Lymphatic Drainage Massage

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#1 Post by **zou** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:14 pm

Okay, here's my report on the lymphatic Drainage massage (LDM).

When there yesterday directely from the OS who confirmed that we are a go for unwiring and unsplinting next Friday. He'll try to remove the wire in the right jaw, but it he has to do too much tugging he'll leave it for a few more months just so that the bone is really healed (my ortho will just work around it).

Anyway, as most of you know I have had persistant swelling on the right side where that second procedure was done. I have been very lopsided and have experienced a lot of pain and muscle spasms as well.

Anyway, this is the most gentle massage I've ever experienced. They use VERY light pressure to encourage drainage of waste products and fluids through the lymphatic system. Wether it works or not I cannot say yet (although I think the swelling seems less lopsided today). However, the neat thing what that as she was doing this massage certain parts of my face seemed to come back to life. At first I could not feel a spot on my chin (pressure only) but by the time it was over I had a lot of tingling in that area and today I have the feeling back. It was amazing.

Also, as she was working on the right side of my face a few times I felt this sensation under the skin that sort of self like water dripping down my face. I cannot help but think that was the movement of some fluids.

When it was over I was increadibly relaxed and the muscle in my right cheek had relaxed and the 3 day headache in the right temple was almost gone. I had not told the girl any specifics about why I was there except to help with post-op healing and she offered that she had felt movement of fluids in the right side. So, either it was real or she was just good a guessing.

Either way, whether it really helped with the swelling or just the stress I liked it and I made an appointment for next Saturday, the day after the unwiring. I'm looking forward to see family on Sunday to see what they think of the swelling.

So, the conclusion is, it did not hurt, it was amazingly relaxing, it seemed to improve or awaken some nerves and it might have even helped the swelling. I also had a great night's sleep and didn't awaken once with muscle spasms. So, if you can find someone in your area that does this and you have a few extra bucks I'd recommend it if for no other reason than you're probably a little tense and stressed and could use some pampering.

Also, while I was searching the internet for someone who performed this therapy I found a bunch of them at a local pain clinic in a nearby hospital. The fact it is being used in a hospital setting made me think there might be something to this.

#2 Post by **Andantae** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:21 pm

Thank you so much for the report, Zou. Very, very interesting. After hearing this, I'm definitely going to try to find someone locally who does this. If nothing else, it would be nice to relax some of the tension from the trauma of surgery, but it sounds like you experienced even more benefit. The 'water dripping down your face' sensation you experienced is quite fastinating. Yes, I am going to look into it-----thank you!

Everyone is different of course, but how long would you wait after surgery before having this done?

I'm so glad the OS is going to try to remove that wire in the right jaw---I'll cross my fingers for you that it comes out easily.

Are you sleeping prone yet?

#3 Post by **zou** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:28 pm

Given how gentle this experience was I think I could have done it by week three. I have to say I was pretty skeptical going into it and decided it would be a nice relaxing experience if nothing else and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, just this afternoon a paralegal in my office who had no idea that I had this done commenting that the swelling seems to be going down.

Funny you should ask about sleeping prone. No, I have not slept prone since mid November (I started pre surgery so that I could get used to it and figure out how best to do it and what pillows worked etc.). Yesterday for the massage was the first time I've been prone since then and it was very odd. All the blood rushed to my head at first and I was very dizzy.

I am fortunate enough to have inheritated an adjustable bed years ago so sleeping upright is not so difficult. I may never return to a completely prone position since I am experiencing better breathing (could also be attributed to the nasal surgery) and have fewer neck and back aches upon waking.

Hope you find someone in your area and get the LDM soon. It was a unique and relaxing experience. I have put my poor body through so much in the past month and this felt like I was finally putting some positive energy back into it.

#4 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:16 pm

Glad it worked for you!

I would also add that there is benefit to starting MLD even before you have surgery. I went once before, and then I went back four days after surgery, and a few more times after that.

#5 Post by **Andantae** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:57 pm

Well, Zou, I just discovered that a nice spa which I have been to a few times offers LDM, so I am set---thanks again, I would never have thought of it.

Ohmyjaw- excellent idea to do it once beforehand. In addition to getting the juices flowing in advance, I can better determine when I'll feel ready to go in after surgery. Did you experience similar benefits as Zou?

I'm not due for surgery until May/June, but those glands near my eustachian tubes can swell terribly sometimes so I appreciate hearing about his.

Your bed sounds divine, zou. No kidding. I slept in one once and could adjust under my legs and raise the back----it was heaven. Clever of you to start practicing sleeping supine ahead of time. I am a confirmed 'fetus-position' sleeper, so I know it's going to be a challenge getting enough Z's!!!

#6 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:38 pm

It's also nice to meet the therapist beforehand, and talk about the surgery you're having, so they are somewhat informed. My therapist had never worked with a jaw surgery patient before, so she was curious about the whole thing.

I had very good results. I came out of the appointments looking better than I did when I went in. And yes it was very soothing and made me feel a bit more energized.

#7 Post by **zou** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:57 am

I know what you mean about the eustation tubes. Ever since my second procedure when the swellig really increased on the right side I have had ongoing boughts of dizzinss. The OS says this is normal and it will just take time to resolve. But int he mean time I have moments of needing to grab ahold of a wall or furniture.

I had no choice but to practice sleeping supine since when I first started this process I was a stomach sleeper. So first I had to learn to sleep on my side and then I gratuated to sleeping on my back supine. It was not an easy transistion to make, but I'm really glad that I made sure to retain myself pre-op since is not something I would have wanted to deal with post-op on top of everything else.

Can't wait to hear how your experience goes. I'm already looking foward to my second session.

#8 Post by **Andantae** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:41 pm

OMG! Did I really spell, 'eustation' as eustachian

? Yikes! I even remember looking at it and thinking, "Yep. That's right."

.....

#9 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:02 pm

Well, according to wikipedia it is "eustachian" , but so far as I know we are not being graded for spelling here on archwired!

(Although I do like your farting brain. That's pretty unique!)