I had my first therapeutic massage yesterday.

[no_hypocrisy]

I have a painful fallen arch and have been semi-hobbling since December.

I have insoles and they help, but I needed more.

My friend is a massage therapist and I figured why not. I initiated contact, not her.

I got an entire body massage, not just the foot. And it makes sense as the muscles are all connected. To my surprise, there was pain in the hip of the same leg where the foot hurt.

Aesthetically, the sheets were soft and the table was warmed. I sighed as I lay down.

The massage was for 60 minutes.

I couldn't wait to take my B/P afterwards. Before I left, it was 159/91. When I took it again after the therapy, it was 131/81. I didn't realize how much stress I had been taking on.

And yes, to my amazement, no pain when I walked to the car. (It's returned today, but somewhat diminished.)

While I don't have the money for even monthly visits, I plan to save up to return for more therapy.

[multigraincracker]

1. Try an old Coke bottle.

The old ribbed ones and roll it back and forth under your foot. I’ve been doing that for years.
I also love to get a massage. Try this in between them.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Thanks, I think I can find one.

[Alpeduez21]

8. a lacrosse ball could work as well

might be easier to find. I use tennis balls but they are squishy and not as effective.

[yellowdogintexas]

14. a good solid rolling pin will also work very well.

I have a cheap wooden one and when I get one of those awful cramps in the arch, I put my weight on it and roll it under my foot.

[SheltieLover]

20. Or a golf ball or small tennis ball

[nilram]

23. I'm a fan of a frozen water bottle.

A 16 ounce Crystal Geyser brand works great because the parallel ribbing makes it freeze more roundly. The size is good for massaging my arch, and the ice reduces pain and inflammation. Freeze upright, with the cap on loosely, 80–90% full. Of course once it’s frozen, you can tighten the cap and leave it in the freezer any old which way.

Stretching your calf and Achilles tendon is also reported to work well. Now that I’m thinking about it I think I’ll try using a foam roller on my calf and see if that helps. I’m also a fan of using a golf ball on my arch.

[Tetrachloride]

3. Tangerines daily to reduce uric acid.

cut down on red meat and salt

these diet changes may help your foot

[Walleye]

5. I feel better when I eat tangerines every day, never knew exactly why

[JustAnotherGen]

4. My Rheumatologist

Suggested myofascial massage in December. Yesterday I had my second one with cupping.

I'm hooked. Go when you can. I have AS - and the true massage therapist gives me my movement back.

[Phoenix61]

6. There's nothing like a great massage.

You don’t realize how much tension you carry in your body until it’s gone. If I was rich, I’d have one every week at my home.

[2naSalit]

19. "If I was rich, I'd have one every week at my home."

Hell yeah! I have a buddy who works on rich people for his pay but does charity cases like me because we're pals and I need to have some kind of therapy every so often. He made me, seriously, because I was so skeptical, let him do cupping on me. He grabbed my arm and worked on it, I had pain in my hand, and it convinced me to get on the table and let him do a real cupping session. It was painful, there was a lot of swearing and such, but so worth it. All my therapy goes like that, it's good that a sense of humor is included here, it took four sessions to do a full body treatment because I was in such bad shape at the time, had been homeless just prior to that and hadn't had good healthcare during that year so my friend doing the therapy on me was a blessing of untold magnitude. Wish I could have one even every month!

[JudyM]

24. I read some years back that Nicholson had that longstanding luxury.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. What a great OP

Ideas that might fit this or that. I talked with an old man yesterday whom I haven't seen in 25 years. He's in his mid-80s, walks with a cane. I recall about 20 years ago when I heard he had prostate cancer, so I was surprised to seem him getting along well. I of course didn't inquire about his health challenges. He says he has a small exercise machine of some type that gives a light cardio, and stretches his legs daily. He's alert with a very positive outlook. Cheerful even. So there are things we should all take time to do no matter our ages.

[Alpeduez21]

9. I've heard that drinking water is important

It flushes out the toxins released from the muscles. Don't know if that's true but drinking a couple extra glasses of water can't hurt.

[Susan Calvin]

11. You sure better drink water after you have a massage.

You will regret it deeply if you don't. Guess how I know. It releases toxins that have to be flushed out with the water.

[2naSalit]

18. Excellent point!

Taking a nap shortly after helps too.

[Historic NY]

10. I hadn't gone to my therapist since the beginning of Covid..

In NY, they had to shut down. I finally went between this Dec & Jan now and the aches and pains seem to have subsided. I tried acupuncture this past Dec when I was in Florida, a constant pain from an encapsulated nerve went away after the second session. It was so bad I could not put anything i my pocket. Pain management didn't work, they did inject a cocktail of sorts a couple of times up into the hip that quelled it. That itself was painful. We live and learn.

[calimary]

12. Good thread. Good tips also.

Thanks all around!

[2naSalit]

13. Yup!

[yellowdogintexas]

15. Massage is a gift of the gods.

For a few years, I was having one monthly. Myofascial release with deep tissue massage. My therapist retired and I had to cut stuff out of my budget after retirement.

I can't wait to go have one when this pandemic has finally become endemic.

[2naSalit]

16. I get them on occasion...

And they do far more for me than PT sessions that have become a scam.

All of the tips in comments above are worth trying.

I have known many massage therapists from crazy people you should avoid to very effective therapists who amazingly fix a wide range of physical ailments. I usually go for muscular manipulation type massage but a good friend, a very high dollar therapist, browbeat me into a cupping session because he was so smitten by the results on his clients. I relented and never regretted it. In fact, I am a cheerleader for this method of therapy. It makes sense and it made my very serious pain go away. I was in a PT program and I fired them two days after the cupping, never regretted that either.

Massage is a good thing to do for yourself and your body, a good massage is worth every cent. There are many methods to choose from, use the ones that make sense for you, you won't regret it.

PS. I always have a glass of water and take a little nap after a massage, seems to help too.

[IbogaProject]

17. Egoscue Method of health through motion

A really good book outlining a stretching & light exersize program to reduce these kinds of pains. We aren't evolved to sit so much nor to use one hand over the other.

This program was used by Jack Nicolas (I know he isn't one of is) before his golf comeback. It written by a physiologist it covers self diagnosis and 4 workouts. You determine your stage and you work back up to the one for the healthy. It's mostly stretches. The goal is to balance the hips, get the legs to carry the motion properly and to balance the shoulders.

Egoscue Method of health through motion by Pete Egoscue. It's out of print so you'll have to order used or pull a copy up on www.b-ok.cc if you need to wait to purchase. It's out of print as the guy runs clinics now and has written newer books to align with his clinics.

[SheltieLover]

21. Try Rolfing structural integration therapy

Fabulous!

Many performers, sports, actors, etc. Rolf.

Of course, it's expensive but great stuff!

[RicROC]

22. A therapeutic massage relieved my plantar fasciitis almost instantly.

The next day I had not problem at all and none since.