There is always a reason when you get carpal tunnel pain. Sometimes the reason is easy to figure out. In the field of massage, there are many professionals who have an excellent understanding of the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome but not all do. Click that link to discover how to find a massage therapist who can help.
Those causes of your carpal tunnel symptoms almost always involve muscles. Your muscles.
You most likely developed carpal tunnel syndrome, or similar discomfort, because some of your muscles were being used more than others. Some muscles became tighter than they were designed to be, and some became weaker than they were designed to be.
Therapeutic massage helps normalize those too-tight muscles and soft tissues.
Massage gets the body fluids moving through your tissues and helps flush out metabolic wastes (anything that would usually pass through our body normally.) When muscles are “stuck,” the metabolic wastes don’t move much either. Massage helps them get a move on.
Here is how massage might “hurt” when you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
When muscles and tissues are in contraction (tight) it can be pretty uncomfortable to have someone pressing on them or into them. Unfortunately, if your massage is so light that it doesn’t cause any discomfort at all, you will have very little benefit from it. Like probably none.
A certain amount of pressure is required in order to get deep enough into your soft tissues to soften them and normalize them. See below.
Not all massage therapists know what to do about carpal tunnel syndrome, so it’s a good idea to interview the ones you are considering.
Go to the Massage category here and look for the article about how to choose a massage therapist. Or just click the link. You can find out what to ask before you schedule your massage appointment.
Also, most massage therapists understand that it is your body, and you get to let them know whether the pressure they use is okay with you or too much. Don’t be shy–this is your body and you are in control of your massage. Most will try to work within your pain tolerance level.
If 10 is the most discomfort, and 1 is no discomfort, you’ll be shooting for about a 7 in discomfort. More than that causes you to clench or tighten muscles. Less than that may not be therapeutic enough.
So, yes, massage for carpal tunnel syndrome can be uncomfortable. It can ‘elicit some discomfort.’ But, often people say, “Ahhh, That’s Good Pain!”
What they mean is, “Yes, it does hurt, but it feels just like what my body needed. Don’t stop!”
So, will massage hurt if you have carpal tunnel symptoms? Yes, it surely can. It likely will, if it’s going to help. The first session or two will be the most uncomfortable but remember, you get to guide the therapist on the discomfort scale.
Massage therapy is a wonderful tool for natural carpal tunnel pain relief!