Comments on: Serratus Posterior Superior – Third layer down, relieves arm numbness http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/ Solving Your Stress and Pain Problems with Massage in Sacramento Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:16:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul Brown http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/comment-page-1/#comment-10904 Paul Brown Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:58:40 +0000 http://www.paulbrown.net/?p=328#comment-10904 jen, I couldn't say for certain, but it might be one of the muscles involved, among others. If you can find a myofascial release therapist in your area, you might be able to get some more specific information and help. I hope you are able to get some relief. jen, I couldn’t say for certain, but it might be one of the muscles involved, among others. If you can find a myofascial release therapist in your area, you might be able to get some more specific information and help.

I hope you are able to get some relief.

]]> By: jen http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/comment-page-1/#comment-10871 jen Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:19:56 +0000 http://www.paulbrown.net/?p=328#comment-10871 I just found this and have been struggling for a year with a deep pain in my shoulder and chest. The pain is under my shoulder blade and wraps all the way around into my ribs and chest. Being a 35 year old woman I freaked out and had a mammogram to make sure it was not my breast. I was diagnosed with costocondritus even though I keept telling the Dr. it hurt in my shoulder, chest, and outside of my arm. Do you think it could be this muscle causing pain for an entire year? I am scheduled to have an MRI this week. I sleep like crap have not been able to workout like I have in the past and am very depressed about the constant pain. Do you have any suggestions for me? I just found this and have been struggling for a year with a deep pain in my shoulder and chest. The pain is under my shoulder blade and wraps all the way around into my ribs and chest. Being a 35 year old woman I freaked out and had a mammogram to make sure it was not my breast. I was diagnosed with costocondritus even though I keept telling the Dr. it hurt in my shoulder, chest, and outside of my arm. Do you think it could be this muscle causing pain for an entire year? I am scheduled to have an MRI this week. I sleep like crap have not been able to workout like I have in the past and am very depressed about the constant pain. Do you have any suggestions for me?

]]> By: Paul Brown http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/comment-page-1/#comment-10170 Paul Brown Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:49:36 +0000 http://www.paulbrown.net/?p=328#comment-10170 Hi, Karl, Yes, it's a difficult problem. I had to eliminate the more superficial pain referral patterns before getting deep into the SPS. I'm glad you have a therapist that is helping. It's very important to make sure you don't ever sleep on the affected side, as that can perpetuate the TrPs in the SPS. Also, Biceps Brachii, and rotator cuff muscle trigger points can reactivate SPS trigger points. Hope all goes well for you. Hi, Karl,

Yes, it’s a difficult problem. I had to eliminate the more superficial pain referral patterns before getting deep into the SPS. I’m glad you have a therapist that is helping. It’s very important to make sure you don’t ever sleep on the affected side, as that can perpetuate the TrPs in the SPS. Also, Biceps Brachii, and rotator cuff muscle trigger points can reactivate SPS trigger points. Hope all goes well for you.

]]> By: Karl http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/comment-page-1/#comment-10168 Karl Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:49:53 +0000 http://www.paulbrown.net/?p=328#comment-10168 The serratus posterior superior has been the Bain of my existence for nearly five years. After injuring it in a waterskiing accident and doing two rounds of physical therapy (several sessions) and getting a shoulder MRI, I had doctors and PTs baffled. Finally I found a massage therapist who has gotten me to a manageable point. Unfortunately, the damage has been done, and I don't trust that surgery would correct such a specific problem. Thank god I know the root cause of the pain. It's miserable. The serratus posterior superior has been the Bain of my existence for nearly five years. After injuring it in a waterskiing accident and doing two rounds of physical therapy (several sessions) and getting a shoulder MRI, I had doctors and PTs baffled. Finally I found a massage therapist who has gotten me to a manageable point. Unfortunately, the damage has been done, and I don’t trust that surgery would correct such a specific problem. Thank god I know the root cause of the pain. It’s miserable.

