time I had finished. Then I started seeing a chiropracter and I improved quickly. Made the trip, this first one lasting just 10 days. Got a couple of foot massages which helped and one oil massage. Back in the U.S. continued to see the chiropracter. Situation improved each week and visits to the chiropracter which had started with everyday treatments eventually wound down to just two per month. The vertebrae in my lower back were the problem as they had compressed with advancing age.

 

Took another trip to Pattaya, this time for one month, then still another, that time for two months. But no trips to the chiropracter. I found one girl who would give me massages which seemed to help a lot and would see her a couple times a week. In spite of the back trouble I was still able to maintain a running and bicycling exercise program while in the U.S. and now that I've moved permanently to Pattaya I still am able to run a couple of miles on the beach and do long walks.

 

But the girl I have relied on for my massages (she would give me a one hour foot massage followed by 1/2 hour on my shoulders and back) is no longer giving massages. She recommended a friend she worked with who I had gotten to know. This friend has 4 years of experience and seems to know what she is going. But after my back had started to hurt again, and I went to her for a massage she asked me if I wanted her to give me all her power, meaning a very hard massage. I said that's what I wanted. She'd bend me in different positons similar to what a chiropracter would do, but the manipulation of my spine was much more prolonged. But all of this worsened my condition and the next morning I was even worse off. The day after that I went to a spa my little TG recommended where I got a massage lasting one hour but most of it was devoted entirely to my lower back. I felt much better afterwards.

 

Sorry guys for the long story, but I'm sure some of you have similar back problems to mine. As I understand it, the basic treatment whether performed by a chiropracter or masseuse is to widen the gap between the vertebrae which alleviates the pain for one thing while giving long term relief. A foot massage I would think just gives a more temporary relief since the effect is more on the nerves rather than to widen the gag on the vertebrae. From what I have noticed when a gal who knows what she is doing manipulates the spine with her hands or while walking on it, applying pressure with her knee, etc. it seems the spine is squeezed in such a manner that the vertabrae tends to get separated to a slight degree thus providing relief. Perhaps consistent and even more treatments per month would give longer term relief from the problem?

 

So what do you think? Chiropracter here in Pattaya? Or Thai massage? And where does one find the best chiropractic care here at reasonable cost? Or does getting the right massage treatment perform basically the same thing? I am also wondering why that one massage I got made me feel much worse instead of better?

Jack, back pain from pinched nerves is aggravated when the nerve or surrounding area becomes inflamed making the pinch even worse. I have found that the best way to get the inflamation down long enough for the nerve or surrounding tissue to heal is with a 6-5-4-3-2-1 prednizone pack.

 

Inflammation is part of the immune system's tools for fighting infection. When you use prednizone to reduce inflammation you also reduce the body's ability to fight infection. Arthritis drugs like Enbrel are immune system depressants also. If you have ever seen the commercials for those drugs they mention that people have died due to undetected tuberculosis (an infection) while taking the drug and that part of the regent before the drug being dispensed is testing for dormant tuberculosis.

 

If you are on a whoring vacation, keep drugs like prednisone at arms length, but if not and if used as directed by a real doctor, they are a miracle drug that can stop the pain and return function in 8 (my experience) hours.

 

Oh, and they aren't masking the pain. They are removing it.

[atlas2 4,329]

Over the years squash had taken it's toll. Playing squash regularly in between the back, shoulder, calf pulls, and the rest was an annoying fact of life. What sorted it out mostly was doing lots of circuits and other exercises. All round fitness paid off........ and pulls almost ceased.

 

However, In my life I've tried: chiropractors, physios, acupuncture, interferential, ultra sound and 'The Rack' at Pattaya International.

 

(The Rack story.... where I pretended to be dead when the nurse came back another time).

 

Of them all, only two treatments have proved 100% effectual......... Twice acupuncture sorted me out....... And 4 times over my years here in Thailand I've had 'minor strains' fixed by an expert girl I trust, who after a long session beginning with a warm, lubed-up, limbering, normal massage........ walked on my back. The next day I was free of pain.

 

Friends who've tried acupuncture have told me it didn't work for them. And letting a girl do 'The Liverdance' on your back comes with an atlas2 health warning....So you have to find what works for you.

Edited April 12, 2013 by atlas2

[keyman 1,413]

Short - Jack posted this over 7 years ago!

 

 

KM

[Gary 4,119]

Like many others, I had low back pain and suffered for several month before going to the chiropractor. After two visits I could hardly get out of bed. I then bit the bullet and went to an orthopedist. I was face down on the table and the doctor, after pressing here and there told me that I had severely irritated back muscles. He then asked me if I had visited a chiropractor. I said that I did and then he asked me how many times. I said twice. The doctor asked me if I was better after the first treatment. I told him that I was actually worse. He actually went into a rant and asked why I was stupid enough to go back a second time. He told me that if I ever went back to a chiropractor, not to come back to see him again. He told me that my back needed rest and not jerked around. He gave me some pain killers and after resting a couple of days to do some special exercises. He said I'd be lucky if there was no permanent damage.

 

Needless to say, I have never gone to a bone cracker again. If you do go to a chiropractor and you don't get immediate relief, DON'T go back. That's been my experience. I certainly wouldn't allow a Thai massage lady to ever yank me around either. A Thai oil muscle massage is fine but no "back adjustment".

[jacko 8,822]

I certainly wouldn't allow a Thai massage lady to ever yank me around either.

Errr.......no, I am going to leave this.

[Gary 4,119]

Errr.......no, I am going to leave this.

 

LOL! Well, there's a yank and there's yank and in fact another yank. I didn't mean the painful type.

[Woops 5]

http://www.pattayasportsclinic.com/

[samfreeland 64]

A good maneuver for sciatic pain is to lie flat on your back and with your left hand grab your right ankle. with your right hand push your knee away from you towards the right. and do it in reverse with the other leg. this releases the sciatic nerve and should be of some relief for lower back pain.