How to relieve alot of pain from stomach massage?

December 15, 2016 6:37 AM

ice or heat pad i guess ? Really sore stomach after stomach massage to encourage blood flow and bowel movement i couldnt sleep i was nearly in tears its inflamed from chronic migraines and rock hard. Im on a special diet Paleo since today by a Naturopath so i dont know if tynenol is allowed . it feels better than before it s common sense to use ice etc but i wasnt sure ive never had stomach massage before.

I do have gag reflex so i cant take iburprofen ive tried

posted by re to Health & Fitness (19 answers total)

I've never had a stomach massage, but I know my massage therapist always says to use heat if I am sore afterwards. Specifically, moist heat, so a hot water bottle (or even a hot shower) is better than a heating pad. But a heating pad is better than nothing, or cold skin.
posted by neematoad at 6:44 AM on December 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: yeh I just eventually found that out about hot water bottle etc on a google search
posted by re at 6:52 AM on December 15, 2016

Are you constipated?
posted by pintapicasso at 6:56 AM on December 15, 2016

Rock hard sounds like a red flag to me. Can you see a doctor?
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:01 AM on December 15, 2016 [26 favorites]

Im on a special diet Paleo since today by a Naturopath so i dont know if tynenol is allowed.

Uh, yeah, sure, take some tylenol. You shouldn't check with your naturopath before you take over the counter medicines. If your Naturopath says you're not supposed to take modern medicines that are proven to work for pain relief because of your diet, you need to reevaluate that relationship. (I'm not railing against special diets: diets that deviate from the norm are fine as long as you're getting nutrition and feel good...but those diets shouldn't interfere with your day to day life or wellbeing).

As with almost every ailment described on the internet, there are several things this could be in a pretty wide swath of severity.

Real Doctor time.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:12 AM on December 15, 2016 [31 favorites]

See a doctor, but in the interim, a heating pad should relieve the discomfort.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 7:25 AM on December 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

This might also be appendicitis, which will need medical intervention.
posted by scruss at 7:58 AM on December 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

Please go to a doctor.
posted by gregr at 8:01 AM on December 15, 2016 [3 favorites]

A rigid belly can be a very bad sign. You definitely need to see a doctor about this asap.

Signed, mum who almost lost her eldest child after the first ER doctor missed appendicitis.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:02 AM on December 15, 2016 [21 favorites]

Your abdomen should not be rock hard. Go to the ER.
posted by praemunire at 8:10 AM on December 15, 2016 [8 favorites]

Everybody makes mistakes, including doctors and massage therapists. They just can't know everything; there's so much to know, about you, about your individual body, about every single thing you've experienced, about all the possible conditions and treatments in the world. They know a lot, but they can't know everything, and so not everything they do is 100% successful.

Do see another doctor as soon as possible. This could be something really bad. It could just be more normal digestive issues, but it's worth having treated. Especially if you're in such severe pain; that will interfere with your ability to work or do other things.

I've found that very warm baths help, too, if you can do that. Just make a plan in case you start to pass out; you don't want to accidentally drown.
posted by amtho at 8:20 AM on December 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

Please see a doctor immediately. Go to the emergency room or urgent care. You should not be near tears from a massage. This is not normal.
posted by delight at 9:03 AM on December 15, 2016 [7 favorites]

Rock hard abdomen can be a sign of internal bleeding. Coupled with the pain and the fact that a stomach massage would be pressing on internal organs, your "therapist" could have done damage. Please get it checked out.
posted by cecic at 9:58 AM on December 15, 2016 [5 favorites]

Do not waste time with heat or ice treatments or medication. If you are bleeding internally or have appendicitis, you could die. Please get medical treatment right away.
posted by delight at 10:25 AM on December 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

Go to the ER right now. Abdominal rigidity can be a sign of serious infection (like a burst appendix) that will kill you if it isn't treated. Seriously, call 911 or get someone to drive you to the hospital immediately.
posted by panic at 10:46 AM on December 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

1. If your stomach is rigid, please immediately see a doctor, or go to urgent care or the ER.

2. You mention not being sure whether Tylenol is "allowed" due to a restricted diet you are taking under the guidance of a naturopath. I know from your previous activity here that you have schizophrenia, and I am concerned that you may have discontinued medication for that condition due to this diet. Please raise that with the doctor when you see them. Apologies if I am overstepping here.
posted by prefpara at 1:16 PM on December 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

Nthing the recommendations to seek emergency care immediately. I nearly died from peritonitis a number of years back because I delayed going to the hospital. At the time I had a rigid abdomen and was in a good deal of pain. I learned from that experience that pain in the abdomen may be nothing but can be something extremely serious, and the only way to find out is to go to a hospital.
posted by mydonkeybenjamin at 6:09 PM on December 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

I can't stop thinking about you. It's none of our business, but I hope you are okay.
posted by agregoli at 8:14 PM on December 15, 2016 [17 favorites]

I am still wondering about you and hoping you are okay.
posted by Riverine at 11:27 AM on December 20, 2016 [11 favorites]