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TREATING AN OLD INJURY

My work as a remedial massage practitioner is varied and interesting. I love my job because the people I meet are strong and determined to get well. Once in a while someone comes along who is extraordinary.

Alice was such a case. She had had a recent accident at work. An injury to her arm that at first appearance might not have been serious was exacerbated by the fact that she had been injured 30 years ago when she had been hit by a car on her way to college. It was a dark, foggy morning on a narrow road, the car was on the wrong side of the road and she had ended up going through the windscreen bouncing back out and finally being dragged under the car for 500 yards. She sustained multiple, serious injuries. When she came to me for her first appointment I sensed a very delicate state of physical health and I naturally felt that I should approach cautiously. This is not my usual style and my signature in my remedial work is tough rather than soothing!

Alice came in and sat down delicately. She seemed so fragile that I wondered whether I would be able to touch her at all. I reassured her that I would be guided by her instruction as to what pressure to use. I worked very gently using only effleurage (flushing strokes) to begin to move stagnant fluid within tissues and realign muscle fibres, and to be able to let her know that I would be respectful of her damaged body. On the surface her body seemed to have mended very well but she had deep scar tissue and was left with pain, daily grinding, incessant pain. Her right arm would not function properly.

When the body receives crushing blows, layers of tissue get mangled. The body needs massage assistance to align these as they grow back. If it does not receive this assistance, the layers stick to each other and subsequent movement causes pain, as some areas are stretched beyond their limit in the attempt to make normal movements.

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