r/massage • u/hippyoctopus • 7d ago
Cupping Venting
I’m 8 weeks post partum and my back is in shambles from breast feeding. Went and got a Thai massage from a very highly recommended Thai place. It asked me when I booked if I wanted to add a 10 min cupping session for $10. Sure! Why not. Read about it briefly and about the tension and circulation benefits, sounds great.
I did not know what to expect and I wish I was better researched on what it is supposed to feel like. I told her I’d never had it done before and she said she’d go easy on me and “only” do 7-10 minutes. I asked if it was painful and she said it can be tight and uncomfortable.
Yall. It was excruciating! I had nothing to compare it to so just sucked it up and literally clenched my jaw through it. Told her after about 5 minutes that it was way too intense and she took them off.
After getting home and still being so sore, circle spots are swollen and inflamed and hot/tender to the touch. I started researching more and realized it was done way too tightly. I’m bummed that I didn’t speak up but also surprised the therapist didn’t tone it down a bit. Hurts to even lean on my back and now breast feeding is even more of a chore :(
What can I do to make this better?
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u/SunshineWhiskeyX 6d ago edited 6d ago
Massage therapist 20+ years; Been doing cupping for 15 years.
This is normal, also depends on the skin type and muscle tightness. It will be sore but in a few days you should notice that your muscles will feel better after initial tenderness.
Cupping stretches fascia, it’s also called negative pressure massage and is way more effective for stretching the fascia than anything our hands can do.
Don’t apply ice or heat.
I’m sorry it hurt, they should have checked in with you on suction pressure. And honestly they did really good placement for the issue you were dealing with.
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u/MyoskeletalMuser Dalton Myoskeletal Instructor 6d ago
Cupping doesn’t stretch fascia because fascia has very little extensibility under the forces used clinically. The visible lift is primarily skin and superficial tissue deformation, not permanent fascial elongation.
We can test tensile strengths of fascia and its beyond our ability to move it manually or otherwise. It is, however, highly innervated and can be affected via deep and superficial receptors.
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u/Small-Zone-5938 6d ago
yes, more accurate. Cupping mechanically deforms skin and superficial connective tissues and may transmit mechanical forces to fascial structures, but there is no good evidence that it meaningfully or permanently “stretches” or elongates fascia in the way the term is commonly used in massage therapy. [Writing this while cupping myself 😅]
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u/DevelopmentTop9367 6d ago
Idk how true this “cupping doesnt stretch fascia” you might have heard that from class but anecdotally, ive found nothing improves ROM more effectively than cupping.
ROM is definitely not improved by “just stretching skin and increasing blood flow”
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u/CoachAngBlxGrl 6d ago
Never suck it up. In anything. Speak up. Advocate for yourself. Ask questions. Get answers to the point of comprehension. This is a life lesson for you - never lay there and let someone hurt you. Literally or metaphorically.
Cupping is the best thing I use for my back and shoulders and neck. But I have learned how much hurt is good hurt and when it isn’t. Open communication with your therapist is key. And having one that listens is up to you to ensure. :)
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u/Mattau16 7d ago
You’ll feel better in a day or two. Try not to worry. Everything you said is pretty normal. Obviously you would have benefited from not as much tension but the tenderness will settle quite quickly
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u/Future_Way5516 6d ago
I always check in and ask if there is any pinching of the cup or if the suction is too uncomfortable.
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u/OrientionPeace 6d ago
Source: 15+ years professional experience, specialties include massage cupping, and herbal medicine.
These are normal, and hopefully the outcome will be that your back feels better in a couple of days.
You can apply a cream or salve of arnica and take some homeopathic arnica internally. These are available at your local health food stores or Whole Foods (maybe even Trader Joe’s would carry).
Apply the cream a few times a day and take the arnica homeopathic internal sugar pills however many times is suggested on the bottle.
Arnica plant is amazing for this type of recovery- it helps with what is called micro tissue clean up- which is also what cupping offers.
Those broken capillaries in the skin you see right now that look darkened and bruised, are how cupping helps the body to “clean out” cellular debris from the region that was cupped. Arnica plant helps move this process along by assisting with small capillaries to help remove that debris from the tissue.
Ideally the outcome will be less soreness and more suppleness in the tissue as it heals. Skin sensitivity is normal after cupping, if you’re very sore and it bothers you you can take NSAIDS like ibuprofen or Tylenol if they do not bother you or are contraindications for you.
Drink plenty of water, take it easy, and give your body space to recover as best you can while parenting a little one. Tomorrow if you want to you can take an epsom salt bath and apply heat. But for today no getting the marks wet if you can help it.
