As a survivor of a crash, I am excited to share with you how I discovered massage cupping therapy and how much I have benefited from it. From time to time, if I move my right ankle a certain way, or I accidentally bump my achilles tendon which I recently did, my foot is instantly in terrible pain and I need to seek treatment right away. It is a hidden injury as my foot was on the brake pedal at the time of my crash and I find the only thing that will release the pain is reflexology. Reflexology involves applying pressure to the feet and by applying pressure to specific areas of my foot by a registered reflexologist, I can almost instantly feel relief.
As I was frantically searching for someone that offered reflexology in the area, I came across a spa that not only offered reflexology, they also offered massage cupping therapy. Once I had my reflexology appointment and the pain had been lifted, I started inquiring about massage cupping as I was always interested but had never found a place that offered this type of treatment. I splurged and booked an appointment for later that week and I am so happy that I did. It was one of the best decisions I have made for my recovery.
I Suffer Everyday With Nerve Pain
I suffer with daily nerve pain caused by my crash. Some days minor but some days it can be downright excruciating especially when there is a drastic change in the weather. The crash impact left me with terrible nerve pain from my knees all the way up to my thighs. When I think back to when I first became mobile and attended my first massage treatment, all the therapist could do at that time was lightly squeeze the damaged areas to not only get the blood flowing properly but to also massage the scar tissue that had already started to form on the top of each of my thighs. What started out as weekly massage treatments slowly turned into bi-weekly deep tissue massage treatments. These deep tissue massages were not always pleasant but it was a necessity. When I came across cupping massage therapy, I was very curious and at the same time, a little nervous.
Upon arrival I was greeted warmly by the receptionist and then whisked away to a lovely sitting room where I was offered a hot neck wrap and a refreshing glass of lemon & cucumber water. As I continued to enjoy my hot neck wrap, the massage therapist quietly appeared and introduced herself as Lynn. As I explained my injuries to her, she listened patiently and explained to me what was involved with massage cupping therapy. As she guided me into her treatment room and told me she would be back in a few minutes, I couldn’t help but notice all of her certificates on the wall. She was certified in Myofascial Release, Trigger-Point Therapy, Cupping, Reiki Crystal Healing, Acupressure, and Manual Lymph Drainage(MLD). Did I just hit the jackpot?
Lavender Oil Relaxes Me
As I laid face down waiting for her to come back, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was in fact the type of treatment that I was so desperately in need of. When she returned, she asked me what type of oil I would like to use and I happily chose “lavender” as this oil seems to help me relax the most. As she started to massage the oil into my calves, she gently placed the cups on my trouble areas. As she placed them onto my skin, I could hear a suction noise which meant it was grabbing my skin in that area and rising it to the top so my blood vessels could expand. She advised me that, if at any time, I felt uncomfortable or the cup pinched my skin for too long of a time, I was to alert her right away and she would either release the pressure or possibly move the massage cup to another area.
I believe that first visit, I only had to tell her twice. My legs are an awful mess and of course some areas are worse than others where I cannot tolerate the pain. Once she placed the cups in certain areas on one part of my leg, she would leave them and start to focus on massaging my other leg. Although uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes when she first placed the cups, I could definitely feel some tingling sensations.
My Treatment Had Ended And I Felt Like I Was There All Afternoon
She continued to focus on all my trouble areas and even started to work on my back and shoulders with the cups. When she asked me to roll over so she could work on the front of my body, I believe I was so relaxed that I may have dosed off. As she started to work on my shoulders, neck and arms, she then worked her way to the front of my legs. Again, same procedure with the cups but different trigger points. By the time my hour was up, I literally felt like I had been there all afternoon. My nerve pain was gone and my legs literally felt like jelly. I thought to myself..“why had I not done this sooner and why hadn’t any treatment providers recommended cupping massage therapy?” Lynn was not only certified but she also had so much experience and knew the body when it came to trigger points and myofascial injuries. As I literally floated out of the spa that day, I was astonished how I felt the effects within one cupping massage treatment. I would soon find out that Lynn had taken most of my leg pain away for close to two weeks and I was downright thrilled.
I decided to extend my time for my next treatment and asked her to add some Lymph Drainage Treatment as I was fascinated to find out that this was another much needed treatment for me. The scar tissue caused by my crash was blocked and that tissue needed to flow properly. Lynn mentioned that I should not be wearing anything tight around my scar tissue as it could be creating a blockage. Makes sense right? Well unfortunately I was not aware of this but better late than never. Again, I find myself wondering why a treatment provider had not mentioned this?
Keeping Quiet
Did I mention how important it is to relax while you attend any type of massage treatment? After your crash you may be attending weekly treatments and it’s only natural that you may start to build a relationship with your therapist and want to catch up on the latest news but too much chit chat especially with regards to negative or stressful situations can alter your treatment. You booked an appointment to treat injuries and you need to be as relaxed as possible so don’t feel bad if you tell your therapist that you would prefer to remain silent throughout your treatment. After all, you are paying for this treatment whether privately or through your rehabilitation benefits. Lynn is a great reminder of this. While in the waiting room enjoying my hot neck wrap and sipping a refreshing drink, she greets me to go over any concerns that I may have before we even step into her room. That way, I can focus on relaxing during my treatment without having to chat.
Although every crash and recovery is unique to each survivor and you may or may not be covered by rehabilitation benefits, I would recommend that if you find a treatment that supports your recovery, try your best to continue with it. Don’t be afraid to ask your family members and/or friends to purchase you a gift card for treatment when they ask you what you want for a special occasion especially if you are struggling financially. After numerous years, I have finally found a treatment that really works for me and I am going to try my best to continue even if that means asking for gift cards from family and friends. Always remember that if you are seeking any type of treatment, don’t be afraid to ask therapists if they are certified if you do not see any certificates on their wall.
After attending so many different treatments for years after my crash, walking into this spa for one treatment and finding another treatment was a blessing in disguise. After meeting Lynn and attending massage cupping therapy, I can only hope that she realizes how much she continues to help me with my recovery. Hands down, the best girl for the job!
S. Dawne McKay is a survivor of a horrific crash that changed her life forever. Dawne shares her personal journey as a Crash Survivor Blogger and also collaborates with crash survivors as Guest Bloggers allowing them an opportunity to share their stories. Dawne is also the author of the book, “Talk Crash to Me – What to Expect After Surviving a Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery” which is available for purchase on Amazon.
