Can a massage cause a pinched nerve?

spiderbeast wrote: »

I had a massage yesterday with a little bit of reflexology. Afterwards I felt great but within 1 hour I had burning pain at the front of my thigh. I'm guessing it's a pinched nerve in my thigh (Meralgia Paresthetica I think it's called)

Can a massage bring this on?

HI Spiderbeast,

I would be really surprised if some massage therapist would be able to cause such an injury!! Even a deep Sports massage does not cause such an injury, unless done by a very inexperienced 'Shrek' But even then - s/he would be able to cause you injury in soft tissue - in the muscle. Not in the nerve - because it is quite deep and this particular injury refers to compression of Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in the pelvic area. The pain is not sharp, it is more of tingling sensation, numbness etc...
Plus - Meralgia Paresthetica is usually caused by serious accidents (car accidents or so) and the pain is felt on the lateral part of the thigh - in other words on the side, not at the front of the muscle. And - unless you got some car accident or so - it is a chronic condition, which you therefore develop over some time.

Anyway, if you still feel the pain, go and see your GP asap

Hope this helps:)
Giggi