Expert: Mikey - 5/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: HI Mikey, I went to a massage therapist yesterday for sciatica.  The therapist I usually go to does very aggressive treatment and helps usually for 4 to 6 weeks.  The therapist I went to yesterday did very light massage and said that I should never have aggressive therapy because if aggressive therapy helped I should not still be in pain after 7 years of monthly treatments.  The therapist did not use any oils either.  He just did a few pressure points and a lot of soft rubbing.  Today does not feel any different than the day after an aggressive massage.  What is your opinion on the two different therapies and what would you do to treat ongoing sciatica due to tight piriformis muscles?  Would you suggest steroid injections into the SI joint?

ANSWER: Hi there Donella,

Let me say right off the bat my scope of practice does not cover giving or prescribing any form of medication, so no I would not suggest steroid injections into the SI joint to treat ongoing sciatica due to tight piriformis muscles.

Can you tell me more about what you mean by aggressive treatment?  DO you mean faster work? Deeper? More often?

Depending on what is bringing about the issue, there may be no such thing as just making it all go away, it may be a recurring issue sthat requires maintenance.  Frankly 4-6 weeks of help from one treatment sounds pretty darn good to me.

I always look askance when a practitioner denigrates another form of work or another practitioner, that is not very professional.  Perhaps your new therapist can get the same results with less aggressive work, which is great, but ultimately you will know the difference in your own body.  If you need treatment again before 4-6 weeks pass you will have your answer. :D

Best Wishes,
Mikey



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What I mean by aggressive is very deep, very painful, almost pressure point therapy.  This therapy although quite painful at times during treatment seems to work very well for me.  The soft tissue treatment I received on Friday did almost nothing for me.  I am still quite sore today.

Answer
Hmm I'm a bit confused.  You initially said you felt no different the day after the light treatment than the day after an aggressive one...but now you say the light treatment did nothing for you. I can't tell - does that mean you feel no change in your condition after either treatment?