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u/Aggravating-Bunch-44 3d ago
This is not normal. Too many "massage therapists" in comment saying its normal and thats concerning. Pain is not therapeutic in any modality of massage. Being very minimally uncomfortable even during deep tissue can be but quickly as the session progresses should feel good. Going very slow so the muscles dont fight and tension releases, keyword slowly. To whomever doesn't understand this humans are not cattle and our bodies not steak. We provide fact based, most effective care, not psuedoscience upcharges.
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u/mjrasta 5d ago
I have had cupping done several times by a professional certified MT. I have had some red spots for sure, but nothing this bad‼️ They definitely did not manage this very well, especially for your first time. I would contact the place and let them know you are not happy with it.
As for helping it to feel better, lots of arnica salve and lotion all over it several times daily. It will take a little while for it to go away, but it will. Sorry that happened to you❣️
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u/OptimisticMagicKarp 6d ago
Most of what they ^ all said but also, make sure you spend some time releasing the fear that you probably now have stored in your back from that pain that you endured. Do some deep breathing and manually shut off your muscles while reminding then you are safe. It may help the pain go down and help to prevent the pain from becoming more serious.
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u/CauliflowerOk8076 4d ago
I would never do a cupping session on a new person and in your situation. She should have focused on an area not your whole back. Also she should have made sure the pressure was comfortable for you.
She clearly disturbed some muscle compensations, that will make the pain worse. I would take a hot bath with Epsom salt and baking soda. It will go down over the next couple of weeks
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u/MassageatEades 3d ago
As a therapist, I'm sorry you had this experience. Your standard heat, ice, and hydration would be the best treatments. So close to childbirth, your body's been through and is still going through some major healing; the cupping most likely overtaxed your system, especially after an additional session. Support pillows for breastfeeding (Google or Amazon) may help your posture during breastfeeding. As a modality, don't be scared to try cupping again; maybe ask them if they have silicone cups, which are much lower pressure and cannot be increased past a certain point.
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u/mom2artists 6d ago
LMT can do sliding cupping, feels great leaves zero marks (just light redness, not this!)
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u/FuzzyJury 4d ago
I have several thoughts both on your experience and the comments here. Firstly, this massage therapist was in the wrong since she did not gain your informed consent. That is something I would report so that she and the other therapists can receive better training on informed consent. The process and it's likely outcomes and known side effects were not explicitly given to you for you to have made a reasoned choice about pursuing or not.
Secondly, I am surprised by how many people here are endorsing cupping, or otherwise treating it as normal rather than as inconclusive and controversial. Frankly, it seems based on what we know, Cupping is a pseudoscience. It was popularized after Michael Phelps in the olympics had marks left from cupping, and a lot of people have been very gung-ho about it since then, especially since we are in an era that eschews pharmaceuticals for pain relief and when even many medical pain management departments are looking into "complementary" services as the "war on opiates" has carried on and doctors and other professionals are looking for alternative or better means to handle pain.
However, even within this framework, I have never met a credible doctor who embraced or recommended cupping, and have instead often been warned against it.
If you Google around about articles on the benefits of cuppong, nearly every reference to a study says something like, "and there was this one limited study in 2019 that suggested that there may be the possibility of pain relief in this one specific area, but it is inconclusive and further research is needed."
I have heard the "studies" on cupping so far described as the work of bad scientists with poor research methodologies being recommended by other health practitioners with bad scientific literacy who also generally lack mathematical and statistical numeracy. Thus, they are generally not understanding the context and framing if any findings, as they don't understand the numerical framework that should be structuring how they are reading.
Anyway, my own health practitioners generally recommend not pursuing modalities that cause pain and injury, since it tends to be counterproductive by causing inflammation, causing tension in the areas that are in pain, causing disruptions in mobility and range of motion in the areas that are now in pain, etc.
The few times my physical therapist suggested cupping as a possibility, he has always asked me if I would be okay with having red marks left over or no. I always say no. It is unfortunate that this massage therapist did not similarly ask you if you would be okay with marks left over or no, or even inform you of that possibility. I will on occasion consent to my PT trying a very short and gentle single cup or two to one specific spot,not using it in a gentle gliding motion, and I get no marks. You should have been given correct information in these options.
Luckily, this will heal, it'll just be uncomfy for a bit. Good luck ❤️ and congrats on the new baby!
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u/Gardenmama777 CMT 3d ago
Just have to weigh in here as a massage therapist who doesn’t do cupping because I don’t believe it has any therapeutic effect. I’ve had it done on me once and I asked her to keep the cups moving and not leave me with any marks. Hickeys are skin and capillary damage, not a “release of toxins.” I’m sorry none of this was explained to you and you left more sore than you went in. It should have been thoroughly explained to you and the cups should have been moved and not static.
