| Subject | Date Asked |
| Extreme lower back back after a massage | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: I have had 3 massages and after each one when I get up off the table to take my first step, I ... A: It sounds as though you finish your massage laying on your stomach? If so, there is a different ... | |
| arm pain | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: one month ago i fixed hangers on my kitchen wall , used manual screw driver , it took me effort to ... A: I am fine, thank you for asking! This will heal by itself. It is taking a long time so the muscles ... | |
| Good massage, bad therapist | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I live down in Houston. It's legal to get undraped massages here. Lately I've been getting a massage ... A: They behaved unprofessionally. I don't think you are paranoid. I'd feel the same. If you have the ... | |
| Good massage, bad therapist | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I live down in Houston. It's legal to get undraped massages here. Lately I've been getting a massage ... A: I'm with you: Find another massage therapist. For one thing, you may find someone with more skill ... | |
| Client with Occipital Headaches | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: I'm a Remedial Massage Therapist and have a client presenting with constant occipital headaches, do ... A: Do you have access to a trigger point chart or book? That would be my first stop and when I found ... | |
| Right side pain | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: I'll try to be succinct but thorough in describing my symptoms... sorry if I'm too long-winded. ... A: They give clues. When a massage doesn't help for very long it means we have missed something or ... | |
| Russian deep tissue massage | 2/9/2011 |
| Q: Have lots of lactic acid build-up upper right shoulder muscle.Massage helps a lot. Tingling down ... A: Based on your symptoms and career, my best long distance guess is the muscles in your neck called ... | |
| Continuous headache for 10 days | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: I have been having this unusually uncomfortable headache for about 10 days now. I don't think it is ... A: If your head pain is increasing in intensity, please see a doctor for an evaluation. If she finds ... | |
| Thoracic Strain | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: 2 months ago, I strained a muscle in my back near my right shoulder blade. The doc took some X-rays ... A: Good question! I often wonder why doctors (and others) press so deeply into an already painful ... | |
| something odd happened during my massage yesterday | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: While lying face down, my nose started to plug, eventually I could feel my face swelling to point of ... A: That is odd! Not that your nose got stuffy--that's common for most folks. The strange thing is ... | |
| Two Concerns Post-Massage | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: and thank you for your time! Wednesday evening I had a massage. It was the first one I have had in ... A: I apologize for my delay in getting back to you. 1. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is typically caused ... | |
| Arm and neck pain | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: Hoping you can help me. I am still recovering from lower back surgery in May 09 and August 09. Had ... A: Let's see if we can unravel this mystery a bit. Low back surgery followed by severe arm pain and ... | |
| covering | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I am a 20 year old male. I had some massages in mexico without covering towels, just boxers, and I ... A: As I understand your question, you wore boxer shorts during your massages. Correct? Wearing ... | |
| ice massage of face | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: what are the benifit &advers effect of ice massage of face at the age of 50 years to 60yrs A: This is a good question and I must tell you that I'm not sure. But I'll give you my thoughts. I'm ... | |
| Lymphatic Drainage with Cancer | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: If a patient had recent double masectomy can you do a lymphatic drainage massage? A: I don't know whether you are the patient or the therapist. I am not a lymphatic massage specialist ... | |
| Severe Headace after Acupressure massage | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: I had a student instructor do a Acupressure massage on my face, head and neck area. This is the ... A: This is a good question and I am sorry to hear about your head pain. Here are my thoughts: 1. If ... | |
| massage for senior citizen | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: A senior citizen aged about 70yrs. having asthma and bye pass surgery of heart.Is there any specific ... A: I have had many senior citizens who have had heart surgeries (even an artificial heart!) and with ... | |
| soreness after massage | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: i had a deep massage a week ago she massaged the base of my skull ,as well as my shoulder blades . i ... A: Deep massage can cause soreness or tenderness afterward. It often starts quickly or within a day ... | |
