Reflexology

[shoshin]

I guess I'm on a roll with the posts tonight. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with reflexology or knows anything about it. As far as I can tell, it's a kind of foot massage where stimulating different points on the foot is supposed to have different effects.

I have a friend who's studying reflexology and needs people to practice on so she wants to use my husband and me as guinea pigs. Her teacher said there aren't any contraindications with MS and I guess it's not dangerous unless you use it instead of standard medicine when you need that.

It's supposed to help with relaxation and stress reduction anyway so I don't think I have anything to lose.

sho

[shoshin]

Well, the reflexology was a bust. It must not work for people with numb feet and spastic legs. In addition to not really feeling the pressure very well, my feet insisted on jumping around at random times in response to the pressure. Worse, my thighs, especially the left, kept doing this unpleasant sudden contraction thing (so maybe that is a spasm? they released pretty quickly, but kept doing it periodically).

I think my legs are just recalcitrant and refuse to relax. When the neuros do that thing where you lie on your back and they swing your leg back and forth at the knee, they keep haranguing me that I am not relaxing my legs, as if I were purposefully trying to subvert their testing. Believe me, if I could figure out how to get my legs to relax, I would.

Anyway, I did not find the whole experience relaxing and I was horribly stiff when I tried to get up (which might not have been due to the reflexology, but just due to lying still; I have the same problem after MRIs).

I did learn that I seem to have more feeling in my right foot, but also that it's stiffer and seems to have less range of motion.

Apparently, you can also do reflexology on hands, so my friend is going to try that next time.

My husband, on the other hand, enjoyed the whole experience. He said it was very relaxing and he practically fell asleep.

Oh, well, just another thing messed up by the MS, I guess.

sho

[shoshin]

Thanks everybody for the feedback. We're having our first session tomorrow night and I'm looking forward to it.

[Eyesnlegs]

I've been having reflexology once a fortnight for 3 years now - only missed a few months when I couldn't walk / drive to get there - can't say that it has helped with sx but boy does it feel great and relax you at the end of a hard week.

Pat

[Khiba]

Go for it!!! I love reflexology sessions. My whole body works better after having it done. I often fall asleep so deeply they leave me there for another hour if no conflicts with the room. :)

Jessica

[saveone]

I am envious!

terry :0)

[Udkas]

Hi,
Go for it girl!  Makes you feel really good.  Won't do any harm, even if it doesn't do any good.  It makes your feet feel good, nice and relaxed, not everyone can stand having their feet touched but I have it done and massage and both make me feel better.

Certain points are meant to work on your spine etc. but I get my nails and everything done with my reflexology.... that's what I treat myself to when I want to indulge.

Cheers,
Udkas.

[CheeserNurse]

I'm a nursing student and am taking a complementary health class and we study reflexology!  It's very relaxing, proven to help, and very noninvasive. You will probably be so relaxed during it that you'll want to have it everyday! :-)  So cool!!

~Aleah

[Lulu54]

Sho,
If I could get reflexology treatment, and especially for free, I would be all over it like white on rice!  Lucky you to have such a useful friend!  

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't do reflexology.  I'm doing acupuncture which is far more invasive than applying pressure to points on my feet and hands.  It really is a similar type treatment, but without the needles.

Let us know what you think after she does it!

Lulu