Whiplash Concussions
Bruising Burns
Post Surgery Sprains
Dental Surgery Bursitis
Chronic Swelling Head Impacts
This is an acceleration-deceleration condition that often involves torn tissue to some degree: muscles, ligaments, and/ or joint capsules. Other structures can get injured, but damage to any or all of these above structures can lead to swelling in the tissue, often significant. The neck has multiple layers of connective tissue and fascia, and swelling often gets trapped in these layers.
If you are experiencing a ‘tight’ neck following a collision, and it is difficult to move your head, much of this tightness may be due to deep swelling in the neck. Deep tissue massage will aggravate your neck at this stage. Lymphatic drainage, however, will decrease swelling and, pain, increase neck movement, increase ease of movement and can help decrease headaches that may be related to cervical edema.
"I’ve been to several good massage therapists in the past, but Pete is exceptional. His expert treatments have enabled me to be more active than in the past. Pete’s massages consistently leave me with improved mobility and comfort." Jill S.
"I have had chronic neck issues for many years and have seen my share of massage therapists. I was recommended to Pete by a friend and WOW!! His technique is very different from other therapists I've had who do deep tissue the entire time. I'm not sure what he did, but my neck hasn't felt so good in years!! He is also amazing at helping people heal faster after surgeries. Pete is also such a wonderfully calm person- you automatically feel more relaxed just being in the same room. Go see him- you'll thank me later!!" Jennifer K
Head Impacts, Concussions
Concussions and impacts to the head can be painful, disorienting and limit normal activity. How well someone responds to treatment depends on many factors, including the force of impact. Lymphatic Drainage and Craniosacral Therapy can be fabulous modalities to help release head tension, decrease bruising, increase lymph flow in the head and neck and restore tissue health. It can help decrease brain fog, increase energy and vitality. Student athletes tend to respond very well to such treatments.
"Concussion sufferers TAKE NOTE: Pete has had a profound impact on my daughter's health. She is 14 and has been active in basketball since grade school. We were first referred to Pete to help my daughter with her chronic ankle problems. Pete informed us that concussions can cause your lymph system to get blocked and the lack of being able to drain toxins from your body can have impact throughout your entire body (and in my daughters case, definitely her ankles). She was like a new person after 1 session with Pete.. She went through the whole basketball season without complaining of her ankle issues once (hadn't happened for the previous 3 years)." Ryan T
Bruising to your body is often painful. A bruise is a collection of blood in a confined area. Blood th.png)
at spills into the tissue has a high protein content that will attract further fluid to the region (secondary edema). If widespread or deep enough, this bruising can last weeks and months. Long standing bruised tissue can result in adhesions due to the increased connective tissue fibers becoming bound. Lymphatic Drainage can assess how well your body is or is not moving this fluid, and then help move it out.
"At the end of the season, my daughter took a brutal elbow to her temple and was diagnosed with another concussion. She had extreme bruising for 3 weeks (dramatic really). Yesterday we went to Pete again.. he said things were very stuck and the blood and swelling in the bruised area had no place to go and that we were likely to see improvements. Well this morning my daughter woke up and her bruising was completely gone... not to mention she feels better then she has since the incident. We will definitely maintain a relationship with Pete. He has a very great spirit about him and has me wondering how he can help the rest of my family."
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Burns can be debilitative and painful. Lymphatic drainage can be supportive in this recovery without touching the burn. Lymphatic Drainage will increase the flow of excess fluid away from the injury. As fluid is transported from the area, pressure on the pain receptors can decrease, reducing the pain. This will help facilitate tissue recovery. For example, if a hand gets burned, there is no need to touch the burn area or even the wrist, yet the fluid will start decreasing by focusing further up the arm.
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Swelling happens following most surgical processes as part of the body's healing process. Lymphatic Drainage Therapy assesses and treats you safely, and ensures your body is moving fluid away from the injury.
Plastic surgery is an outstanding candidate for this work. Lymphatic techniques can dramatically decrease widespread bruising in a few sessions.
