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Scar Tissue from C-sections and Abdominal Surgery
I have a new client. She was referred to me by one of my chiropractors for lymphedema in her left arm.
A year and a half ago she had 28 lymph nodes removed from her left axilla. This has left her with lymphedema for which she had had no treatments.
From the first session, she wanted me to spend half the time on her left upper quadrant and half the time on her low back pain. I worked the posterior aspect of her sacrum, and she got some relief.
The second session I worked her lower legs and feet, and she got more relief. But not as much as she might have, so for the third session I told her that I wanted to work her abdomen.
During our initial intake she told me about the doctors, the 2 types of cancer, the surgeries for the cancer, her lymphedema, her restriction with her back pain, etc. When I began to palpate her lower abdomen through the sheet, I said, “this feels like quite a bit of scar tissue, did you….” Before I could finish she said, “oh yeah, I’ve had 3 c-sections, but it was a long time ago.” 3 c-sections and no abdominal work.
I used SMRT to soften the scar tissue and unadhere the bladder from the abdominal muscle wall before working on what the shortened fascia was doing to her hip position and the abdominal muscles. Positions to mobilize her hip bones, balance the pubic symphysis, and release rectus abdominis, the linea alba, and transversus abdominis followed.
Step by step the space between her pubic symphysis and the scar tissue lengthened and became more supple. The scar tissue itself became flatter and more pliable. Her low back pain has several components, one of which is her abdomen.I began this third session working on her lower back, then did MLD on the upper left posterior quadrant, turned her to a supine position, and did MLD on her left arm and chest. When I began to work on her abdomen, I had 10 minutes of the session left. In that 10 minutes, SMRT allowed me to accomplish a tremendous amount.
Before she left, she said, “I feel better than I have in years, thank you so much. It’s wonderful to know I finally found someone who can help me.”
Knowing when and how to work the abdomen is invaluable as a massage therapist. I would love to teach you SMRT for the abdomen, posterior hip, and lower back. Please join me for this course in Rochester, MN, October 24-26, 2014. 10% early registration discount ends Wednesday, September 24, 2014 To register or for more information, https://efullcircle.com/spontaneous-muscle-release-technique-hips-lower-back-abdomen/
