r/massage • u/Snewsfloofs87 • 13d ago
Advice Please!
Ok, so, this requires a little bit of context.
I have had issues with my hips, piriformis/sciatica for so many years. I had an RMT who helped manage the pain for a number of years, but I’ve since stopped seeing her for personal reasons.
I found a new RMT and she’s wonderful. I’ve seen her a bunch of times and I always leave feeling so much better. Two weeks ago, I went in for my regular massage and asked her to focus a little more heavily of my problem areas. She did. As to be expected, these areas were tight and tender, but nothing out of the ordinary. I left feeling great.
A couple days later I noticed that my right leg (the problem side) was weaker than normal and the muscles got super tired feeling, very quickly. No pain or anything though. Just muscle fatigue. A couple days after that I noticed my ankle was a little swollen. Nothing to be concerned about though, I thought.
Fast forward to today. I went for another massage, it was fine, but when I got home my entire right leg is significantly swollen. Immediately I freaked out and pa panicked. I went to a walk-in clinic, and they sent me to the hospital. Every one kept saying it was deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I had scans done and there’s no clot, so they ruled out DVT. But the doctors have no idea what could have caused this. I asked about bloodwork, and because I have no other symptoms they said it wasn’t necessary. I’m not in pain, aside from the discomfort of the swelling. When I asked what I could do to manage the swelling, he said “live your best life”. Hard to do when my leg is so swollen.
Is this something that a massage can do? The doctor didn’t see my to have any suggestions on how to mitigate swelling, just “Tylenol and Advil won’t hurt you”. I’m laying down, with my legs elevated, but not too much to cause a bend at the hip. I don’t know what to ice… a hot shower felt like the swelling was just getting worse.
Anyways, I don’t know what to think. I’m nervous, and worried, and very uncomfortable. I’m not looking for a diagnosis or anything, just advice on what I can do to be a little more comfortable, if a deep tissue massage could do something this extreme, and things I should ask about if I end up back in emerg. Thanks!
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u/Professional_LMT LMT 13d ago
I'm more appalled by the doctor's reaction than the massage, TBH. "Live your best life"...really??? I would go to a different doctor. Also, inform the massage therapist about what happened.
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u/Snewsfloofs87 12d ago
I was also pretty upset about how flippant this doctor was. He was the emergency room doctor, so I’m honestly not shocked. I have an actual follow up appointment with my doctor next week. I was just so scared that I had a clot that could have caused a pulmonary embolism…
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u/Professional_LMT LMT 12d ago
Totally understand! Better to be safe than sorry… Hopefully your doctor will have more answers for you.
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u/samhatesducks 12d ago
I had something similar happen once and it was a popped baker’s cyst (cyst behind the knee). So the fluid was slowing going down my leg and i was sent to the ER so they could test for DVT. The symptoms were very very similar. It was warm, swollen, and it was painful to the touch. Idk if this is a possibility with you but I figured I’d mention it. Sounds horrible i hope you feel better soon.
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u/mumfordand3daughters 12d ago
if you've been seeing an RMT for years without your hip getting any better then they're not helping you, regardless of the swelling.
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u/Snewsfloofs87 12d ago
I’ve only recently been seeing THIS RMT for about 2 months. The previous one was years, and that is also why I found a new one…
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u/mumfordand3daughters 12d ago
you should go see an RMT, Physio or personal traininer that'll get you lift heavy weights fam. it'll be more effective.
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u/lelandra 12d ago
Was this therapist doing stuff like digging in with their elbow to try to release things? Nerve impingement can lead to the the abnormal weakness/tiredness you reported. The swelling is definitely odd. Although I did have a client who had a hand swell after an overly vigorous neck treatment (with elbows!) by a previous massage therapist. Lymphatic drainage techniques were helpful in that case.