Traditional Thai Massage

[Chris Holland]

Hi Guys,

Wanted to share an interesting thing with you.
This week I went for a massage at a traditional Thai Spa (we have many of these in my city) and it was great!

The massages are basically the precursors to acupressure (like Shiatsu) and acupuncture and some of the techniques have been used in medical sense for over 2500 years. It involves a bit of cracking and stretching as well and they help with many things ranging from headaches to sore joints. I think it's more effective than our western methods of chiropractic therapy or physical therapy but that's my humble opinion.

Anyway after the first session my tinnitus seemed significantly less loud although it came back within an hour or two I was very pleased to have a bit of a drop for the time being. It also really helped with relaxing and I felt refreshed and calm after the massage (if only I could stay in this mind state forever ).

Yesterday I went back for a second session, this time I told the masseuse I have tinnitus and asked her to focus more on my neck, back, shoulders and head and boy she gave me a proper massage, cracking and all.
I was not really expecting anything from it as I just do it to relax but to my amazement when I was drinking my cup of tea in the lobby after the treatment I noticed the music stopped playing. Then I noticed something else ... I could not (or barely) hear my tinnitus! It took me completely off guard, it remained like this for the better half of the day and came back slightly in the evening but was very manageable, I would say a 2/10.

I was prepared however for it not staying like this and sure enough the next morning it was back. Because I fretted about my T today it became a bit loud and cause me a headache but I managed to get out of that mindset and now my T is manageable again. Mindset and a relaxed body really help with the T perception.

Safe to say I'll be going for some more massages, I'm planning on making this a weekly thing. The massages cost about 30 euros for 30 min and I plan on doing two per week for the coming period. I also used to do martial arts and am thinking about picking up Kung Fu, mainly for the mind/body connection aspect.

Hope this is of help to anyone!

Warm regards,

Chris

 

[Jcb]

Hi Guys,

Wanted to share an interesting thing with you.
This week I went for a massage at a traditional Thai Spa (we have many of these in my city) and it was great!

The massages are basically the precursors to acupressure (like Shiatsu) and acupuncture and some of the techniques have been used in medical sense for over 2500 years. It involves a bit of cracking and stretching as well and they help with many things ranging from headaches to sore joints. I think it's more effective than our western methods of chiropractic therapy or physical therapy but that's my humble opinion.

Anyway after the first session my tinnitus seemed significantly less loud although it came back within an hour or two I was very pleased to have a bit of a drop for the time being. It also really helped with relaxing and I felt refreshed and calm after the massage (if only I could stay in this mind state forever ).

Yesterday I went back for a second session, this time I told the masseuse I have tinnitus and asked her to focus more on my neck, back, shoulders and head and boy she gave me a proper massage, cracking and all.
I was not really expecting anything from it as I just do it to relax but to my amazement when I was drinking my cup of tea in the lobby after the treatment I noticed the music stopped playing. Then I noticed something else ... I could not (or barely) hear my tinnitus! It took me completely off guard, it remained like this for the better half of the day and came back slightly in the evening but was very manageable, I would say a 2/10.

I was prepared however for it not staying like this and sure enough the next morning it was back. Because I fretted about my T today it became a bit loud and cause me a headache but I managed to get out of that mindset and now my T is manageable again. Mindset and a relaxed body really help with the T perception.

Safe to say I'll be going for some more massages, I'm planning on making this a weekly thing. The massages cost about 30 euros for 30 min and I plan on doing two per week for the coming period. I also used to do martial arts and am thinking about picking up Kung Fu, mainly for the mind/body connection aspect.

Hope this is of help to anyone!

Warm regards,

Chris

Sounds good, I wonder if your T is TMD related due to it decreasing after getting your neck and shoulders massaged? I'll look into this as I'm sure mine is something to with my neck/back.
Thanks for the info man and happy it helped you.

 

[Hazel]

That's interesting. My first two months with tinnitus, I went to a Thai Massage salon (also in Amsterdam!) twice per week. It's the one thing that got me through that awful period, because it helped manage my anxiety. I don't think it decreased the volume per se, but it definitely decreased my focus on the tinnitus.

 

[Chris Holland]

Sounds good, I wonder if your T is TMD related due to it decreasing after getting your neck and shoulders massaged?

I don't know, my hearing test came out perfectly fine but it could be that I have some hidden hearing loss or damage to the inner structure of the ear. I think what mainly influenced it was the relaxation and the distratiction ... but then again it could also be due to some correction of the spine, in any case it was quite relaxing.

 

[Steve]

I've tried a few massages but often sports type - I often get really knotted muscles.

Is the Thai gentler than a sports massage?

I have a strong physical link to my tinnitus, possibly jaw / neck tension, old jaw injury, weight training and strains. Have you identified anything physical linking to yours?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Among the most notable researchers, some say the sternocleidomastoids are involved in most cases of tinnitus muscle linking, then others say rarely. Other muscles on many lists are the middle and upper trapezius, masseter, splenius capitis, lateral pterygoid and tensor tympani. All lists also include (non muscle) osteoarthritis and spondylosis.

