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Pain and injury care · South Berkeley
Lymphatic Drainage for Pain and Injury. Sometimes an old scar is part of the solution.
When pain is not changing with the obvious treatment, I start asking what may have been missed. Sometimes an old scar has tightened the tissue underneath it and is affecting movement somewhere else. The place that hurts is not always the place where the problem began, even today, when I assess you.
- Works with
- Sprains, tendonitis, chronic pain
- Also
- Sports injury, rheumatoid arthritis
- Approach
- Lymphatic, fascial, and scar work
- First step
- A free phone call with me
Why lymphatic work for pain
Swelling can be part of what hurts.
Injuries create swelling, and fluid under pressure can hurt and limit movement. That may be true with a new sprained ankle or a joint that has been irritated for years. When the fluid moves, the pressure may ease too.
MLD is very gentle, and some people notice less pain after the work. Part of that may come from reducing fluid and pressure, and part may come from helping the nervous system settle.
Scar tissue can also bind layers of fascia that are supposed to glide. When one area cannot move normally, another area may begin doing extra work and hurting. That is a physical connection, not a mysterious one.
What I work with
Alongside the rest of your care.
This does not replace physical therapy, medical care, or strength work. If I think you need one of those, I will tell you plainly.
Sprains and strains
A new sprain or strain may respond well when swelling is addressed early. Get the injury evaluated first.
Tendonitis
For a tendon that stays irritated, I use gentle work rather than forcing an already sensitive area.
Chronic pain
When pain is long-standing and nothing recent explains it, old injuries, scars, and restricted tissue are worth checking.
Sports injuries
I support recovery and help with swelling that is keeping you from returning to the activity you care about.
Rheumatoid arthritis
When inflammation and fluid are daily, I offer gentle support alongside medical treatment.
Scar release
I use my hands and Dolphin microcurrent when a scar restricts movement or contributes to pain elsewhere.
How this goes
Curiosity first.
I ask what makes the pain better or worse, what has already been tried, and what changed when the problem began. Then I look at what moves freely and what does not.
Tell me about old surgeries and injuries, even when they seem unrelated. A knee surgery from years ago may still matter when your hip is the place hurting now. That history can change where I look and what I work on.
We try the work, watch what changes, and decide what to do next. If your body is not responding, I will say so instead of continuing to book you without a reason.
Worth saying plainly
Where my work ends.
I am not a physical therapist
If you need strengthening or rehabilitation, that belongs with a physical therapist or another qualified provider.
I do not diagnose
If you need imaging, a diagnosis, or a medical opinion, you need a doctor.
Acute injury may need assessing first
A new injury that has not been properly assessed should be evaluated before I work on it.
I will tell you if it is not working
Some pain is not lymphatic or fascial. I will say when this work does not fit.
Before you call
Questions people ask me.
Can lymphatic drainage help with pain?
It may help by reducing fluid and pressure, using very gentle touch, and helping the nervous system come down from high alert. I cannot promise how much your pain will change from one appointment.
I have had this pain for years. Is it worth trying?
Possibly, especially when the usual treatments have not changed it. That is when I start looking at old scars, past injuries, and tissue that may not be moving normally.
Do you work on acute injuries?
Yes, after the injury has been properly assessed. Gentle work may help swelling and comfort, but I will not work around an unidentified fracture or tear.
Is this the same as sports massage?
No. This work is much lighter. I am working with fluid, fascia, and scar tissue rather than trying to press deeply into muscle.
Can you help rheumatoid arthritis?
I can provide gentle supportive care alongside your medical treatment. I do not treat or diagnose rheumatoid arthritis itself.
What does an old scar have to do with my current pain?
Scar tissue can bind layers that are supposed to slide over each other. That restriction may change how you move and put strain somewhere else, so an old scar can sometimes matter to a newer pain problem.
You may also want
These may help too.
The next step
Tell me where it hurts.
Set up a free 15-minute call and tell me where it hurts, how long it has been happening, what started it, and what you have already tried. I will tell you plainly whether I think this work is worth your time and money.