While studying physical therapy, Paul Reikowski, LMT developed carpet tunnel syndrome and tendonitis in both arms and was scheduled for surgery. As he was discussing his upcoming surgery with a friend, his friend introduced him to a massage therapist who suggested that Paul give him a chance to see if he could help before he had the surgery. Paul agreed, and after three treatments the swelling and pain in his arms began to subside. After fifteen treatments the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome ceased to bother him. Paul changed his major to massage therapy, and has been a practicing Licensed Massage Therapist since 2003. We met with Paul recently, and listened as he outlined the services his practice provides;
I practice neuro-muscular therapy, myofascial release, acupressure, trigger point therapy, athletic massage, medical massage, and orthopedic massage. These modalities are very effective in the treatment of carpel tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, scoliosis, and arthritis. I also do ear candling and I have a paraffin bath that I combine with massage therapy for people with arthritis. This combination makes a very good adjunct to any other treatments they receive for the relief of the arthritis pain.
When a new client calls, I first do an assessment to determine if I will be able to help them. I perform orthopedic tests to discover nerves that have become entrapped or impinged between the solid structures in the body or the soft muscle tissue. If the nerve is entrapped between the muscle tissue, I provide relief from pain by releasing the muscles to allow the nerves to once again receive nutrients and oxygen from the blood running through the body.
I receive referrals from physicians, and I also handle many Workers' Compensation claims where I treat repetitive strain injuries. Factory workers typically perform the same set of motions over and over which results in pain in their arms, neck, and shoulders. By reducing the tension on the muscles affected by this repetitive stress, I can usually have my clients pain-free and back to work in a short period of time.
My practice is busy because I get results. If I am treating a client and see that they aren't showing signs of improvement, I will refer them to another physician or a chiropractor so they can get the help they need. I do require results from my treatments and if I am not getting those results, it's time to move on to another pathology.
A lot of times I work a lot deeper into the muscle tissue than some therapists by using myofascial release and neuron-muscular therapy, and athletic massage. Everything I do is designed to relieve pain and enable my clients to return to their previous lifestyle whether that includes working, playing tennis, or playing golf. By releasing the tenderness in the joints and enabling the joints to move freer, most clients regain their quality of life very quickly.
I treat people with fibromyalgia, a condition that changes people's lives completely because their muscles go into contractions and don't relax. They are in pain twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Using massage, I have found that I can reduce the tension in those muscles and they can actually live a more normal life without pain. When working with arthritic clients, using the paraffin bath allows heat to penetrate into the joint and reduce inflammation in that area. When we reduce the inflammation, it decreases the pain. By doing massage after the heat and reducing the inflammation, we stretch the muscles and allow the joint to move more freely.
Massage therapy is a great adjunct to any type of medical treatment due to our ability to relieve pain without the use of drugs. Massage therapy promotes the circulation of the blood, boosts your immune system, reduces muscle tension, and increases relaxation throughout your entire body.
Paul Reikowski, LMT specializes in relieving pain and enabling clients to return to their active lifestyles. Call Paul Reikowski, LMT today, and don't forget to tell him The Advocate sent you!
