As a masseuse, would you give a massage to someone who had open sores on his bod!
Question: As a masseuse, would you give a massage to someone who had open sores on his body!?
Yes, this is a serious question, because many people have open sores on their body, and I suppose many of them would like a massage just like anyone else!. I have always wondered what masseuses do when they encounter a deformed or stigmatized body!. Would they want to massage such a body, even a body with open sores!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I definitely have some thoughts about this: 1) A "deformed" body is in no way a problem for me!. Our "deformed" is their normal, and as a massage therapist I consider it our job to work with everyone we possibly can, as extensively as we possibly can!. I've massaged amputees and folks with congenital abnormalities before without batting an eyelash!. My own 12 1/2 year old daughter is a meningococcemia survivor w/ a 75% amputation to her left foot, which is in total equinus!. Her foot looks like a bound foot, which some would consider ugly, but which I consider to be beautiful b/c it is hers and b/c I know the story behind it!. I look at it as a badge of courage and of honor b/c she fought for her life, and won!. 2) Like anyone else, I have no desire to become ill!. I already deal w/ enough illness w/ a genetic blood clotting disorder, diabetes and dysmenorrhea, and enough stress to bring an elephant to its knees on a daily basis!. That being said, I've massaged AIDS patients w/ Kaposi's Sarcoma, folks w/ cellulitis and open, draining wounds, a woman w/ tuberous sclerosis (not an easy person to look at or to be with but it is essential to remember that what I/we see on the surface is in no way a measure of what is in this person's interior depths and soul!. Sometimes people w/ diseases need love and care more than anyone else!. They are quite literally starved for loving touch and kindness, specifically b/c it is so very rare and missing from their lives!.) I feel I tacitly agreed to provide this service when I became a massage therapist, and that it is not ethical, nor is it within the realm of possibility for me to refuse to treat someone with a disease if I can possibly and safely help them!. All that being said, A) I've never met someone w/ leprosy before, and so have not been in a position to decide to or to refuse to take that on!. B) I additionally have concerns about MRSA, for example, as I know of someone who is currently dying from this disease!. Part of me says, "What better and more important time to provide bodywork for someone than when they're dying!?", and then another part says, "Keep me as far away as possible from this virulent disease for as long as absolutely possible!." For me, Ebola and other hemorrhagic febrile diseases would be out of the question (Duh!. It probably wouldn't be allowed anyway, but someone has to provide nursing/medical care to these folks and I'm studying to become a nurse, so it's not like the question wouldn't come up ever!.) MRSA and other strep/staph infections are a serious area of concern, leprosy I think I would do, but w/ sterile gloves on and only after learning more about the disease!. Most people w/ boils are too uncomfortable to be massaged anyway!. (Boils are extremely painful until either they're lanced or they resolve!.) An open cut or sore doesn't bother me if it's not exceedingly large!. Most people who are in as serious a condition as you're hypothesizing are simply too ill or too much in pain to want to be touched to the level of a massage!. Our code of medical ethics also strongly cautions against massage of patients/clients w/ open wounds, as massage could actually make some of these conditions worse and/or could spread them!. On the other hand, I have a spiritual teacher who routinely washes, changes the bandages of and kisses the wounds of lepers!. I seek to follow as deeply and as often as I can in her footsteps!. I would also have to take it on a case by case day by day basis!. These are all good questions to ask!. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to consider all these issues!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I started my massage course last year and we were basically told that you shold not touch them at all!. the sores that is!. you can massage around it if your careful, you don't know what people may have!. Were also supposed to cover any sore or cuts on our hands!.
I don't have a problem with 'deformed' bodies!. my brother has a disability and I know massage can bring greater relief to these people more than any one else!. Looking different doesn't make the pain people feel different!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I don't have a problem with 'deformed' bodies!. my brother has a disability and I know massage can bring greater relief to these people more than any one else!. Looking different doesn't make the pain people feel different!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I depends on why they have the sores!. If it is systemic and/or an infection an MD clearance would be best!. If its ok to massage than avoid the sore!. Same with a "deformed body"!. As long as the intake is ok , go for it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It's best to lick the sores for themWww@Answer-Health@Com
As you know, we are taught to not touch someone that has open sores or rashes of any kind!. however, these people are the ones that need the human touch most of all!!! As a massage therapist, you know exactly how healing massage can be to the whole body!.
Even though I have a "spa-type" massage practice, I seem to have seriously ill patients!. One of the worst patients I have has a crusty, red rash all over her torso!. She is a cancer survivor!. She is not contagious!. Her liver is in toxic-over load so the rash has spread from inside her body to her skin!. In three months of massage, every two weeks, we have seen the rash slowly disappear!. She is obese, too, so there is still crusty stuff in the creases, but again that is slowly disappearing!. We had a talk before I first massaged her and I asked her how much into healing she wanted to be, how much she was willing to do to get herself better!. So far, she has followed most of my advice, including changing her diet to more fresh fruits, body brushing to stimulate the lymphatic system inbetween massages, walking!. She now has more energy and is happier with her own skin again!. We are still on the healing process as it takes time to heal from chemo, but she is on the right track!.
I also have another patient who has been going to wound therapy for two years, again, another cancer survivor!. He has been getting massages through the outpatient clinic on a regular basis, but no one has ever massaged his foot, below the wound!!! Now, tell me how this wound is going to heal if you just ignore it! He rescheduled and tipped me quite well!
I have another cancer survivor as a patient!. She has had the SCM removed on the left side!. I obviously can't relax the rest of the muscles due to her condition, but for her, human touch is extremely important as she has no husband or children!.
Deformities or not, illnesses or not, massage is not just for the healthy body to maintain health!. It is also for healing, and that is how I look at my practice!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Even though I have a "spa-type" massage practice, I seem to have seriously ill patients!. One of the worst patients I have has a crusty, red rash all over her torso!. She is a cancer survivor!. She is not contagious!. Her liver is in toxic-over load so the rash has spread from inside her body to her skin!. In three months of massage, every two weeks, we have seen the rash slowly disappear!. She is obese, too, so there is still crusty stuff in the creases, but again that is slowly disappearing!. We had a talk before I first massaged her and I asked her how much into healing she wanted to be, how much she was willing to do to get herself better!. So far, she has followed most of my advice, including changing her diet to more fresh fruits, body brushing to stimulate the lymphatic system inbetween massages, walking!. She now has more energy and is happier with her own skin again!. We are still on the healing process as it takes time to heal from chemo, but she is on the right track!.
I also have another patient who has been going to wound therapy for two years, again, another cancer survivor!. He has been getting massages through the outpatient clinic on a regular basis, but no one has ever massaged his foot, below the wound!!! Now, tell me how this wound is going to heal if you just ignore it! He rescheduled and tipped me quite well!
I have another cancer survivor as a patient!. She has had the SCM removed on the left side!. I obviously can't relax the rest of the muscles due to her condition, but for her, human touch is extremely important as she has no husband or children!.
Deformities or not, illnesses or not, massage is not just for the healthy body to maintain health!. It is also for healing, and that is how I look at my practice!. Www@Answer-Health@Com