Joint replacement surgeries, such as knees and hips, can take months in the rehabilitation process, as can foot surgeries. Lymphatic techniques are excellent at decreasing this kind of swelling. They are an excellent adjunct to physical therapy and other rehabilitative therapies.
Fractures can result in a casted extremity. These techniques can decrease the swelling INSIDE a cast by working above it. Lymphatic drainage functions as a siphon, therefore, by increasing the siphon potential above the cast, it will decrease the swelling in that particular extremity. If you are familiar with siphoning gas from a car, then you get the idea of how the lymphatic system can move excess fluid from one location to another.
"I was referred to Pete Connolly by a friend. I was having shoulder pain/arm weakness, and eventually had a shoulder reconstruction to solve the problem. Pete's unique knowledge and skill have helped relieve pain, loosen stiffness, and promote healing. I developed severe frozen shoulder following the surgery, and he has been a tremendous help, in conjunction with physical therapy, in my ability to overcome the issue in under two months, allowing me to return to my vocation as a professional musician in reduced time. Pete focuses on the entire body to promote a foundation for healing and wellness. I have more energy, strength and am more centered than I have been in years.
Dental Surgery
No one enjoys dental surgery. Lymphatic techniques can be supportive in moving out this swelling quickly, decreasing pain and pressure. Some clients have received this work just before surgery, increasing the body’s natural draining capacity for the surgical procedure. Remember that once the lymphatic system has been ‘ramped up’, as in a 60-minute session, it generally takes 4-5 hours for it to return to its normal resting rate. Receiving a treatment right before getting into the dental chair will help minimize the swelling during the event.
In addition, having the mouth open for so long can effect the proprioception of some of the mastication muscles. Release and balancing of the pterygoids, for example, and other muscles can go a long ways in decreasing mouth ache and/ or jaw pain following extended mouth work. If you have a few dental sessions lined up in a row, consider receiving some mouth release. If you have never had it, you may be surprised how much tension can be held here.
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Sprains involve the overstretching and tearing of ligaments attaching bone to bone. Most of us are familiar with ‘bad’ ankle sprains and how they swell up like melons. Lymphatic Drainage is excellent for ankle sprains and all sprains. Ligaments generally receive less blood than muscular tissue and so can take longer to recover. Optimizing the recovery by reducing swelling can be very helpful.
Bursitis
This is inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) that lies between a tendon and skin, or between a tendon and bone. Bursae help minimize wear and friction between two structures in the body that rub against each other. These sacs are tough and fluid does not move in and out easily. Impacting a bursae or falling on one can result in bursitis. Tight connective tissue can lead to bursitis too, for example, a very tight IT band. Clinically, lymphatic techniques have not had much direct impact on the bursitis per se. However, many cases present with swollen and irritated tissue around the area. Decreasing that swelling can help alleviate regional discomfort and pain. With the reduced swelling the muscles often become less tender, allowing massage techniques to decrease imbalanced muscle tensions, helping to decrease bursitis aggravation.
Chronic Swelling
Many of us have managed chronic or reoccurring injuries from time to time. Sometimes these injuries can become ‘acute’, that is, they can develop inflammation and swelling. It is important to recognize this and to give such injuries the proper care to allow them to progress through a full healing cycle. Chronic injuries often present if a former injury never fully resolved. Both lymphatic and craniosacral techniques can be useful tools in helping to normalize tissue conditions and help you return to health..JPG)
"Pete is one of the kindest and most effective healers I have found during my 4 year battle with chronic pain. His non-invasive and gentle approach has created a safe environment where my body has been able to release and in turn pain decreases. His focused, yet simple techniques have relieved back pain, decreased digestive issues, reduced post-surgery swelling, calmed my nervous system reducing anxiety and PTSD symptoms. This has created space in my body so that healing could occur. I have seen a multitude of doctors, been written over 100 prescriptions but I have made more progress with Pete than almost anyone. He is truly a gifted healer. I feel very blessed he has been on this journey with me." Tracy F.