Numb fingers

[hustla_honeyz]

A new client was referred to me because of fingers going numb. She says currently it's the second and third digits. She said it used to be painful, but now it's just numb. She doesn't want me to work her upper body at all! She wants me to just work her lower body because that's where she feels pain. I'll just work her lower body next session, but...

Any ideas what to say to her to stress the importance of addressing the numbness in her fingers or articles/books I can reference?

 

[Fall time!!]

Numb fingers

(btw - who was she referred to you by?)

Median nerve impingement can affect these digits - thumb, index, middlle and half of ring finger.

Impingement can be at nerve root where it exits thru cervical vertebrae, scalenes, pectorals, etc or at carpal tunnel.

If she want's lower body work then it doesn't sound like she wants the condition treated that she was referred for.

Start with good communication - find out why she is there and what she expects. Explain your work and that you would need to do some assessments to know what's going on...and those are all upper body tests.

Good luck

 

[Foo]

Numb fingers

That is quite a conundrum, if she was referred by a medical professional, they are probably going to expect an update at some point. And expect to see some progress which the client seems to be making nearly impossible by not allowing you to work the upper body.

I think I'd note it in her records, and do an interview each time about the top 3 - 4 areas that are causing pain. And of course, document any improvement during the treatment.

What comes to mind however... is that it might be a trust issue. Like if you relieve the pain in her lower body, she might trust you to address the upper body?

It is definitely going to require some more dialogue with the client too, to determine where she is "coming from" and what kind of improvement she really wants to see.

I would think MFR would be beneficial... but still you will probably need to touch the upper body. *sigh* Please let us know how it goes!

 

[yuehan]

Numb fingers

If she was indeed referred by a physician, you could say: "I do have to work your upper body, because your referral from Dr. SuchandSuch requires that I do so."

 

[gina]

Numb fingers

I would think MFR would be beneficial... but still you will probably need to touch the upper body.

Lol! Oh darn!

Thanks pueppi. Would have been good advice, but it was actually a family member. Sorry I left that info out. I was trying not to divulge too much.

 

[needlewings]

Numb fingers

Well, I spoke to the referring person, who is also paying. He also tried to stress to her the importance of addressing "just numb." She doesn't think it's a big deal. It doesn't stop her from doing things.
I postponed/possibly cancelled the appointment.

Thanks for your input though.

 

[Shim]

Numb fingers

That's too bad you are thinking of canceling the appointment. Is it because she won't let you work the upper body? If that's the reason, you might want to re-think your position. I've had clientele before who wanted one thing because they couldn't understand the relationship within their body. After one or a couple sessions, their minds are changed as they sense what massage does for the body. Especially if I go over any TrP's that refer to another area, that really gets them!

She might turn out to be a great client if you give her the chance. If she prefers her lower body because that's where she "feels the pain" why not give her that? Just because her friend (and not physician) is paying and wants you to help her numb fingers, ultimately it's her choice to decide what she wants worked on or not. When you give a gift, you can't control what the recipient does with it and she'll still benefit from your work.

 

[Cal]

Numb fingers

I have to agree w/ Kathryn... it's about what the client wants, not what we know or think we know that they need. Even after all these years, I still cringe when a client who obviously needs something done about an issue in their pinkie finger [for example] only wants a head/neck/shoulders massage - don't touch anything else! BUT, it is that person's massage, not mine, and I give them what they want whether I like it or not. More times than not, the eventuality of it is that the issue with pinkie finger becomes of importance to the person because of the benefits noticed elsewhere.

Just my :2cents:

 

[WINGATE14]

Numb fingers

This feels horrible. And, I can't believe I'm losing sleep over this.
This seemed to be a one-shot deal with a reluctant client. The gift was conditional. I have not been paid for it. If she was paying for it herself, I'd work on her lower body in the hopes of gaining her trust. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that's going to happen.

Just yuck and :irked:

 

[SweetNothings]

Numb fingers

I wouldn't lose any sleep over this.
It has nothing at all to do with you ( yes I know that ego of ours HATES anything remotely like rejection).
She either is not in a place where she is ready for healing that part...
OR
she just was not a good fit for you.
Just honor and wish her highest good.

There are so many people that have, do, and will benefit from your work.
If you hold on to those bad feelings you might not be clear enough for them...
and those are also the ones who will APPRECIATE you (so that ego can start feeling good again! ).

Works for me anyway...

 

[Art]

Numb fingers

Median nerve impingement can affect these digits - thumb, index, middle and half of ring finger.

Radial nerve, too

Impingement can be at nerve root where it exits thru cervical vertebrae, scalenes, pectorals, etc or at carpal tunnel.

Also, if she's got a first rib misalignment--or, less common but still a possibility--a cervical rib (a normal variant that can cause issues).

A couple other questions come to mind... Does she have this same problem in both hands? If so, is it symmetrical, or slightly different? If her other hand has no numbness, does it have any of the earlier symptoms like the pain? Does she also have any problems in her toes? What's her general health like? Diabetes prone? Hx of MVA? What kind of pain/symptoms does she feel in the lower body? Just letting my mind wander

 

[Artie]

Numb fingers

I think I can figure out more what is going on and probably help her if I were allowed to touch her upper body. Unfortunately, I haven't come up with any words to convince her it is important. I was looking for something in print to show her that "just numb" IS a big deal.

 

[Syd Barrett]

Numb fingers

I was looking for something in print to show her that "just numb" IS a big deal.

Does this help?

• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/causes-of-numbness-in-fingers.html
  
• http://pmj.bmj.com/cgi/pdf_extract/24/271/259

 

[Trenton]

Numb fingers

May be. I'll send her the first link and something I found earlier. Thank you for finding and posting those peuppi.

 

[Niko_mkvli]

Numb fingers

Yay! Client finally let me work on upper body. After things got worse on a daily basis, she relented. I only worked that one side, from neck to fingers. When I was done, she said that side now felt better than the other. She called the next morning, said first time in a couple of weeks she woke up okay. She has scheduled another appointment to include upper body work.

 

[The Bear]

Numb fingers

Yayyy!
Good job!

:grin: