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March 28, 2006

Out You Damn Stone!

I'm so excited! I passed my first kidney stone yesterday. Well, actually, my client had the stone but it was my first opportunity to help someone with that affliction.

First some anatomy. The ureters have three areas where they narrow: where they attach to the kidney, about half way down where it crosses the psoas muscle, and again where they attach at the bladder. These "narrows" are usually where the stone gets stuck causing pressure and pain. Also, because of the position of the kidneys deep in the body and the bladder anterior of the kidneys, the ureter's path angles posterior to anterior as it descends through the body.

My client had been suffering for a week. I used visceral manipulation to move the stone. Gently loading pressure onto the ureter (while constantly monitoring the discomfort level of my client) I "stretched" the ureters down toward the bladder.

My client said it was the weirdest sensation they had ever experienced, but their pain subsided as the stone moved out of the center "narrows." I cheered and checked the location of the stone with a craniosacral hold. My client could identify the exact location of the stone while I had them in this hold. We kept working to move the stone down to the final "narrows."

Finally, I could palpate the tension in the ureter where it entered the bladder. I gently applied pressure and stretch until the tension subsided. My client reported feeling no further pain and a sense of being rejuvenated. I am awaiting their call to hear if they passed the stone in their urine.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage+therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at March 28, 2006 6:56 AM