OT: Are massages SUPPOSED to hurt?

I get teased on this by friends. For a big girl, I am a super softie.  My coworker/friend Susan will say that I like to get petted and not massaged.  I constantly have to tell them to ease up.  We did a day of beauty and between the massage, painful extraction of black heads during a facial I was like WTH, when do I start having fun!  :)

My personal opinion, I think we should feel a little discomfort when they are working out all the knots .... I do get a lot of "you are so tense" and I have gone to probably 25+ different spas in my life, however, I don't think we should be in bad pain during AND after the massage. 

 I've had lots of massages that felt great but this last one?  OMG  I was literally bruised up and down my back and could barely move.  It was supposed to be a swedish massage but i guess she just did a deep tissue one instead.  The stupid thing is that it hurt while she was doing it and I didn't have enough sense to tell her to stop!

Still, it won't keep me from getting more massages.  My husband got me a gift certificate for a mango sugar scrub followed by a hot stone massage.  I've been holding out but I think I'll go this week.
Janet

Oh yes!  The trigger points that they find may hurt for a few days. That was certainly the case when I first started going.  Once I got loosened up and the problem under control; regular massages help maintain things and are less painful.

My massage therapist stresses the importance of lots of hydtration after the massage and a hot bath/shower.  The sooner I take my shower the better in terms discomfort.
Some therapists have a lighter or deeper touch.  You can ask them to go a little less deep if you're hurting. 

Is body massage an addiction? I want massage almost everyday. I cannot get up from my bed unless I get massage to my legs and limbs. Otherwise severe unbearable pain. Is this because I am smoker? I smoke almost 20 cigrattes per day.

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I personally can't tolerate messages, I have had them at the chiropractor and by a message therapist and I always get a terrible headache and it hurts.  The last one I had my back hurt in places its never hurt before for days.  I am done with them forever.

Heidi!!!!  Long time!!!!  It's been a year since I've been on this site....glad to see you on here! 

I'm hit or miss with massages.  Don't get them anymore for the same reason...

 If you had it done by a Chiro odds are you got a deep tissue or something like ART. SO your answer is yes these will hurt if done right.  The focus are in the spots where the knots and scar tissue have built up in your muscles.  The object is to break things down and get the muscles to relax.

Typically they will be done after an endurance event like an Ironman or an Ultra Marathon to help with the release of Lactic acid.

I think it doesn't matter because you don't need a masage to prepare for a 5k. So next time, don't get one, and skip the debate (and bruises!)