Why Are Your Muscles Sore After Massage
Jan 6th, 2010 by Kathryn Merrow
Some people have soreness following therapeutic massage and others never do. The possibility of having sore muscles following a massage is more common with your very first massage. Soreness occurs because “new” things are happening to your muscles. They get kneaded, moved, squeezed.
All of this can release metabolic (body) wastes and other materials that are stored in your muscles and other soft tissues (skin, fat, fascia.) These waste products are being flushed from the soft tissues. Massage stirs things up. This is not a bad thing but sometimes, for some people, massage can cause muscle soreness.
A deeper “therapeutic” massage is more likely to cause soreness than a really light massage. However, the deeper massage may be exactly what you need.
Soreness may start quickly or within a day but is usually gone within just a few (2-3) days. Sometimes it can last longer. If your massages are far between, each one is just like having a first massage over again. The first massage usually causes the most soreness (if there will be any.)
It’s less likely you will have soreness or tenderness afterward if you have massage more often. Your body adapts to massage and you will have less soreness if you can have massage more frequently. One half hour every other week is more beneficial than one hour once a month.
You will also enjoy more of the health benefits of massage if you can have a session more frequently.
Each body and individual is different. That means that the therapist and YOU must direct the massage in the way that is most beneficial for you.
Drinking lots of water helps flush the metabolic (body) wastes that are released by the massage through normal elimination channels–your kidneys. This helps prevent soreness and is always something to do following a massage (unless your doctor says otherwise).
You may also ice or heat these sore areas to help get rid of the tenderness.
A more general whole-body massage–rather than a “poking” type of massage or one that focuses on only tight parts of your body–may help prevent soreness.
If you scroll down to the Massage Category here at SimplePainRelief.com you will find an article about How To Find A Massage Therapist Who Can Help You. It will help you know the questions to ask or talk with your massage therapist about. And, don’t be shy about directing your massage therapist and talking with him or her; it’s your body and you get to be in charge of what happens to it.
So, the more often you can have therapeutic massage, the more water you drink, and more open communication between you and your massage therapist, the less likely you will be to have soreness after massage.
i have a massage couple times a year . yesterday i had a swedish massage but he really got in there and especially up and down ,y legs… well 5 hours later cant walk my right leg is painful and couldnt sleep i was so achy and now i still liming this morning and forget steps
i drank lots of water..should i be concerned and go to a doctor
Hi Jodi,
I’m sorry to hear of your experience. When you go long periods between massages, every session is like the first time. Your muscles ‘forget’ how they were the last time (more relaxed afterward.)
It sounds like your therapist worked too deeply for you at this time. That can cause soreness. I would suggest calling him and letting him know how you are feeling. He may offer to have you come in again at no cost to do a lighter massage.
Keep on drinking a lot of water. Deep massage flushes metabolic wastes out of your tissues and the water helps the flush continue out through normal elimination channels. If the soreness is related to the massage, there is nothing a doctor can do.
You might get some relief from Aleve or the generic version of Aleve. It seems to be pretty effective for muscle injury pain. Take as directed on the bottle unless there is a reason you cannot take it.
I hope you are feeling better by now. Do consider calling your therapist and letting him know. If you ever go back to him again, be sure to let him know at that time also. And whenever you have a massage, remember that you are the one in charge. If the pressure feels too deep or uncomfortable for you, speak up. It’s your massage and you get to make the decisions about how it will be done.
I hope this helps.
Kathryn
Have you heard of Muscle Activation?
This is more involved than just massage and has proven success.
Just wondering, I had a massage once a month for the last 3 months and each time, I find, I cant move to get off the table without help and I can’t bend over to get dressed. Is this normal or is this something I should bring to a doctors attention. This was a deep tissue massage which felt great but afterward I was sore for at least a day, but the total stiffness in my lower back is scary.
Appreciate your input.
Hi Diane,
Thank you for asking. I’m thinking that it’s the position you lay in. Ask your therapist whether he or she can keep you moving around by incorporating side-lying positions into your massage. Even though they are padded, massage tables are pretty firm.
