Hello everyone.
At my day hospital I speak with more than one doctor, and I asked three of them if massages and hydro massages could be in any way dangerous for a person with multiple myeloma, stirring things up, so to speak.
My main doctor said no, absolutely. A lady doctor that I always trusted, candidly said that she did not know.
The third one recommended that I avoid them. In the Spring of 2015 I attended a pool with a strong hydro massage which of course felt great. A few months later I relapsed. Was it a coincidence?
Does anyone know if massages are safe if you have multiple myeloma?
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Annamaria - Name: Annamaria
- Who do you know with myeloma?: I am a patient
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
Annamaria,
I have never heard of massages being an issue. Because I am a cyclist, I periodically have had deep muscle massages to help keep my muscles form knotting up and cramping. I use a roller and do self massages on my legs regularly.
I seriously doubt that your relapse is any way related to massages. Would be interested in why someone would have recommended you avoid them. The only possible explanation is if you had serious lytic lesions where a massage could cause a bone to break.
I have never heard of massages being an issue. Because I am a cyclist, I periodically have had deep muscle massages to help keep my muscles form knotting up and cramping. I use a roller and do self massages on my legs regularly.
I seriously doubt that your relapse is any way related to massages. Would be interested in why someone would have recommended you avoid them. The only possible explanation is if you had serious lytic lesions where a massage could cause a bone to break.
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your answer. By the lack of responses I conclude that this issue is not discussed on your side of the pond. I do have lytic lesions in many locations, but they are not serious. I can only imagine that the fear of some doctors is that by moving things around, the bad cells can be stimulated. But maybe it is what my husband, who sometimes teases me, calls “Italian superstition”. The next time I see that doctor I will ask for an explanation. Here doctors are always in a hurry and have so many patients that the verbal exchange is kept at a minimum, unless there are decisions to take .
Dental implants are intrusive too, and I was told it is better to avoid them. There is a difference between a massage and a drill in your bone, however. I will try to learn more.
Thank you for your answer. By the lack of responses I conclude that this issue is not discussed on your side of the pond. I do have lytic lesions in many locations, but they are not serious. I can only imagine that the fear of some doctors is that by moving things around, the bad cells can be stimulated. But maybe it is what my husband, who sometimes teases me, calls “Italian superstition”. The next time I see that doctor I will ask for an explanation. Here doctors are always in a hurry and have so many patients that the verbal exchange is kept at a minimum, unless there are decisions to take .
Dental implants are intrusive too, and I was told it is better to avoid them. There is a difference between a massage and a drill in your bone, however. I will try to learn more.
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Annamaria - Name: Annamaria
- Who do you know with myeloma?: I am a patient
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
Hi Annamaria,
I have read here in Canada that therapeutic massage can be relaxing and a complementary therapy. One should tell the massage therapist that you have myeloma and that it is important not to damage the bones, especially if they have been already injured. Many of us do have osteopenia! I like to do stretching type exercises to help the muscles relax!
I have read here in Canada that therapeutic massage can be relaxing and a complementary therapy. One should tell the massage therapist that you have myeloma and that it is important not to damage the bones, especially if they have been already injured. Many of us do have osteopenia! I like to do stretching type exercises to help the muscles relax!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
Annamaria,
Dental implants are entirely different. Many of us are on some form of bisphosphonate such as Aredia (pamidronate) or Zometa (zoledronic acid). Those drugs have been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Implants would create a much higher risk of osteonecrosis. Also implants are invasive and create a much higher risk of infection.
Dental implants are entirely different. Many of us are on some form of bisphosphonate such as Aredia (pamidronate) or Zometa (zoledronic acid). Those drugs have been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Implants would create a much higher risk of osteonecrosis. Also implants are invasive and create a much higher risk of infection.
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
I am very happy to see this topic show up. I can tell you from personal experience that massage for me was and is a lifesaver. If I were a patient and was told to avoid massage by a doctor, I would seek another doctor. I have been a lifelong advocate for massage even before I was diagnosed with myeloma two years ago to the day on this Christmas eve. I have not written a post in a while but I have mentioned the therapeutic value of massage in another post. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with multiple myeloma after suffering a 90% compression fracture of my L/3/L4.
On December 24, 2015, I had extensive back surgery with kyphoplasty and my fusion. Within a week from surgery, the person that had massaged me for some time started to work on me again. She worked on my feet, legs, and arms with gentle massage. Within two weeks, I was able to walk a mile with my brace. She has worked on me now for two years since i was diagnosed, and I can state that without the massage I would not be as active as I am today. Just this week, I was able to walk over 7 miles a day during a trip to New York City.
I would recommend a massage therapist that is a medical massage specialist and understands both bone issues and cancer treatment. I used to receive Rolfing too and that was stopped after diagnosis because Rolfing moves the fascia, which can cause issues in places of weak bones or lytic lesions. However, massage is not moving the facia nor is it moving the bones. No massage therapist will massage on the sternum, or directly on the ribs, or even directly on vertebrae. Massage on the muscles releases the muscle to move as it should.
I would have massage the day before and the day after my infusions while I was receiving my Velcade, Revlimid, and dexamethasone and also now with my Kyprolis treatment. After a treatment infusion, the purpose of the massage is to flush the body of the chemicals, which helps our overall body to rebound from the treatment. Most insurances will pay for acupressure / acupuncture when directed by the hematologist.
