Apr 16, 2024

A client uses fentanyl patches to manage chronic pain from a back injury. What kind of risk does this present to the therapist? And, if we’re not careful, the bigger risk might be to the client. Check it out on this episode of “I Have a Client Who . . .” with Ruth Werner.

Resources:

Cai, B., Engqvist, H. and...

Mar 19, 2024

A client was recently treated for colon cancer—and it didn’t go well. She had surgical complications, a bout of sepsis, and more. She has substantial abdominal scar tissue, which is giving her a lot of pain. But after finding a massage therapist who is helping a lot, things are looking up . . . until she gets COVID....

Feb 20, 2024

A young client is comatose after a series of ischemic strokes. They have frequent painful episodes of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity, during which their muscles become spastic and their heart rate and blood pressure rise. Their palliative care team wonders if massage therapy might help the contractures of...

Jan 23, 2024

Blood clots, legitimate concern about blood clots, and well-honed knowledge about blood clots are all part of our profession’s requirements for safe practice, right? And over the years I’ve been doing I Have a Client Who . . ., I’ve received dozens of stories about blood clots in one context or another. Today,...

Dec 15, 2023

A client has a rare condition that might impact her ability to receive massage. A brief look shows no special cautions, but a deeper look reveals some important questions to ask.

In this episode Ruth takes listeners along for the treasure hunt for useful information—not just for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, but for...