Side-lying massage works like this: 1/4 of the time face down; 1/4 on one hip with pillows propping you as needed; 1/4 on your back and the last 1/4 on your opposite hip.
If you spend less time on your back and stomach, you may find that it’s not a problem. I’m guessing that you typically end your massage on your stomach?
Also ask your therapist to relax your iliopsoas muscles. (Hopefully she knows how to do this.) They attach your spine to your legs and hip bones. If, when you lay on your back, you usually put your knees up and feet flat on the bed because it’s more comfortable for your back, then your psoas muscles are involved.
Also, it’s possible that your therapist is keeping you on your belly for too much of the session.
If you had 2 half-hour massages each month rather than one hour your muscles would have less soreness. They would remember better how they are supposed to be.
And be sure to drink lots of water for that day and the next. You know how if you exercise you can have some muscle soreness the next day? Massage can be much the same. It is not a concern and the extra water will help prevent some of the soreness (maybe all of it.)
Those are my best long distance guesses.
I hope this helps you get rid of the stiffness in your lower back after a massage.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Thank you, Sharon.
I’m not familiar with it but I see that I can learn more at TheRootOfMotion.com There are many types of helpful bodywork therapies.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi, Kathryn–thank you for writing so well on massage topics. I’m sharing this post with a new client who felt “worked over” after her first massage in a long time. Yes, I did speak to all the same topics you bring up here, but it’s great to have it in print, so readily! I’ll be happy to share your blog on FB.
thanks! eleanor
Hi Eleanor,
Thank you for writing! I appreciate your comments and the FB share. I’m glad to share! Massage is good medicine!
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi Kathryn
i recently had a massage with a new therapist. i usually have a massage every week (i am training to run the marathon). but this time the massage was very intense and very deep. after 8-10 hours, i had a very stiff back and i have been feeling pain intermittently all over the body. i feel pain in some part of my body for 5-10 minutes and then it goes away and some other part starts paining. my back is still stiff. This has been going on for 4 days now. any suggestions? thanks. Rash
Hi Rash,
It sounds like the therapist worked more deeply than your body wanted right then. That’s why it’s very important to give feedback and let the therapist know about the pressure. Just because we have extensive training doesn’t mean we always use the correct pressure. What would I suggest?
At this point, heat is the drug of choice. Gentle massage would also help your muscles. Not ‘fluffy’ massage but just a general massage with appropriate pressure–not deep or digging.
You may find relief from an anti-inflammatory. I have had the best relief from sodium naproxin (Aleve.) Using cold therapy or cold packs on the areas of most intensity will also help.
The therapist should have asked you about your preference for pressure. And it’s always okay to let the therapist know–in fact, it helps us do the best massage for you.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Can you offer any suggestion if the post-massage soreness feels more like it’s ‘nerve-oriented’?
I’ve been reading a lot of your posts and really appreciate them!
Hi Sherri,
Ice is the treatment of choice for nervy pain. Exactly where your nerve sensations are determines where to apply the ice. It’s pretty easy to figure out if it’s in the neck or head–it’s the neck! But elsewhere the pain may be traveling along a nerve to the place where your symptoms are.
Here is something that may help you find the area to apply cold to: here is the link to a page which has a dermatome chart. A dermatome chart shows the areas that are served by sensory nerves. Sensory nerves all start in the spine. http://www.apparelyzed.com/dermatome.html
Thank you for writing and for your kind comment. Additionally, I would talk to the massage therapist about this. It is good to give feedback–it helps us provide a better massage. And he could put it in your file for future reference if you go there again. He or she might even offer to see if they could get rid of this for you at no cost. (Tell ‘em it was my idea.)