One of the best examples of the medical professions growing acceptance of massage is the fact that during my stem cell transplant at the University of Miami during May 2016, one of the rewards of walking was to receive a daily massage from a licensed therapist that helped the transplant patients.
The massages during the transplant were for the purpose of flushing my body and also to loosen up my muscles that had just been whacked by the melphalan and other parts of the stem cell transplant. Since the transplant, I have continued to receive massage, and my therapist knows when to go deep and when to just provide gentle massage to relax.
In my opinion, a number of medical professionals, including in the cancer area, will not believe in anything unless its a chemical being injected into a myeloma patient; the well informed specialist understands that massage provided correctly by a licensed therapist can provide a very high benefit to myeloma and other cancer patients to help with bone pain, nausea, and our overall well being.
My motto is that we have to "Just Keep Swimming," which means making sure that we take charge of our care and be active. One of the best ways for us as patients to help ourselves in my belief is through massage by properly trained massage therapists. I am not a doctor and all the above is from what I have experienced through my myeloma journey and what others I know who are going our same journey are experiencing with the help of message and acupressure.
On December 24, 2015, I had extensive back surgery with kyphoplasty and my fusion. Within a week from surgery, the person that had massaged me for some time started to work on me again. She worked on my feet, legs, and arms with gentle massage. Within two weeks, I was able to walk a mile with my brace. She has worked on me now for two years since i was diagnosed, and I can state that without the massage I would not be as active as I am today. Just this week, I was able to walk over 7 miles a day during a trip to New York City.
I would recommend a massage therapist that is a medical massage specialist and understands both bone issues and cancer treatment. I used to receive Rolfing too and that was stopped after diagnosis because Rolfing moves the fascia, which can cause issues in places of weak bones or lytic lesions. However, massage is not moving the facia nor is it moving the bones. No massage therapist will massage on the sternum, or directly on the ribs, or even directly on vertebrae. Massage on the muscles releases the muscle to move as it should.
I would have massage the day before and the day after my infusions while I was receiving my Velcade, Revlimid, and dexamethasone and also now with my Kyprolis treatment. After a treatment infusion, the purpose of the massage is to flush the body of the chemicals, which helps our overall body to rebound from the treatment. Most insurances will pay for acupressure / acupuncture when directed by the hematologist.
One of the best examples of the medical professions growing acceptance of massage is the fact that during my stem cell transplant at the University of Miami during May 2016, one of the rewards of walking was to receive a daily massage from a licensed therapist that helped the transplant patients.
The massages during the transplant were for the purpose of flushing my body and also to loosen up my muscles that had just been whacked by the melphalan and other parts of the stem cell transplant. Since the transplant, I have continued to receive massage, and my therapist knows when to go deep and when to just provide gentle massage to relax.
In my opinion, a number of medical professionals, including in the cancer area, will not believe in anything unless its a chemical being injected into a myeloma patient; the well informed specialist understands that massage provided correctly by a licensed therapist can provide a very high benefit to myeloma and other cancer patients to help with bone pain, nausea, and our overall well being.
My motto is that we have to "Just Keep Swimming," which means making sure that we take charge of our care and be active. One of the best ways for us as patients to help ourselves in my belief is through massage by properly trained massage therapists. I am not a doctor and all the above is from what I have experienced through my myeloma journey and what others I know who are going our same journey are experiencing with the help of message and acupressure.
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Aclinkboca - Name: AC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
Hi Annamaria,
I don't think being in a pool once for a hydro massage would cause a relapse!
Doctors are always conservative as they worry about causing any unexpected injury to our bones.
My mom was always advised to do light physiotherapy, her doctor says it makes the bones stronger (she is a wheelchair bound) due to pathological fracture in her left femur upon discovery of her myeloma.
Regards,
I don't think being in a pool once for a hydro massage would cause a relapse!
Doctors are always conservative as they worry about causing any unexpected injury to our bones.
My mom was always advised to do light physiotherapy, her doctor says it makes the bones stronger (she is a wheelchair bound) due to pathological fracture in her left femur upon discovery of her myeloma.
Regards,
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KMZ - Who do you know with myeloma?: Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 76
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
I agree with KMZ. I can’t see anything in hydro massage which would cause relapse. I could see a problem with someone with myeloma having an adjustment by a chiropractor due the risk of breaking bones.
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Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Are massages safe if you have multiple myeloma?
Hi there.
Your contributions to the discussion, and one more talk with a different doctor, helped me understand the issue better, and feel more reassured. The thing is, I had a vague sense of guilt for relapsing after using a strong hydro massage for months. But both you and the doctor made it clear that some other doctor’s fear about massages concerned the danger of breaking fragile bones, not stirring up cancerous cells.
Anyway, as I was leaving the office of the hematologist I was talking to, I said “So I can happily use the hydro massage?” And she answered “Uuh, that’s pretty strong stuff!” But I did not pursue the matter, because she was in a hurry (as always!).
Your contributions to the discussion, and one more talk with a different doctor, helped me understand the issue better, and feel more reassured. The thing is, I had a vague sense of guilt for relapsing after using a strong hydro massage for months. But both you and the doctor made it clear that some other doctor’s fear about massages concerned the danger of breaking fragile bones, not stirring up cancerous cells.
Anyway, as I was leaving the office of the hematologist I was talking to, I said “So I can happily use the hydro massage?” And she answered “Uuh, that’s pretty strong stuff!” But I did not pursue the matter, because she was in a hurry (as always!).
-
Annamaria - Name: Annamaria
- Who do you know with myeloma?: I am a patient
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
9 posts
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