Real massage....
 

Will be making a trip to Bangkok next month. Need to ask if anyone can recommend a good massage place tht provides genuine real massage that can help with sports injury. I injured my lower back a few weeks ago and all the pain killers that has been prescribed by my GP doesn't seem to help much. A visit to a local malaysian masseur who was supposed to help with sports injury aggravated the injury by damaging the ligament or muscle tissue.
Maybe those that provide massage with herbal oil might help. Too bad that the only massage places I know are the boys massage .... I don't think they can help.
Would really appreciate some recommendations. Thanks in advance.

109 views and no suggestions.... :(

Looks like I might have to go round and ask the local thais when I am there..... with my limited thai, I hope I won't be directed to the wrong places... he he

There's a "real" massage school at Wat Po. I've never been but have heard good things about it. I can not, however, begin to tell you how to get there unless you know the city well.

-- I would submit a couple of places for your consideration:

1.- SILOM MASSAGE,
- address: 16/1, Si Lom rd.,
Bang rak, BKK. 10500..
- loc'n.: Si Lom rd.;
same side as 'Robinson's Dept. Store.', 'Coffee Soc'y.' & 'Bug & Bee.', roughly it's opposite to Silom Complex Shopping Centre - MORE exactly its almost by the start of the escalator to BTS. Sala Daeng,(S2.),.
- contact - (02)-632 7008.;
- hrs.: 11.oo.-23.oo.;
- rates: TH. trad. - 250.oo.Bh./hr., Oil - 500.oo.Bh./hr., PLUS TIPS. to masseur;
- recommend: Khun John who will give you a straight-fwd. and no hanky-panky massage.

2.- BAAN TEWA,
- address: S. Sathorn soi 7/1.,
Sathorn, BKK. 10120.;
- locn.: behind SGP. Embassy; nrest. BTS.: Chong Nonsi,(S3.),;
- contact: (02)-679 0816. --- http://www.baantewa.com
- hrs.: 14.oo.-22.oo. - unsure?
- rates: competitive;
- recommend: Khun Kob who has trained at Wat Po.; tell him of the type of massage desired.

-- E&OE.. Usual disclaimers.
-- bibi. --

I'm not sure I'd recommend Thai massage for an injury. I think it's more of a holistic kind of thing, with a set routine that contributes to overall well-being but that does not really do that much for specific ailments. I've always gotten better results from a chiropractor.

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Icon!!!

1.- Agreed, I'm sure that TH. massage is most unsuited for injuries.
2.- I've tried Chiropractice, Manipulation, Massage, Osteopathy et al., etc. etc..
- For me the best and longest lasting results have been from Acupuncture, for wch. I have a recommended name & address should anyone want to PM. me - but usual disclaimers, of course!
-- bibi. --

Specific Massage Therapy at Wat Po
 

Apart from the Traditional Thai Massage course taught at Wat Po, there is also a Massage Therapy course that deals with things like injuries and pain. I've done the course and found it very good.

So, you could go to Wat Po and explain what you are looking for and ask if one of the staff would provide you with specific therapy for your ailment. Alternatively, you might ask if one of the therapy practitioners could come to your hotel and do the therapy there.

If you don't speak Thai then I would initially recommend getting a Thai speaker to explain what you are looking for. You will probably find, however, that the therapist will be able to speak English, but it is best to do the initial introduction in Thai.

Alternatively you might try a Thai Physiotherapist.

-- As for massages given at WAT PO am I correct in u'standing. that nowadays most of them are given by other students under instruction or interning rather than by the professional staff?

-- I believe that there is another school, but possibly not so well-known as Wat Po. for budding masseurs somewhere or other up in the Nonthaburi area? N'buri. is UPstream from BKK. and can be accessed by river-ferry.
-- bibi. --

Sextile, massages at Tat Po are, indeed, given by massage-students-in-training, rather than by fully qualified professionals. They are, however, under the guidance of trained professionals and are closely watched....or so I'm told.