I hope this helps you get rid of the nervy pain from your massage.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hello,
I had a massage today, my 2nd one ever and it was great until she got down to my lower back/upper buttocks area. The pain was so intense i nearly jumped off the table. I have a very large butt, and a small waist. Im thinking maybe they’re sore from carrying so much? I don’t know but it hurts very bad. She was very rough and she had to press very deeply in that area to get to the muscle. I almost couldnt stand up straight when I left. Do you have any idea why those muscles are so sore when you press them? Please help! Thanks
Hi,
I had a massage 2 days ago. The massage therapist asked what I wanted to address, and I told her my upper back, neck, and shoulders were sore. However, I was not expecting that she would focus exclusively on these areas. It was odd that she didn’t touch my lower back or arms and, unfortunately, I was too shy to make the request. It also felt very strange what she did to my neck – stroking it over and over so vigorously. I’ve been up at night and have had lots of pain all over the body – in the hips, lower back, hamstrings. Also odd headaches and neck aches. I went to massage to feel BETTER, not WORSE! Please help me understand what might be going on here…. Does it sound like everything is okay? I feel like she should have massaged my lower back and arms as well to ensure that everything was balanced…. I feel very unbalanced. Thanks for clarifying all this! Beth
Hi Melissa,
I suspect your therapist was unnecessarily rough and worked more deeply than she needed to. If you would feel comfortable talking with her about your response and sensations during the massage and afterward that mayhelp her do a better job next time for you or the next person.
When muscles are really tight they can be very tender when pressure is applied. That’s typical. But the therapist should not exceed pressure that you find tolerable (around 7 on a scale of 10 for most folks.) A “10″ is too much and you are tightening your muscles against the pain so the massage is not productive. A “1″ doesn’t do any good, either. But a 6 or 7 on the discomfort scale allows muscles to relax without too much discomfort.
Also, warming an area with gentle massage first helps. Muscles are like onions–first we peel the outer layers and then we can go deeper and deeper toward the center of the onion.
When it is too uncomfortable you, the client, must tell the therapist to lighten up. And the therapist is supposed to respect your input and lighten up.
Especially if you did not have complaints of low back, hip, foot or leg pain there was probably no reason for her to work so deeply there. If you are still sore, cold packs will probably help the most.
When you get your next massage be sure to tell that therapist about areas that are uncomfortable as she works. It’s your massage so you get to direct it.
Let her know if you’d like deeper or lighter pressure, more oil, a warmer room–anything that will make your experience better.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Dear Beth,
It sounds like a massage that I would not have liked either!
You are unbalanced. That’s why you feel unbalanced. Your upper back, neck and shoulders were sore because the poor things were overstretched. That happens with poor posture. They didn’t need all that attention to try to ‘relax’ them. Rather, they needed to be helped back into balance by also massaging the muscles that are short and tight. Those tend to be the muscles in the front of your body and arms and on the sides of your back.
She should have massaged the front and sides of your neck and your upper chest muscles (which can be done with complete modesty.)
You might consider using cold therapy (cold packs) and sodium naproxen (Aleve–which is over the counter) for the discomfort. It will probably take a few days for you to get back to feeling more balanced.
You might also consider either calling her to talk with her about this or writing her a letter. It will hopefully help her understand how to do a better massage. And you might suggest that since you felt and feel so out of balance she might like to consider doing a corrective session with no charge. That would help you be a happier client. Tell her I suggested that if you wish.
And you must always give feedback to your massage therapist. We cannot read minds too well and new or inexperienced or not highly skilled therapists especially need feedback. It really helps us to grow and become better. It does NOT hurt our feelings. Or, if it does hurt feelings then that’s not the best therapist for you anyway.
It’s your massage so you get to direct it.
A good time to start the conversation is before the massage starts during the interview.
Share the same story you shared with me. Ask your therapist to give a little special attention to the areas that are bothering you but also explain that you would like a “full body” massage as well. (That means all of the legitimate parts.)