Modulations
https://www.researchgate.net/public...th_Neck_and_Jaw_Muscle_Modulation_of_Tinnitus

 

[Jcb]

I don't know, my hearing test came out perfectly fine but it could be that I have some hidden hearing loss or damage to the inner structure of the ear. I think what mainly influenced it was the relaxation and the distratiction ... but then again it could also be due to some correction of the spine, in any case it was quite relaxing.

Well could be, it's most likely the combination of the two. See how it goes in the long run with massages and hopefully that'll help. I've looking for some good chiropractors and I'll take a look into the Thai massage as well (was going to make a crude joke but I will refrain from that)

 

[Chris Holland]

Is the Thai gentler than a sports massage?

No, definitely not

I have a strong physical link to my tinnitus, possibly jaw / neck tension, old jaw injury, weight training and strains. Have you identified anything physical linking to yours?

I have no idea, I have been lifting for over 12 years and also kickboxing so it could be, I've also had bad posture at desk jobs but I had a very stressful period and labyrinthitis as well, that and I've been to many clubs, movies, listened to Mp3 players etc. So who knows?

 

[Steve]

No, definitely not

I have no idea, I have been lifting for over 12 years and also kickboxing so it could be, I've also had bad posture at desk jobs but I had a very stressful period and labyrinthitis as well, that and I've been to many clubs, movies, listened to Mp3 players etc. So who knows?

Quite similar to my probable causes. You may have elements that respond to physical therapy and elements that respond to audio therapy. I've also lifted for a lot of years, the jaw pressure from weights can be a killer for my tinnitus, I have identified a higher pitch tone that gets worse if I'm going heavy.

I'm a big proponent of combination treatments. It's just that nobody treating us ever looks at these things in a joined up way. You need a full case history with the right tests to go about it properly.

I might seek out a Thai massage place near me and give it a try.

 

[Zug]

Quite similar to my probable causes. You may have elements that respond to physical therapy and elements that respond to audio therapy. I've also lifted for a lot of years, the jaw pressure from weights can be a killer for my tinnitus, I have identified a higher pitch tone that gets worse if I'm going heavy.

I'm a big proponent of combination treatments. It's just that nobody treating us ever looks at these things in a joined up way. You need a full case history with the right tests to go about it properly.

I might seek out a Thai massage place near me and give it a try.

Beware, "Thai Massage" means a whole different thing in my corner of the world

I used to go to a massage therapist after the onset of my Tinnitus and I'm fairly certain it helped me. I did some "real" Thai Massage a couple of times and they would use elbows to pressure my back, so I wouldn't classify it as gentle...

Once I started habituating I decided I wouldn't do anything just because of Tinnitus. Maybe I should go back and see if it still affects me.

Best,
Zug

 

[Steve]

Beware, "Thai Massage" means a whole different thing in my corner of the world

I used to go to a massage therapist after the onset of my Tinnitus and I'm fairly certain it helped me. I did some "real" Thai Massage a couple of times and they would use elbows to pressure my back, so I wouldn't classify it as gentle...

Once I started habituating I decided I wouldn't do anything just because of Tinnitus. Maybe I should go back and see if it still affects me.

Best,
Zug

Ah yes. I hadn't quite thought of that until I mentioned it to my partner, and I got a very strange look

I found someone local who does "Thai Yoga Massage". I'm going to look at a combination of that and sports massage and see how it goes.

I need some form of massage anyway because I get too knotted from lifting weights, haven't had one for many months.

 

[Cor]

Where in Amsterdam do you go for this @Chris Holland? I'm from Amsterdam as well.

 

[Contrast]

ending?

 

[Mikael]

Happy ending?

 

[Chris Holland]

So went back for another session today, and another drop in volume. Not gone but definetely a bit less bothersome now.

 

[John Benbow]

Hey Gang,
I have a mild form of tinnitus that has not caused me to seek serious treatment, though I have gotten massages on a regular basis as part of my self-care. As far as Thai massage goes, I am a practitioner and I wanted to let you know that there is a rich therapeutic Thai massage community out there. There are also "thai massage" parlors that give "happy endings" and who knows what else. Thai massage is very effective for the treatment of muscle tension issues, in general, and I have had great luck treating folks with TMJ with a massage focused on the shoulders and neck. I have a new client coming in tomorrow who specifically is looking for Thai to treat his tinnitus and my search for Thai massage and tinnitus brought me here. Thank you for sharing your experiences and I will come back and let you know how tomorrow's session goes.

 

[Contrast]

There are also "thai massage" parlors that give "happy endings".

 

[John Benbow]

My friend, you missed the point. If you are interested in treating your tinnitus, find a therapeutic Thai massage practitioner.....not a parlor.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

One may find relief or comfort from massage with noise induced tinnitus, but many professionals don't recommend it for somatic neck and shoulder tinnitus. Exactly the methods that I use were based from my link above in post #6. Physical somatic tinnitus is mostly the neck, or neck and jaw.

