HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Is Body Massage Therapy Advisable For A Patient With Raynaud's Disease?

default
Posted on Mon, 29 May 2017
Question: Hi,
I have Raynaud's condition, is it safe for me to have full body massage (deep tissue/gentle massage) because I tried it once couple of weeks ago and after that I felt a bit of clicking sound in my joints and my ankles were swollen. I don't know whether that's related to the massage or completely different but just wanted to get your advice on that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Raynauds Disease

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

thank you for writing on health care magic

Well, the clicking doesnt look related to the raynauds...But ankle swelling is something we should look at .

Firstly I would like to ask a few things to give you the exact answer

1. Is it only just raynauds or any other disease associated with it

2. Do you face this problem in the summers as well??

3. Any history of oral ulcers, rashes or joint pains other wise???

4. Has your ANa been tested??

Well, as such massage shouldnt be a problem but just make sure the room is not cold or it can freeze your fingers and the joints

Do let me know these queries

Regards
Dr Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (17 minutes later)
Hi Doctor,

Thanks for your reply.

My answers to your question below in number order:-

1) I have excema and get infections in my skin due to that rather easy which leaves scars/dark patches or marks in my skin. And also my skin is prone to hyper pigmentation all over my body.

2 & 3) Yes, I've noticed the swelling happens in summer more often, my mom had the similar issue as well. She doesn't have it in UK but when we went to XXXXXXX her both ankles were swollen, redish and she was in severe pain. She couldn't work. But then it kind of got reduced when we returned to UK. But sadly, I'm having it in UK not as bad as her but here and then in a small scale. My mom also has some rhematism problem.

4) No, I didn't take any ANA test. I'm sorry, what type of test is it please? and why do you take it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Raynauds

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Well, it is difficult to say about the ankle swelling without examining it as it can be due to varying reasons..Either due to varicose veins or it can be due to underlying Raynauds as well. ..So I would suggest if you can get a doppler done for the lower limbs to know the exact cause...

2. As for hyper pigmentation and raynauds I would suggest you get a ANA test done. It is a tests for autoimmunity. A lot of times raynauds is just an independent disease but at other times it is associated with other problems called connective tissue disease..So ANA is mandatory(I am not sure why it hasnt been done yet in your case)...It should be checked just to see, raynauds is not evolving into something new....Dont mean to scare you but, you should perform it once...

As for the massage, you are ok to go with just under normal room temperature conditions

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)
Thank you for your reply.
I'm a little concern about connective tissue disease (if in case i've got it). Because my cousin who is 16 years old she is suffering from that. Her joints will automatically come out all of a sudden without any movement and her parents had to take her to tye hospital many times to put it back. They had to do quite a lot of operations on her knees and wrists but then it keep getting infected. So I'm a bit worried whether I would have something similar because it seems to be in our family. Is there are any home remedy or treatment I can take to prevent myself from having this disease. Also, again, is it safe to have massage if I have this disease please. Because I originally wanted a massage just to remove my body pain but now i'm too scared after hearing the word "connect tissue disease ". Because i'm seeing with my own eyes what my cousin is going through.....
Looking forward to hearing from you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (22 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Delayed Reply

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Sorry for the late reply

Had a long day at work

Well, the condition your cousin has is a different connective tissue disease, where there is joints laxity and they tend to dislocate easily. You are past that age and wont be having that.

The other problem I am concerned is Scleroderma. It causes mostly skin tightening and hyperpigmentation. IT starts as Raynauds and is usually very slowly progressive. So a ANA would be a good way to see where we are heading.

Ah, dont worry about getting a massage at all. You dont have that condition and you are totally ok to go with it....Still if you want, get a consult with a rheumatologist around you. Meanwhile get ANA test done...

Hope the information was useful

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
DR Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (19 hours later)
Thanks Doctor,

Sorry, one last question and hopefully after that I won't bother you again. It's just, I find it quite hard to explain everything to my own GP so if I can get the guidance from you then I know exactly what to ask. Based on your recent message I'm convinced that I have sceloderma. You might be thinking I'm panicking but I'm quite certain. I just wanted to give you my overall story of this condition so you can give proper answer. I'm from XXXXXXX and from childhood, dryskin, uneven skin tone and hyper pigmentation are my problems. If I get any wounds it takes so long to heal. It'll get infected/oozing first then only it'll heal. Even after that it leaves dark marks or scar in the area of that skin. My palms used to sweat. Then 15 years ago I moved to UK and doctors diagnosed raynauds condition because my palm and finger tips turn in to dark blue. They did a test on my hand to confirm that, but I'm sorry I don't know the name. They put some gel on my palms and did long strokes in my palms with the pen kind of device. Then the consultant confirmed I have raynauds and advised me to keep myself warm all times. To be honest after that my condition did get better because only my fingertips get bluish not the whole hands. But for two times my one finger tip got infected during winter and it took several months to get heal.Doctor said to put nitrogen gas or something to burn that wart but since it's so painful I didn't do it. But it automatically disappeared when the summer arrives. My finger joints at times feel stiffness and that's one of the reason why I wanted to do massage. Because I do get stressed easily and they said they can feel some tension knots around my shoulders and she can see my body is stressed because it's not flexible. Also I have ashthma from childhood so sometimes I feel shortness of breadth all of a sudden. I'm just saying this because I don't know whether that's in someway related to Raynauds. Also my ankle got swollen , mainly in summer....although not too much but a little.During that time I can feel that something is running inside my skin or something and my veins are so prominent. My skin also gets very ithchy and infected mainly in summer but doctor said due to excema and pollen allergy. Can you please advise based on this what is my problem and how serious is my condition and what tests I should ask my GP to perform? My sugar level is 4.9, blood pressure 112/85 and pulse rate 88. Height 5'3" and weight 57kg. Age 32.once again sorry for the long essay, just wanted to get the clarification.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (2 days later)
Brief Answer:
Delayed Reply

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Sorry for the late reply. I was out of town and just lost track of the message...

Firstly, it s ok to bother me. We are here to help you sort out your problems, so you have a better outlook towards them and can rectify them when needed...

1. Well, as per your history of hyperpigmentation, dry skin and ? Tightning we would definately like to rule out Scleroderma. It is a slow progessing disease and normally takes 8 to 10 years to surface...But yes, we need a confirmation for it before we label that you have this disease.

As for the raynauds, as already told it can be a single phenomeon or complicated by these diseases. Since you dont get anything in summers, it is a good sign...The Eczema and skin allergy are different conditions which can happen in any patient with history of asthma and who has a bit of tendency for allergy. So, I may not pay 2 much weightage on it...

But I would suggest you get the following tests done before we go further, as without these blood tests it is difficult to say anything:

1. ANA( IFA)

2. ENA PROFILE

These would somewhere confirm where we are heading

Regards
Dr Naval
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Naval Mendiratta

Rheumatologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 754 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Is Body Massage Therapy Advisable For A Patient With Raynaud's Disease?

Brief Answer: Raynauds Disease Detailed Answer: Good evening thank you for writing on health care magic Well, the clicking doesnt look related to the raynauds...But ankle swelling is something we should look at . Firstly I would like to ask a few things to give you the exact answer 1. Is it only just raynauds or any other disease associated with it 2. Do you face this problem in the summers as well?? 3. Any history of oral ulcers, rashes or joint pains other wise??? 4. Has your ANa been tested?? Well, as such massage shouldnt be a problem but just make sure the room is not cold or it can freeze your fingers and the joints Do let me know these queries Regards Dr Naval