And it’s also okay to give direction and ask questions or share preferences during the session. It really does help us do a better job.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hello,
I went in for a massage just over two weeks ago. The message therapist mainly focused on following areas: between shoulder blades and mid-back. She also worked little bit on the trapezius muscles, the rotator cuff area and the neck. The massage was intense but tolerable. I did not feel any pain or discomfort after the massage on that day. A few days after the massage I started experiencing pain and soreness between the shoulder blades, below the shoulder blades (rib area), around kidney area, abdominal pain. It’s been little over two weeks since the massage. Is it normal to have this much pain and soreness after massage? Is it possible for the message therapist to cause nerve damage which could be causing this pain? I need help…please provide some advice.
Hi John,
My best long distance feeling is that there may not be any connection to the massage. I’m basing this on the length of time between the start of your discomfort and the massage.
When there is soreness it is gone within maybe 5 days at the most. I am wondering whether this requires a visit to your doctor just in case it’s something like gall bladder pain or an intestinal issue. I think that’s why I’d do based on what you told me.
Sometimes a therapist works in a deep way and relaxes only part of the body instead of all of the body. That can cause muscle imbalance. And then if, for instance, you were to twist or do some other movement that you normally can do, it might cause some muscle spasm.
Have you called this therapist and explained your possible reaction? She may say come back in and let’s see what we can do. But you know how you are feeling better than I do.
Just to be on the safe side if you don’t start feeling better quickly, I’d see the doctor about this pain in your abdomen and ribs.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi, I had a massage, neck back and shoulder, a week ago today. The last one I had was about 2 yrs ago. There was a lot of creaking or cracking of my bones, it did hurt to begin with but then was fine. A couple of days later I had a sore right shoulder and neck. My shoulder is a lot better, but my neck is still painfull. If i Turn my head to the right there is a small click in my head. And generally my head feels heavy to hold up. I’m not sure if that makes sense! This has definitely happened since the massage, and I’ve been having a hot bath each night. It may of eased, but still not right. Will it go away eventually? Do i need to go to a doctors and get checked out, or will having hot baths help.? Thank you.
Hi Amy,
There sure has been a rash of people writing lately with massage complaints. It’s not surprising if someone is sore after a massage because the muscles aren’t used to being manipulated and kneaded or pressed. But it is strange to have so many people with complaints afterward.
My gut feeling is that muscles were not relaxed in a balanced way and that made it easier for you to sleep or turn possibly in a way that was different than you were used to.
The best treatment for your neck is probably cold therapy. Ice addresses both nerves and muscles so whichever is at fault will settle down. It sounds like the muscles in the front of your neck and body are pulling your head down (because heads are heavy and muscles in front get short just from living.)
Wrap a cold pack or bag of frozen peas around your neck on the side that is bothering you. Wrap the pack all the way to the notch in your collar bone. Then do the other side the same way. Then do the back side. It’s 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off and place a thin cloth between you and the cold pack so you don’t freeze your skin. Cold numbs and also helps muscles relax, believe it or not!
Most doctors are really out of touch with muscle pain. He would most likely not know what to do except give you pain meds. Pain medications don’t heal anything. They just block sensation sometimes. But sometimes a dose or two of Aleve does wonders with muscle or injury pain.
I think you will get better on your own but I also think it would be a good idea to call the massage therapist and explain what happened and how you feel. She or he may offer to have you come back without a fee to do a gentle type of corrective, balancing massage. In fact, you could ask for that.
So many therapists work on backs more than the rest of the body but the rest of the body needs treatment, too. The back is usually the complainer but the short front muscles are usually the culprits. Working on the muscles all the way around helps balance bodies. Working on just backs further weakens the backs (which is why they are usually complaining in the first place.)
You can also explore your muscles on the sides and front of your neck, Amy, and look for tight, tender areas. If you find some, you can apply gentle pressure or rubbing or pinching to help them get warmed up and loosen. The little click noise you hear may indicate muscles are pulling more on one side than another.
You can strengthen the muscles in the back of your neck and upper back by gently pressing your head (gently!) into your mattress and by pressing your upper arms into the mattress. Don’t overdo or you will be sore. Start with just a few movements and build to more over several days. I suggest this because of your ‘heavy head.’
