Hand Injury Recovery with Massage: My Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Case
Are you right handed? Now, imagine not being able to use it and oh, there’s constant pain.
You can’t hold anything for a long time because it drops on the floor. You don’t notice it because your nerves are shot and you lost sensation. Night time is when the nerve pain in your inner elbow keeps you up.
How old are you? In your early twenties and most doctors tell you that you’re too young to have this much pain. Cue, me. Stage right and recently I’m treating this three year old crushing injury, circa 2021. Let me bring you along for the ride.
Vulnerable moment: It’s pretty daunting to most massage therapists to treat people in this much pain no matter how long you’ve been practicing.
Backstory: It all started with a playful interaction between colleagues gone wrong, my client suffered a traumatic blow to the right hand from a metal bar leaving her in agonizing pain.
Note: The images here are of my own right hand. I plan to update them in the future with my client’s. But for the sake of this post , I will be the model.
This is the area where the blunt force was given, crushing the hand. According to an article on the Mayo Clinic website, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is meant to be treated “early”.
So, here I am with this case three years later and I feel grateful because I find this work rewarding. Although I’ve seen neuromuscular massage/manual therapy help tremendously as a clinician I always hold my breath and work (and pray) for full recovery. Even surgeons do that.
Symptoms
In this specific case, my client feels the following
- Intense pain in right hand and right inner elbow.
- Can’t grip anything with hand or open jars, items will fall out of right hand. No sensation.
- Red to purple color around right thumb.
- Tremors on right hand.
- Inability to move right thumb well.
- Severe swelling and muscle spasm on web of thumb (thenar spacing)
- Wakes up at night from shooting pain in inner elbow.
Not a bad list, right? These are the symptoms I’m working to correct.
Results
Day one – August 23rd. The first treatment.
Visit two (a week later) August 30th . Visit two and 10% decrease in pain overall , less tremors and skin discoloration. Its not a lot but I’ll take it.
Eye on the prize. There’s a twinkling light at the end of the tunnel and hope. I’m working against three years of nerve damage and severe muscle atrophy.
Text check (four days later) September 3rd 📲 Client reports that night time shooting pain has lessened even more. The daytime pain has lessened too. Release held breath.
Encouragement
My client has been living with this pain for so long that hopelessness, set in. I’ve been there with my own body with certain medical issues. It wears on your mind and outlook. Depression is a real thing. I have to coach verbally to focus on the progress. Most therapy is slow all around, it’s annoying, but it’s deeper and longer lasting.
So far, I’m feeling motivated by the feedback I’m getting.
When Will I See Full Healing?
Estimation math. If I continue treatment each week for 10 weeks with a 10% improvement I plan to see recovery this by the first week of November 2024.
The amazing thing about the body is that it could be faster! I’ve seen it and am hoping for that too.
Does Massage work?
If you’ve never gotten manual therapy or massage for this condition, then try it. According to to the Mayo Clinic article one of the therapies is Physical/Occupational Therapy.
That is your cue! Schedule with a massage therapist is certified and experienced in treating injuries.
Heat/Ice
I just got a new hot towel cabinet in the office and am thrilled. Opening a new office space without proper equipment was trying my nerves. 😬
I also brought in cold gel packs and you know what this means; I can administer these therapies increasing the rate of success.
I plan to keep this post updated and hope that this client will continue to come in for their therapy. Until next time!