| left arm numb due to truck accident | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: my dad had a bad wreck 3 weeks ago.he has had 3 different xrays an mri and a cat scan.they tell him ... A: I'm so sorry to hear of your dad's accident but he is lucky he has you. I'm glad he doesn't have ... | |
| hot stone and migraines | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Is hot stone beneficial for people with migraines. I have a client who was in a severe car accident ... A: If you know how to do other types of massage also I am sure you would have a better chance of ... | |
| Knots in muscles | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: Hey there, I'm Ashley and I'm 16. Before I broke up with my boyfriend, he would practice his ... A: Hey Ashley, Here are my thoughts: There are a lot of muscles on your chest and when they get ... | |
| elbow injury | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: So I injured my elbow playing basketball for my school. Heres what happened: I took a hit to the ... A: The x-rays showed nothing was broken but perhaps you have a dislocation. This is my best guess. ... | |
| massage | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: heya!! im doin a thesis at the min on hot stone massage for college..........have you any ... A: I do not do hot stone massage but I have experienced it. This is the input I believe would be most ... | |
| Severe Pain in Left Thumb and Left Arm Numbness after car accident | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I am [already a 100% Disabled Veteran with Chronic daily Migraine Pain X 13 years] then on December ... A: First, I want to invite you to know that you aren't 100% disabled. You can walk and type and see ... | |
| Massage of foot | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a condition called Epidural fibrosos..failed back syndrome. As a result I have referred ... A: Your massage therapist is likely correct--that it shouldn't do any harm. Massage therapy is ... | |
| head bone pain | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: i have been having migrans for years, ive seen a nero spec for it but meds dont seem to help when it ... A: You have lots more going on here than I can answer completely in this response but here's my input. ... | |
| pinky numbness up to elbows | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed for the past week that both pinky fingers have been numb. The numbness extends up to ... A: As I check the Trigger Point Manual by Doctors Travell & Simons, and based on your symptoms, here ... | |
| soreness after deep tissue massage | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: i had an 80 minute deep tissue massage on Tuesday afternoon. the next day, and still now, my body is ... A: This is a new one on me, and I've done over 20,000 massages! Here's what I'd guess. 80 minutes ... | |
| carpel tunnel massage - instructional | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: i was wondering if you could suggest a trust worthy instructional dvd or site on the web to pick up ... A: You will find a short(about 12-15 minutes) advanced video about how and where to do massage for ... | |
| chronic neck and shoulder pain | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: My neck started hurting a little about 3 months ago and gradually the pain got worse over time. At ... A: You ask very good questions. Here's my input. There is a reason why your neck started to hurt 3 ... | |
| Achey Body all over post-massage | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: I recently got a deep tissue massage, which turned out to be extremely painful. I let the women ... A: I am so sorry that you had such an experience. It is true that sometimes areas of the body may be ... | |
Answers by Expert:
Top Expert on this page
I can respond to questions about migraines and headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, hand-wrist-arm pain, upper back pain, and other assorted and miscellaneous pain symptoms. I can also respond to general questions about massage and how to select a massage therapist.
I have been a massage therapist since 1992 specializing primarily in pain relief techniques. I utilize the St. John Method of Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (NMT) and other bodywork modalities. I'm The Pain Relief Coach online.
Organizations
Professional Member of American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCTMB)
Publications
http://www.CarpalTunnelPainRelief.com
http://www.SimplePainRelief.com
http://www.SimpleBackPainRelief.com
http://www.SimpleStrengthening.com
http://www.KathrynMerrow.com
Education/Credentials
My initial training in massage was at Health Enrichment Center in Lapeer, Michigan. I have had advanced training or workshops with Kurashova Institute for Studies in Physical Medicine, St. John Neuromuscular Institute of Pain Relief, Center for Self-Healing and many others. I now share my education and experience as a Massage Instructor and Pain Relief Coach.
Awards and Honors
The highest honor I receive is when someone tells me that they finally understand why they had pain, that they took action and that their pain is either less or is totally gone.
Past/Present Clients
I have done well over 20,000 therapeutic massage sessions, primarily with clients with various types of pain or painful syndromes.

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