Thank you for writing. Remember, I’m not a doctor! And I hope this helps you get rid of the neck pain from your massage.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi,
I got a massage tuesday– now friday. I woke up wednesday with back pain and neck pain but this isnt abnormal for me the day after a massage so I was not concerned. Thursday however I was unable i turn my head very much in any direction; and walking, laying or sitting all hurt. I was taking pain meds and tried a heating pad thursday night. Today the pain was just as bad. Could the massage be the cause?
Hi, I have been getting massages for years. I’d say 1-2 per month for the last 2-3 years. I have and carry a lot of stress with my job, so it’s one of the ways I treat myself and I feel has a positive effect on my body, mind and soul. I really like my knots worked out & I speak up if it’s too much. Almost every therapist tells me my neck, shoulders, quads…are very tight and that i have more trigger points then any other client they have. I hear it a lot. I wear heels 5 days a week at work, so I do notice my lower back, gluts and quads tend to have a lot of trigger points. It is my norm that I’m a little sore in my back or neck the next day, but nothing too bad, and usually subsides in a day. So, yesterday I tried a new therapist. I did request, as usual, deep pressure. Within about 3 hours the heels in my feet were extremely sore. They feel like (and kind of look like) they have bruises. The heel also feels like it has a knot where it hurts, there’s like a lump. It hurts to walk. The thing is I due recall the therapist working on my feet towards the end of the massage and it felt great. It’s just so weird to me that this happened. I had a bunch of errands to run today and I’m not sure my feet can hang. What should I do? I thought about getting a pedicure today to see if the pampering would help. Would love your thoughts!
Hi Lesley,
Ice the tender areas. And maybe take an anti-inflammatory like Aleve. I find that is the one that works best for my muscle injuries. (Ok–so I fall every now and then!)
That’s why I know first hand that cold therapy works.
It could be a bruise. Sometimes that happens working over bony areas or areas of very tight muscle or tissue. Or it could be some inflammation from the deep pressure.
Back to your massage therapists. It sounds like they all have a lot of misinformation about knots and trigger points. That’s really common in the field and that’s too bad.
Sure, your high heels are throwing your posture off and causing muscle strain. And massage is an awesome natural medicine so I am really glad you are taking care of yourself like that.
What’s really going on in your lower back is muscle strain from the shoes and maybe the way you sit, too. Your quads will pull your hip bones forward and downward and that will cause back strain, too. So having massage to your quads is good for you. Some massage to your back muscles may feel helpful but the bulk of the massage should be to the short, tight muscles in the front of your body that are pulling your head forward.
In my mind, a massage therapist should help you feel better in your mind and in your body. That means a thoughtful, skilled therapist will NOT tell you their negative thoughts such as ‘you are so tight.’ It’s not true anyway; it just shows their lack of knowledge and practice. I teach my students to encourage clients not to discourage them.
So keep on doing massage because it really is great natural medicine! And do use cold therapy or moving ice on your heel for now.
And I’m hopeful that you will find an excellent massage therapist who will help you balance your muscles so you will have fewer complaints between sessions.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi Miranda,
Wow! This is the week of massage complaints! That’s so sad to me. You are right–it can be really common to have muscle soreness following massage. This especially happens if it’s a long time between sessions because it’s just like starting all over again.
Sounds like some muscles were relaxed but others around your neck were not. That’s really common with most massages (but it doesn’t have to be.)
I don’t suspect it was the massage. Rather, I suspect the massage allowed some muscles to be more relaxed than others which then allowed you to move in different ways than usual. Maybe even in your sleep.
A better choice than heat would be cold therapy or ice therapy. Look at the Heat and Cold Category here for more information about how to use it. Ice reduces pain and swelling and it also is the drug of choice for irritated nerves. There are lots of nerves in necks. The first 48-72 hours after an event it is better to use cold than heat. After 72 hours you can try heat or alternate heat and cold.
If it feels a little worse after heat, that means ice is the drug of choice. And speaking of drugs, (I am not a doctor!!!) you may find more relief from an anti-inflammatory like Aleve than a pain med.
