AboutJulie Donnelly, LMT Expertise I can accept questions that relate to chronic or acute pain caused by muscle spasms and contractions. Repetitive Strain Injury is actually Cumulative Trauma to muscles. Releasing the spasm &/or contraction will relieve the strain that is felt at the insertion point on the bone.
Experience
Past/Present clients Privacy prevents me from filling in this section without prior consent from my clients.
Life Experience: I began to get interested in the treatment of muscle spasms and contractions while I lived in Honolulu, HI. A sailing friend had severe pain following raceing each week. He would lie on the grass, bearly able to breathe from the pain in his back. I would rub his back, feeling "bumps" that I would "smooth out", and his pain would completely go away. This intrigued me, until I eventually went to school to learn how to be a Massage Therapist. I went to work on a cruise ship and had the experience of working on approximately 3000 people in one year - a great opportunity to really feel muscle spasms and contractions! I concentrated on thoroughtly learning one muscle every day, locating it on each client, and feeling "what hurts & what doesn't hurt". A six month stay in St. Thomas, USVI, was beneficial because I worked with an Osteopath who taught me excellent release techniques that I still use. Next I moved to Hawaii and worked in a clinic that only treated chronic pain patients. It was in Hawaii that I wrote my first book "Massage Therapy Healing Techniques Workbook". It was written for massage therapists and was a compilation of treatments for very specific painful conditions. The book was revised in 1996 and a companion video was added at that time. In 1995 I suffered with Frozen Shoulder - an incredibly painful condition. I was told I'd never be able to regain full range-of-motion in my shoulder. I did deep muscle therapy on myself, while a friend work where I couldn't reach. The condition healed 100%. In 1997 I developed carpal tunnel syndrome that put me out of business. Surgery was recommended, I refused because of my awareness that scar tissue from the surgery could be more detrimental than carpal tunnel syndrome. Using the knowledge I had gained through the years, especially what I had learned through the Frozen Shoulder episode, enabled me to work out what was REALLY causing the carpal tunnel condition. I worked each affected muscle, and eventually regained 100% use of my hand, completely pain free. I quickly began to treat my clients using this new knowledge, and soon afterward began teaching them how to do the self-treatment techniques. It worked everytime, except a person had already had surgery! I began clinical trials at a medical facility, where I still teach the techniques with incredible success. In 1999 Zev Cohen, MD, who was working with me developing the carpal tunnel treatment, joined me in the business. We wanted to bring this effective technique to the world, not limited to only our town.
In 2000 I published my second book "How To Be Pain-less...A Beginner's Guide To The Self Treatment of Muscle Spasms". In this book, using 114 photographs, I show how to self-treat muscles throughout the body. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Cohen and I produced an instructional video teaching the carpal tunnel self treatment, and in March 2001 we opened a web site (www.aboutcts.com) to teach people about the muscular component of carpal tunnel syndrome, and to share the self-treatment system with the public.
Question -Hi Julie, I am back. Have had 2 massage sessions - both felt good, but was sore the following day(s). She was very interested in your response, and, in fact, did just what you suggested. The first one was March 6 and the last one was March 13. I have gone to Curves a few times and have gone for walks. Nothing really seems to be any different - and the pain is still sort of random, but mostly on my left side still, and definately in the hip, lower back, groin area. Feels ok right away in the morning, then gets uncomfortable (tight, achey, like a nail in there), then as I move around more settles down again. However, it never really seems to be gone. Heat and Ibuprofen take the edge off. Stretching feels good while I do it. I am wondering what you think about taking some kind of muscle relaxer, or seeing if there is some kind of PT I could do. The thing I keep going back to is that I think it started with the colonoscopy, got worse with the chiropracter and now I am sort of in a holding pattern. I want to feel good again!! Thanks so much. ------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi - I am 55 years old, 5'3'' about 123 lbs. - go to Curves regularly (repetitive?) and like to walk- have had pain near my right hip bone - have had a colonoscopy and that is when the pain started - not bad, but bothersome. Dr. said he has heard of similar pain after procedure. Had a CT scan of abdomen - everything ok. Went to a chiropractor who thinks it is psoas, but have been in WORSE pain since then, and it moved more to my left side - feels like a vise grip around my hips with a big nail or two driving in. Heat, massage and walking seem to help - and so does Flexeril and Ibuprofen. Ok in morning when I first get up - then gets worse - then by the end of the day is better after the heat, walk, massage of lower back and hips. Seems as though the "adjustment" didn't move anything - I didn't hear/feel the popping - felt like it was forcing my bones and made it worse. What do you think? Have a plain old massage appointment today. Thanks so much.
Mary
Answer -
Hi Mary,
I apologize for the delay, I have a "challenge" with my email program.
The first thing I suggest is that you have your massage therapist work on the quadriceps muscles of your thigh. Too long an explanation for this venue, but basically when the iliopsoas contracts (your chiro was probably right about this) it causes the quads to shorten. If you push the bones back into place (that have been pulled out by the tight iliopsoas) without first releasing the muscle and the quad muscles, the muscle may tear. Not a life threatening thing, but definitely painful.
If your therapist releases the tight quads first, and then works on the iliopsoas (hopefully she knows how to do trigger point therapy) and then the quadratus lumborum (back muscle, just tell her and she'll find it), you should get some movement in the pelvic region.
Please go onto my website: www.julstro.com and read the section titled "Muscles and Pain" and then "What's Happening Exactly." This will explain a lot. I don't think that Curves is a problem, I do think that the procedure caused the iliopsoas to go into a spasm and is pulling out your lumbar vertebrae. The tight quads will put a great deal of strain on the front of the pelvic bone.
If you can treat yourself, take a look at my book "The Pain-Free Triathlete," it teaches you how to find and self-treat muscles. You can also go onto my forum and read previous postings about the hip and low back, you may find your treatment there. Meanwhile, I think you're on the right track with the massage therapist. The only problem is that you can't go every day, which is why you would benefit by learning how to treat yourself.
Wishing you well,
Julie
Answer Hi,
Did you get "The Pain-Free Triathlete?" If you did, there is a point that is immediately under the tip of your pelvis, and a bit toward your hip, which is the tensor fascia lata muscle. There is a picture in the book that shows how to treat that muscle with your elbow. I think that would help you. Also, you can treat it by lying on your side and putting a tennis ball at the area that is between your hip bone and the top of your thigh bone. This area causes a great deal of hip pain.
Also, after treating your quadriceps you can do the iliopsoas stretch that is taught on pg 142 (if you are flexible enough) or do the one that is taught on my website (www.julstro.com) and is shown in the section titled "Muscles and Pain."
It's sometimes a frustration when I know what needs to be done and people are too far away for me to work with them. That's why I wrote the books, to show people how to treat themselves, and fortunately it works the majority of the time.
For some reason the messages from this website don't get to me properly, so it may be helpful if you use the forum on my website. I don't check it every day but I try to check it 2-3 times a week.