]]> By: Paul Brown http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/comment-page-1/#comment-9866 Paul Brown Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:07:20 +0000 http://www.paulbrown.net/?p=328#comment-9866 Firstly, what I did for the client was relieve his pain and get him back to work. So I'm glad that you appreciate that. This article is not a comprehensive case study listing everything step I took to evaluate the client and treat him. It's audience is not allied health professionals, but potential clients. This client had been treated by a PT and a DC before coming to see me, each of whom had left him in worse shape than before. The DC left him with a half-dollar sized third degree burn from the electrical stimulation unit. My treatment of the client got him back to work and pain free in three sessions, and he remains pain free and working more than a year later. I agree that most massage therapists do not have the skills to properly evaluate clients, but that is changing as more and more MTs are seeking more knowledge. I predict that in the next five to ten years there will be a Masters of Somatics, and a Doctorate will be just around the corner. In the meantime, I'll keep doing what I do, which is help clients eliminate their pain. Firstly, what I did for the client was relieve his pain and get him back to work. So I’m glad that you appreciate that.

This article is not a comprehensive case study listing everything step I took to evaluate the client and treat him. It’s audience is not allied health professionals, but potential clients. This client had been treated by a PT and a DC before coming to see me, each of whom had left him in worse shape than before. The DC left him with a half-dollar sized third degree burn from the electrical stimulation unit. My treatment of the client got him back to work and pain free in three sessions, and he remains pain free and working more than a year later.

I agree that most massage therapists do not have the skills to properly evaluate clients, but that is changing as more and more MTs are seeking more knowledge. I predict that in the next five to ten years there will be a Masters of Somatics, and a Doctorate will be just around the corner. In the meantime, I’ll keep doing what I do, which is help clients eliminate their pain.

]]> By: Dr. Mitch http://www.sacramentomassagecenter.com/serratus-posterior-superior-third-layer-down-relieves-arm-numbness/comment-page-1/#comment-9863 Dr. Mitch Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:27:45 +0000 http://www.paulbrown.net/?p=328#comment-9863 Firstly, I appreciate what you were trying to do for the patient, but it seems the order by which to rule out and include things is missing. Certainly if you are the 1st person to see this client, you will do what you know, how you've been trained. When someone c/o symptoms into the arm, I wouldn't 1st think of soft tissues; at least initially. The 1st thing that needs to be done is to rule out a relationship to the c/s motion segment, which includes joints and discs, etc.. Movements of the c/s and/or positions may influence the symptom c/o's which will tell you soft tissues are not the 1st focus. A good McKenzie evaluation, along with Upper Limb Tension Tests (IF seen needed) can distinguish the problem. If at that time, there is no influence and/or nothing can be done to change the symptoms, then you can examine the soft tissues. I'm sure you get some results with people, but I'm also sure you've wondered why you couldn't get results at other times. This is why I have a problem if someone goes to a Massage Therapist as their 1st approach. I would prefer evaluating someone and then as either the main or adjunctive treatment, let the MT take over from there. Firstly, I appreciate what you were trying to do for the patient, but it seems the order by which to rule out and include things is missing. Certainly if you are the 1st person to see this client, you will do what you know, how you’ve been trained. When someone c/o symptoms into the arm, I wouldn’t 1st think of soft tissues; at least initially. The 1st thing that needs to be done is to rule out a relationship to the c/s motion segment, which includes joints and discs, etc.. Movements of the c/s and/or positions may influence the symptom c/o’s which will tell you soft tissues are not the 1st focus. A good McKenzie evaluation, along with Upper Limb Tension Tests (IF seen needed) can distinguish the problem. If at that time, there is no influence and/or nothing can be done to change the symptoms, then you can examine the soft tissues. I’m sure you get some results with people, but I’m also sure you’ve wondered why you couldn’t get results at other times. This is why I have a problem if someone goes to a Massage Therapist as their 1st approach. I would prefer evaluating someone and then as either the main or adjunctive treatment, let the MT take over from there.

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