I hope you feel better soon. I also think it would be a good idea to contact your massage therapist and let him or her know how you are feeling. They can put it into your treatment notes and also may have more ideas for you since they know what type of massage they did for your back and neck and the rest of you.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Lesley, I forgot to tell you to contact your therapist and let him or her know what happened and how you are feeling. They will add this to your treatment notes and also may have additional helpful thoughts since they know exactly what treatment they did. Massage therapists need feedback so we can do our best.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Dear Kathryn,
Thank you for this wonderful website, am looking forward to having a look around on it.
Im another one sore after massage …. well Ive had lower back pain for some years, then fell on my tailbone a few years ago and despite physiotherapy and some massage by the physio then the pain never actually went away.
So I end up going back to physiotherapy about a year ago, but it didnt really help. They gave me some exercises to do at home and would do a short massage treatment about 15 minutes or so, although it initially helped it would always get bad again. Seemingly I have problems in the piriformis and glutes.
Having moved Ive gone to a new doctor who thinks I may have fibromyalgia as also have many trigger points and referred pain and pain other places, so awaiting to see a rheumatologist. But in the meantime Im going to a new physiotherapist who I will see only every 2 weeks and the first appointment we just dealt with posture. And so being in a lot of pain I decided to go to a massage specialist 2 days ago to complement. He does all types including sports and seemed to know his stuff. He said that I have a lot of tenderness around where the sacrum connects with the muscle and took great care especially where I could feel pain going past the 6 he would back down. The massage didnt really hurt as such other when he was manipulating the knobbly bits in the muscles in my lower back which was quite tender.
I felt great right after the massage, but maybe I made a mistake here. I went to the pub to watch a football match after and drank diet coke instead of flushing myself out with water! I was fine that evening but yesterday I woke up in a lot of pain and today I was even worse, even a bit sick. I put ice on the area this morning which seemed to help, Ive taken some painkillers and since had a bath, but I am just so sore! Im frightened that this might not go away. I should say that the previous massages by the physio at my old address were sometimes twice a week, but theres been a month between the last appointment there and my appointment 2 days ago.
Also I try avoid NSAIDS because I get bad stomachs so only take them when absolutely necessary, like getting migraines, so have paracetamol and codein but that doesnt work when the pain is as bad as it is today. Ive drank a lot of water today but dont know if its too late!
I wonder when it would be safe to go back to see the massage man – if I can brave it!
Any advice would be most appreciated!
Shan
Hi Shan,
May I tell you about Fibromyalgia? That diagnosis means: I acknowledge that you hurt but I don’t know why. When you get rid of the trigger points and get your muscles back into more balance you may discover that the fibromyalgia is gone!
When it is a first time massage or a long time between massages, it’s not uncommon to have soreness afterward. Sometimes it doesn’t come on for a day or two. Some folks get soreness; some don’t. The water instead of the coke would have been a better choice. It’s always a better choice.
My gut tells me that this soreness will pass soon. Please call your therapist and tell him of your response. It’s important for him to know this and note it for future reference. Within a week or so the ‘bruisiness’ from the massage will be gone gone so anytime after that would be a good time to see him again. This time you might ask him to work a bit less deeply. I’ll be betting you won’t have the same response. You might have some, but not this amount.
Ice is good for migraines, too. Try it at the base of your skull and neck and with a cold, icy cloth over your eyes (laying down.)
Communication is key for the best massage. And you are the one in charge of your massage. It sounds as if he was responsive to your feedback.
Thank you for writing and for taking care of yourself,
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi there,
Just sunday been, my boyfriend and I got massages. It was both his and mine first times to get them done. My body is still really aching and sore and feel like i have inside bruises on my back. My partner isn’t sore but he got a medium to hard range.
Hi Sara,
Every body responds differently to a first massage. Your response is not unusual. Maybe your boyfriends massage was lighter or he drank more water afterward. Or maybe he has better posture so has fewer back pain issues normally?
