After everything that has gone wrong lately, I decided it was time for me! Time to do something that is going to make me happy and nothing sounds more luxurious than an hour to myself getting a nice relaxing massage. Honestly, after the last few weeks I have just had I bloody deserve a massage.
However just like everything in my life, ITP creates another obstacle (I am seriously getting over living with this condition). You would think getting a massage would be a simple process however; it is one that should be approached with caution.
Obviously, it is important to be aware that ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia) is a condition, which causes a low platelet count, which in cases of getting a massage means you are more susceptible to bruising if your platelet levels are low.
Now whilst you may feel super tense and feel like you need a deep massage the reality is you have low platelets and you need to be responsible for your body. Meaning if you have low platelets and you request a deep tissue massage then come out looking like you just went in the ring with Mohammad Ali then that is not the massage therapist fault – you are completely to blame.
There are many different types of massage that can be performed on the body. There is hot stone massage, Aromatherapy massage, Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, Thai massage, Trigger point massage just to name a few. If you are not sure which massage is best suited for you, you can always ask your massage therapist and they should be able to accommodate you.
A good massage therapist will take note of your condition and will ensure they take good care of you. Luckily, for me a family friend is a massage therapist and was already well informed about my condition. Now whilst I had to provide a doctor’s recommendation to display that my doctor believed I was fit for a relaxation massage (this is not always a requirement to get a massage, just an extra precaution because of my recent events) it was great to know that my condition was being taken into account.
Please note if your platelet levels are above 60,000 then a massage may not be an issue for you. However for those who need an extra reminder about being cautious please see below graph that can be used as a guide.
Sharing your platelet count and condition is important information that your massage therapist should be made aware of prior to commencing your massage.