Hey everyone, Mia here. Long-time lurker, occasional poster, and honestly one of those people who books a massage at least twice a month because my desk job absolutely destroys my upper back. So I like to think I know a thing or two about what a good session feels like — and what a bad one feels like too.
Last week I had an experience I'm still trying to make sense of, and I figured this board was the right place to bring it up because I know a lot of you book regularly and might have gone through something similar.
I booked a deep tissue massage specifically targeting my neck and shoulders. I've had deep tissue before, plenty of times, and I always feel a little sore the next day — that's normal. But this time I woke up the morning after with sharp pain running from the base of my skull all the way down into my left shoulder blade. It's been five days and I'm still not 100 percent. That is NOT my usual post-massage soreness.
What I Think Happened
After doing some reading and talking to a friend who's a licensed massage therapist, I have a few theories:
- The pressure was too intense for the area — I may not have spoken up enough when it felt uncomfortable during the session
- The therapist may have worked too aggressively on muscles that were already inflamed or in spasm
- My positioning on the table wasn't quite right and my neck was slightly twisted the whole time
- I didn't drink enough water afterward, which apparently matters more than I realized
What I Wish I Had Done Differently
Honestly, this is partly on me. I tend to just lie there and tough it out because I don't want to be a difficult client. But I've learned my lesson. Here's what I'm going to do going forward:
- Actually speak up mid-session if pressure feels wrong, not just afterward
- Ask the therapist upfront about their approach to neck work specifically
- Mention any existing tension or inflammation before we even start
- Check provider reviews and credentials before booking — I've been getting better about this by using the spa listings on 6Ponds where you can read real client reviews and see therapist specialties before you commit
A Note for Independent Providers Reading This
I know a lot of therapists hang out on this forum too, and I want to say — please keep asking your clients how the pressure feels throughout the session. Some of us are too polite to volunteer that information on our own. A simple check-in halfway through goes a long way.
I'm not trying to throw anyone under the bus here. I genuinely don't know if this was therapist error, my own silence, or just my body having a bad reaction. Probably some combination. But it's made me think a lot more carefully about how I book and communicate going forward.
I'm feeling better now and I'm already thinking about my next appointment — I just want to be smarter about it this time.
So here's my question for the group: Have you ever experienced unexpected pain or soreness after a massage that lasted more than a day or two? Did you figure out what caused it, and how did you handle it with the provider? Did you go back to the same therapist or switch? I'd love to hear honest experiences from both clients and providers on this one.
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