The bruisy feeling is because your muscles were moved and pressed into in ways they weren’t used to. I hope your next massage will be a better experience afterward. Be sure to tell your next massage therapist so they can work in a lighter way. Also, did your therapist spend a great deal of time on your back? If so, it may have been more than your back muscles wanted.
If you are able to have massage on a regular basis–once a month or more–you will be less likely to have this much aching after a session. The first time or after a long time without a massage (which is just like a first time) are the times that are most likely to elicit the most tenderness.
I’m sorry for my delay in responding–Internet connection issues–hopefully, by now you are feeling better.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi Kathryn,
Thank you for your reply. I did go to the doctor and he tol me to get X-Ray of my thorasic spine. The pain is much better than before but now I have another problem. I’m concerned it may be related to the massage. I’ve been feeling dizziness and slight pressure on top of my head. My trapezius muscles have discomfort and soreness. I asked my doctor if i could have a pinced nerve from the massage but he said pinched nerve would send pain down the leg and arms. I’m so confused as this all started after couple of weeks after the massage. could this be related to the massage since my muscles are still sore from the massage? I’m more concerned about this dizzy feeling than I am about the pain. please help
Hi John,
Top of head pain is caused by tightness in the muscles at the base of the skull on the back of the head. It can also be caused by tight neck muscles that run from the notch between your collar bones to behind your ears. The reason it hurts on top is because those tight muscles are ‘firing’ the pain there.
Try pressing or cold packs on the muscles at the base of your skull. If it’s the other neck muscles you would have pain on the face and sides of your head, too. Let me know if it’s more like that and I will write an article about SCM referral pain for you.
The uppermost neck nerves serve the head. The lower neck nerves serve the arms. Lower in the spine the nerves serve the legs. It sounds like your doctor didn’t think you have nervy symptoms.
Your muscles are still sore? That’s not typical. Are they sore where you were massaged or only in some of the areas? I’m thinking strongly it’s related to posture or position.
The dizziness can come from tight muscles around your ears and neck. If the doctor didn’t find any other reason, it may be from tight muscles. And what causes tight muscles? Usually poor posture. Are you collapsing forward? When you catch yourself in a mirror, is your head leading the rest of your body?
I’m glad your pain is going away. Dizziness can come and go and sometimes it never returns.
Tight upper traps are also an indication of poor posture or forward-head posture. Maybe your massage relaxed those muscles a bit too much and so you are slouching more?
If your dizziness is related to posture (and it often is) here’s what to do:
Practice strengthening your back muscles from your knees to your head. Stretch the muscles in front. Lift the crown of your head and your breast bone.
Did you talk to your massage practitioner? Are you willing to have another massage? You could direct the therapist as to pressure and where to work. In fact, you should. Be sure to tell them what is going on with you. You might wish to see someone else. Ask friends for referrals to practioners they were happy with and had pain relief with. You can interview them on the phone to see if it sounds like they understand bodies and also to ask what they might do for your situation.
I hope this helps and that you get rid of the dizziness and pain on top of your head soon.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi Kathryn
A friend of mine (so not a professional) gave me a massage yesterday and she massaged the back of my arms aswell. It hurt particular on my left arm when she did it and today it feels like its almost bruised. Not painful by its self but hurts when I touch it. I thought about massaging it more but I know with bruises you shouldn’t rub them. My lower back particular hurts which is odd as she only massaged my upper back. My body feels a bit like a back ache and how you feel after a work out (but more painful). What should I do?
Thanx, Sally
Hi Sally,
It’s perfectly fine that your friend who is not a professional therapist gave you a massage. In fact, it’s awesome.
We should touch and help friends and family more. It’s a very healthy thing.
When muscles are tight they are tender when massaged. And they can feel bruised or sometimes even be bruised afterward. Ice is probably the best self-care treatment to help the backs of your arms feel better. If you do decide to apply some massage, keep it gentle to encourage healing.
I’m thinking it may have been the position that you were in during the massage that is causing your lower back discomfort.
