Yes - massage therapy can help, as can "dry needling" (think: accupuncture) and other "hands on" manipulative techniques. I always advocate for finding a PT, simply because they have been trained in biomechanics. All of the PT staff at the location I attend will happily utilize massage, or whatever technique is best for each patient - and that is the key. They don't have a "one size fits all" mentality, instead focusing on what is best for each person. In my case, they found quickly that I responded best to dry needling and water therapy, where another patient who had very similar issues to me got no relief from dry needling and water therapy did nothing to help her; she wound up using traction and bands with great success - both things that did not help me at all, and caused me more pain.
Same diagnosis, very very similar symptom set, same doctor - two very different treatments.
Having said all that, the number of people who I meet who have horror stories (just like
@arminnie) makes me sad, and angry. It's only because I *finally* found the right PT for me that I am even remotely mobile and able to take care of myself. The last one I had before I took control of my own recovery did so much damage that it set me back *months*. Suffice it to say, that practice has been closed, and three of the PTs who worked there lost their licenses, so at least they can't hurt anyone else.
