Massage therapy is a popular form of treatment for a variety of ailments, from stress and migraines to serious illnesses such as Parkinson's and sickle cell anemia. However, if done incorrectly, massage can cause damage to nerves, leading to muscle spasms and inflammation. There are many potential causes of pinched nerves, some of which can be treated with massage, while others cannot. These causes can be divided into two categories: muscle or bone problems. When it comes to self-massage, there is an increased risk of accidentally applying too much pressure too quickly before feeling any danger.
This may be a sign that the client is in pain but is unable to communicate it verbally and ask for the massage to be changed. Both massage clients and therapists should be aware of this possibility and take care to avoid it in clinical settings. In addition, a neck massage that ends with a crack in the neck, as is often done by barbers after a haircut in taverns, can cause long-term damage to the joints of the neck and surrounding tissues, muscles or nerves. In some cases, this can even lead to bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. These cases of nerve damage due to massage have something in common with cases of muscle damage. In some cases, a massage that aggravates existing nerve damage can lead to the need for medications such as morphine and nerve tablets.
An MRI may be necessary to determine if there is permanent damage. It is unlikely that you could harm yourself by massaging the area at the back of the neck (next to and behind the spine). Intense and strenuous deep tissue massage, friction and compression are the forms of massage that are most likely to cause muscle or nerve damage, so these techniques should be used with caution. In some cases, a person may experience body aches after a massage. While massage has been studied for centuries and evidence shows that it can be an effective treatment for certain conditions, it is important to note that many reported cases of nerve damage come from non-professional massage therapists. When performed by trained masseuses, massage is generally considered safe. Compressed nerves may not be cured by massage therapy, but it may help alleviate some of the associated pain and discomfort.
To illustrate the dangers of deep massage in the neck and shoulder area, a 38-year-old woman experienced difficulty lifting her left arm and shoulder pain after receiving a two-hour massage from two masseuses at once.