The soreness after a massage can feel much like the muscle ache after a workout when your muscles aren’t used to it. And that is why: Your muscles weren’t used to the movement of the massage.
It might take only one dose of over-the-counter sodium naproxen (Aleve) to get rid of the muscle aches and pains. The aches should go away within a few days on their own, anyway.
Oh, and remember to drink lots of water. We should always do that after a massage. It helps remove the metabolic wastes that the massage released in the body. And muscles that are well-hydrated function best.
I hope this helps you get rid of your muscle aches that followed your massage.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi Kathryn,
I have just returned from a wonderful weekend at a hotel and spa. However, I had an aromatherapy back/body massage which has left me in so much pain. I have taken inflammatory tablets, ice packs etc. but to no avail. I am in agony with my right shoulder and arm, and several places on my back. I am normally good with pain and my threshold is high. I had explained to my therapist that I receive injections for arthritis in my right shoulder before she began. It seemed to be a deep massage compared to ones I have had in the past. Do you think any further damage was caused. What more can I do?
Thank You,
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
I am so sorry. Massage should be a wonderful experience.
I don’t think further damage was done. However, it sounds like it was a massage that pressed deeply into muscles that were tight and not used to being pressed on. They can be tender and even feel bruised afterward (or even be bruised sometimes.)
I wonder whether she spent most of the time working on your back rather than doing a general, all over massage? Way too many massage practitioners make that error.
Ice may help. The anti-inflammatory that helps me most with muscle injuries (soreness) is Aleve (sodium naproxen) and it’s over the counter.
Use heat on the muscles on the fronts of your arms and your upper chest. That will help balance them not being treated. It will help them relax. Cold will also work on the front muscles.
Cathy, if you can, it would be good to contact this therapist and tell her what is happening with you. Ask her for suggestions. Letting her know your response will help her do a better job with other clients. Also, you should let the manager of the spa know for the same reason.
Whenever you have a massage, please don’t be shy. If something doesn’t feel quite right or good, let the therapist know so he or she can change techniques or pressure or location. It’s your body and you are in charge.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach
Hi Kathryn,
Thank you for your informative website! I had my first-ever massage yesterday afternoon and it felt wonderful. My therapist commented that my muscles were tight and worked them out. Later in the day I began to feel sore and light-headed. This morning I am still a little dizzy and light-headed and the soreness in my muscles is almost unbearable. I can’t touch my neck or back even slightly because the pain is so intense. I have read your recommendations to take Aleve and will do so, but should I do cold or hot therapy for my specific case? And further still, is the dizziness a normal reaction or do you think it’s completely unrelated? Thank you for any advice you can give me.
Hi Megan,
Thank you for writing. Did your massage therapist tell you to drink lots of water after the massage and throughout the evening and next day? If not, start now.
Water helps flush out the metabolic wastes that the massage moved out of the body tissues. We are supposed to remember to offer water and let clients know that.
Aleve works best for me but some folks may prefer aspirin or ibuprofen. Ice is the drug of choice that I’d suggest. You could also alternate cold and heat.
Regarding the dizziness. I don’t know how old you are or what your posture is like. I don’t know where the therapist worked. The dizziness might not be related at all or it might be because your head is sitting a little differently on your shoulders.
Feeling light-headed or dizzy is not a typical reaction but the soreness is.
Did your therapist work on the muscles on the front of your neck and your upper chest and front of your arms? If those areas were treated and were also tender, that’s actually good. However, if she focused on the back of your body mostly that would have allowed your head to travel a little farther forward. That puts strain on the muscles around the ears. When the muscles and tissues around the ears are tight, that can cause dizziness.
Use the heat/cold therapy on your upper chest, upper front arms and sides and fronts of your neck, too. Do this especially if the therapist didn’t touch them much. It will help balance your muscles.
I hope this helps. Next time you have a massage, let the therapist know what happened this time and how you felt. Ask them to work lighter and that will help prevent such a reaction.
Massages are wonderful. But you lose some of the pleasure when you feel sore and dizzy after your massage.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach