I'm looking forward to seeing the brunette Teppy. Change = fun.

The last massage therapist I saw actually left me kind of achey. I probably should have said, "Uh, ow" more often, but I figured he knew what he was doing! He was a Level 2! Or something.

Massage therapists, even good ones, aren't psychics, and everyone's different. Next time, say "ow!" Or talk to him about it ahead of time. If he doesn't ease off then, well, then he's not all that good.

I probably should have said, "Uh, ow" more often, but I figured he knew what he was doing!

Yeah, like libkitty said, everyone has different reactions to massage and intensity. Saying "ow" or otherwise indicating what you want is usually the way to go in this situation.

I'm a fan of the relaxing gentle massage while DH likes the deep painful even backwalking variety. Different strokes.

Holy cow, my hair is BROWN. I mean BROWN. I like it. Pictures later (because of the whole, you know, "work" thing.)

Second, can I ask details about your back surgery? Mom just got diagnosed yesterday (Degenerative Disk, I think). She thought she was just going to be getting the same surgery again that she had ten years ago (for Stenosis), but now that it's a new surgery she's Very Worried - esp. because they'll be putting in "pins or screws or plates or something". I mentioned that I had a friend my age who had recovered beautifully from something similar (just trying to be generally comforting), but she jumped on it and asked if I could get details.

My surgery was for 2 herniated discs, and the surgeon basically went in, removed part of the prong-y part of the bone, and then removed the disc material that had herniated out.

I don't mean to make it sound simple or easy, because it wasn't, but it was definitely more straightforward than the type of surgery that requires fusion of the vertebrae, or any hardware. I didn't need a fusion, and I have no hardware.

My basic feeling, though, about *any* back surgery is this: in the almost 5 years since my surgery (I truly can't believe it's been 5 years -- or will be, in April), medical technology has grown by leaps and bounds. The surgery that *I* had, though straightforward, did require me to stay in the hospital. And now, 5 years later, it's generally done as outpatient surgery. Which boggles my mind.

So, my point is, even if your mom needs surgery that involves pins or screws, the technology involved is going to be VASTLY advanced beyond what she experienced 10 years ago. It's going to be so different, it'll make her head spin.

Which, again, isn't to imply that it'll be a piece of cake, but I'd bet it'll be far less complicated than she fears, and that the recovery will be much more simple than she thinks.

Massage therapists, even good ones, aren't psychics, and everyone's different. Next time, say "ow!" Or talk to him about it ahead of time. If he doesn't ease off then, well, then he's not all that good.

yeah, part of my problem with massages is that I just want to lie there and zone out. I don't want to chat, I don't want to have to tell you anything other than what we've already discussed.

I'm a fan of the relaxing gentle massage while DH likes the deep painful even backwalking variety. Different strokes.

See, I like the deep semi-painful stuff. Which is why I figured it'd be okay. But it wasn't "oh my muscles are knotty" hurt, it was kind of "hey, you just pulled that over a bone" hurt. But I didn't really figure it out until later. Eh well.

yeah, part of my problem with massages is that I just want to lie there and zone out. I don't want to chat, I don't want to have to tell you anything other than what we've already discussed.

ETA this too.

Last week I had a massage and the therapist was all, "Does that hurt? You should tell me if it hurts," implying she'd go less hard. But I could tell she had found two muscle knots and I was thinking, "A little pain now will result in less pain later...."

Thanks, Steph. Does sound like your surgery was different from what she's looking at, but you've phrased everything so well, I'm still going to forward you pretty much verbatim to her. I tend not to be a worrier, but she is. REALLY is. It might help if someone not me also reassures her a bit.