The study is correct in saying that the occipital nerves, the SCM muscles and the temple need to be treated for somatic neck tinnitus. I been posting about this for a few months. The SCM are pulled on a left side lilt. The temple receive pressure point therapy. Upward forward stretching for the occipital muscles. After a few weeks relief can be seen depending on amount of hearing loss. Some with somatic neck tinnitus don't have a great deal of hearing loss and even if you do, some relief might happen as somatic tinnitus can use other pathways if the right physical treatment is performed. When the jaw is also involved then massage is used under the chin as it meets the neck. Then the back side of the hand gently moving up to the top of the jaw. This is outside motion that's done just under the jaw. This should help the lower throat. I brush my teeth and gums with a gum toothpaste.

All of this may help with somatic tinnitus. The SCM muscles, trapezius and occipital nerves cause over 60 pain centers to react from eye and ear pain to a sore throat and a headache.

I had a group of nine with somatic neck and jaw tinnitus try these treatments and all but one has seen major relief. Some had tinnitus for years. There's also a few on this board whom I have talked to who have received relief. One thing not to do is forward head bending. Neck support when sleeping. Warm before exercise and cold afterwards.

 

[John Benbow]

The 90 minute Thai massage with a focus on the shoulders, neck, cheek, and effected ear did reduce the ringing overall and for some of the massage completely eliminated it. The arm, hand and the left side were thoroughly worked with compressions and some stretching. We will come back at it next week after we see how well the treatment held. The benefits of a Thai massage in general will last a few days so we'll see how it goes. There are always many ways to approach these issues, including modalities of treatment. The body does not pose a one-dimensional problem, it is multi-faceted and will be different for each individual and their circumstances and history.

 

[PaulFi]

One may find relief or comfort from massage with noise induced tinnitus, but many professionals don't recommend it for somatic neck and shoulder tinnitus. Exactly the methods that I use were based from my link above in post #6. Physical somatic tinnitus is mostly the neck, or neck and jaw.

The study is correct in saying that the occipital nerves, the SCM muscles and the temple need to be treated for somatic neck tinnitus. I been posting about this for a few months. The SCM are pulled on a left side lilt. The temple receive pressure point therapy. Upward forward stretching for the occipital muscles. After a few weeks relief can be seen depending on amount of hearing loss. Some with somatic neck tinnitus don't have a great deal of hearing loss and even if you do, some relief might happen as somatic tinnitus can use other pathways if the right physical treatment is performed. When the jaw is also involved then massage is used under the chin as it meets the neck. Then the back side of the hand gently moving up to the top of the jaw. This is outside motion that's done just under the jaw. This should help the lower throat. I brush my teeth and gums with a gum toothpaste.

All of this may help with somatic tinnitus. The SCM muscles, trapezius and occipital nerves cause over 60 pain centers to react from eye and ear pain to a sore throat and a headache.

I had a group of nine with somatic neck and jaw tinnitus try these treatments and all but one has seen major relief. Some had tinnitus for years. There's also a few on this board whom I have talked to who have received relief. One thing not to do is forward head bending. Neck support when sleeping. Warm before exercise and cold afterwards.

Hi Greg, I have a lot of somatic neck tinnitus when I move my neck to the left, arch it back, and when I swallow. All sandy type sounds heard only on left side. I also have extremely tight temples like my head is in a vice grip regularly.

This is in addition to regular normal high pitched tinnitus in both ears which I got 8 years ago and completely habituated to to the point I didn't even register anymore I had tinnitus.

New somatic tinnitus came on after a relapse 4 months ago followed by 6 weeks of electricity in my head and now left with this somatic tinnitus.

Could you send me a link to this exercise programme you are referring to.

Hope you are having a good day.
Best wishes
Paul

 

[Greg Sacramento]

when I swallow. All sandy type sounds heard only on left side. I also have extremely tight temples like my head is in a vice grip regularly.

This is in addition to regular normal high pitched tinnitus in both ears which I got 8 years ago and completely habituated to to the point I didn't even register anymore I had tinnitus.

New somatic tinnitus came on after a relapse 4 months ago followed by 6 weeks of electricity in my head and now left with this somatic tinnitus.

@PaulFi Notice the highlights that I made in quoting you. Your situation is similar to mine. My somatic issues appeared during a dental procedure. My neck was receiving forward pressure from front jaw pressure of procedure. With this my vertebral artery stopped pumping blood for a couple of seconds and also neck muscle spasms straighten my c spine.

Before I can comment to treatment thoughts, information is needed to your activities within minutes to a week before onset.
Example:
Muscle spasms of neck/back - maybe from exercise, work related or dental where there was forward bending and turning of neck.

Keywords are electricity, swallow and somatic reactions.
This points to an artery and area complex. Occipital artery - Axis area - another major neck artery - occipital nerve fibers - and any of this may also have association to the scalene and SCM muscles of neck.