Is this normal after a massage?

[Ras214]

I treated myself to a back, neck and head massage yesterday after a period of stress.

It was at a spa so more of a relaxing vibe and seemed very gentle at the time (I'm more used to sports massages that really hurt).

Yet it seems to have triggered a very painful headache (as well as back pain overnight, like I was all seized up, but this has lessened now). The headache is still going strong over 24 hours later. Paracetamol helps a bit but it is like no other headache I have experienced. The front half of my head is very sore, it feels very deep inside my head.

Is this normal-ish, what is going on?

I always get a headache after a massage, even when I drink a shed load of water. My masseuse will always prompt me to drink more as well. I find ibuprofen, paracetamol and some tiger balm take the edge off.

Never after a professional one but DH gave me a back and neck massage a few weeks ago ( I was really tense beforehand and my shoulders and neck were really sore) my muscles were popping like crazy and I had a 2 day headache afterwards that started the next morning.

Neck and shoulders felt great though 😁

Never heard of this. I’ve had many massages. I have been sore after authentic Thai full body massages, but just as one could be sore from an intense dance class or similar.
I’d be worried about anything to do with the head / headaches. Call 111 if you’re feeling really troubled.

I've gotten up and am pottering around to try and establish how I really feel. The pain is now mild, I feel it after big movements e.g. going from lying down to standing up but otherwise i'd say a 3 or 4 out of 10? I am aware of it but it is not unbearable pain as is described online. I do also feel spaced out but that would happen with a migraine.

According to chatgpt i am going to have a stroke, but according to gemini I am fine.

According to 111 you are...Go on phone them, that''s what they are there for. At least if it's nothing like Gemini says you won't waste your night worrying.
If it's anything else, you're on the right pathway.

According to chatgpt i am going to have a stroke, but according to gemini I am fine.

Welcome to 2026.

Hope you're feeling a bit better now OP?

I've never heard of this happening but clearly others have. Indian head messages are the only massages that have really, really relaxed me, but I haven't had one for years.

Definitely agree about drinking lots of water though.

I have called 111, no red flags as such but a clinician will call within 2 hours.

Can't believe I got the massage to try and lower my stress levels and it is now causing me a sleepless night just before first day back at work and school for the kids...

x- posts with you @Ras214

Yes sod's law innit?

Hope everything is OK. 111 usually like to pull you in for a check for that sort of thing, if only to cover their own behind, so prepare for that.

Massage therapist here - yes this can be a normal reaction following massage. It can be down to a number of things- increased blood flow, dehydration etc. Everyone reacts differently. Just make sure you drink plenty of fluids and take things easy. Hopefully you will feel the benefits of your treatment soon enough!

It isn't nonsense at all, don't be so bloody rude.

Op, my experience was 6 years ago, and I'm absolutely fine if it's any consolation! ❤

Thank you that's reassuring. Would the slight dizziness/not feeling quite right be normal too, or just the headache? I guess if it was just the headache I would just wait it out but I am now questioning the other red flags.

Yeah I am pretty sure they will and I am pretty on the fence about whether I want to spend the night doing that. Let's hope I fall asleep and when they call in 2 hours I feel right as rain. I am now downstairs on the sofa though to mske sure I don't wake anyone so that's bound to make my neck and head pain worse!!

Ooh that does sound a bit more worrying OP, but hopefully it's not that serious. ❤️ I've always had dreadful migraines, especially hormonal, and I'd literally worry before, during and after anything like a head massage or chiropractor type thing, plus I'd be terrified after hearing those stories about chiropractors damaging necks or causing strokes 😢😩

Hope you're ok now. Hugs ❤️

Good luck @Ras214 let us know how you get on

Well, I'm not a medical professional obviously, and you should always seek medical advice if you feel the need.But massage affects people in many different ways , some have very little physical affects. Yes you can generally feel a bit crappy afterwards, some describe almost flu like symptoms/ fatigue/ headache etc. Did your therapist not give you any aftercare advice? Really hope you feel better soon and this doesn't put you off any further treatment x

I hope you are chugging water now, OP!

I have a spot on each shoulder blade which, if it is massaged, gives me a headache almost immediately. I assume I have some muscle tension there but I don't regularly have headaches.

Unless the practitioner attempted any realignment you are unlikely to have severed arteries etc - that tends to be from chiropractors cracking people's necks. Dr Google can make you feel very anxious.

I'm glad you contacted 111 though, it was the right thing to do.

Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks @TigerJoy yes I think I just got very unlucky. I am getting a little less worried the more I read about it now. Even in the case of chiropractors it seems to be extremely rare, so with a gentle massage it seems pretty unlikely. Just so unsettling as I am not usually a headachy person and that is by far the most painful and longest lasting I have ever experienced.

I am also quite petrified of strokes due to family.history so when that showed up I went down a rabbit hole slightly!

I recommended a sports masseur to my sister once and after she’d had it done he rang me and said “you’re going to have to come, she’s having a funny do” ( I know him)
Anyway we had to ring an ambulance for her as couldn’t get her to stand up, she was dizzy, vomited, shaking, splitting headache.
She does have weird stuff happen to her a lot though, I’ve nicknamed her “1 in” as in if ‘1 in 10,000 people will suffer this random side effect’, she’s the 1……

I remember going to a physio for neck treatment. She warned me that I could have a headache later. I didn't realise how bad it would be. One of the worst I have ever had pain wise, though no nausea. Went after a couple of hours and neck injury completely healed.

oh behave.

Your headache sounds pretty extreme to me and if it isn’t improving I would go to A&E. I’ve had migraines triggered by massage and even pilates but I’ve had them my whole life and they follow a particular pattern A random severe headache should not be ignored.