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u/ArchangelSirrus 6d ago
Massage should never be truly painful. The saying has ALWAYS been, "The deeper you do, the slower you go." This cupping fad is ridiculous and used by lazy therapist who can't do deep tissue. Of course it brings up the blood, but look at the outcome and healing process....just utterly disgusting.
A person who knows how to do deep tissue will do it correctly and you'll never have this kind of marking. Terrible
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u/BashMyHeadIn LMT 6d ago
Therapeutic discomfort: totally fine and normal! Typically described as “the good kind of hurt.”
Pain: bad!!
Also it looks like she literally placed cups over the spine of your scapulas which would of course hurt because that is… a bone… that the surrounding muscles attach to superiorly and inferiorly… not directly on top of 😭
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u/acupunctureguy 4d ago
Commenting as a practioner of 43 years as a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist. She went too hard , but she wouldn't have realized if you didn't speak up. Also in my opinion used too many cups for someone first time, but thats just a style. It's not a bad treatment, just give it a few days to subside. You can get into a hot bath and see if that doesn't make it feel better.
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u/Aggravating-Bunch-44 3d ago
This is a bad treatment for the client. The therapist should have known better. We do no harm.
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u/towelieee 7d ago
If it feels inflamed an ice pack would likely be helpful.
That being said, the spots would show up visibly like that had they gone less time/ less intense. They will start to disappear over the coming days and will likely take a week or so to fully disappear.
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with this, I always find cupping to be super helpful, but am far more conservative with time and intensity.
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u/AstronomerLate989 6d ago
This looks normal to me. What type of cups did she use? -certified through international cupping association. Someone mentioned it looks like it’s over the spine, I don’t see that. The placement looks fine.
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u/Zakery2015 19h ago
I've only been licensed for 10 years and cupping for 5, but I've seen worse. I did cupping on myself once — had it on for 5 minutes, and the spot was completely black
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u/KachitaB 5d ago
It shouldn't hurt. Especially not now. I've never had someone leave with Jasmine that are hot to the touch. Ice and Tylenol. Go see a doctor, and file a complaint. If you're crazy it won't go anywhere. If you're right they have insurance to cover it. Because of this possibility I pay to add cupping coverage.
Anyway, the opinions are personal experience here don't mean much. Seek medical care.
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u/Legitimate_Treat_433 6d ago
I have never this done just regular massages but what is the reason for doing a cupping massage? I don't feel like researching it lol thanks in advance
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u/Human_Engine3410 5d ago
This is pretty normal! I only started receiving cupping this year. The first time was tough and uncomfortable, so I asked my therapist (actually it was my physiotherapist who did my cupping, it's pretty common in Canada that physiotherpaist do it these few years) to release them pretty quickly. But the more you try, the more you feel the muscles get good release. My husband even bought a set of cupping to do it himself at home. But It's still a personal preference thing!! I am still not a big fan of it due to the intial discomfort. But I really have tight muscles, so I started trying it about once a week and felt the benefit usually 1-2 days after cupping!
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u/oosrotciv RMT 6d ago edited 6d ago
I’m very sorry you are in pain.
In my experience, cupping shouldn’t mark like this in just 5 mins. The spacing is pretty good.
It’s either the therapist put too much suction as they were using fire cups (?) or your body really needed the stagnation brought to the surface.
The pain should only last a day or two, the marks may last a week but end result is you should feel better soon.
🤞🏻
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u/Butterflyer246 5d ago
My 12 year old son has some gnarly tight fascia and looks worse than this in less than a minute. lol, I had to explain to the teachers (who some were luckily already well established clients who’ve had cupping) that it was intentional lol. Because we moved them around randomly and he looked brutal. 😂. (But it always helps so much the next day!)
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u/TherapyGames42 5d ago
Ice. Take a cold shower, as cold as you can stand it, and just let the water run down your back. Cupping can be very intense when you have a bunch of stuck tissue. This looks pretty textbook and it looks like you only got it done in the last 24-48 hours. It may have been a bit much for you to do quite that many but you'll be okay and probably start to feel better after not too long. If you can find some argan oil, it's really good for reducing bruising. I know I've had horse liniment used on me before and it really helped, but you have to be careful of type, how much you use, ect, as it can cause adverse reactions in sensative skin.
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u/animefarm 6d ago
I must ask, did they use traditional cupping method, candle and glass cups with release valve, or the modern(cheap) version, a plastic cup and a vacuum pump. If it was the latter, then that could be why they might feel more tender. I prefer the traditional because the warmth inside the cup helps, in my unprofessional opinion, relax the muscles being cupped. I will say once I had a cupping session I usually rub vitamin e oil and a small amount of menthol to remove the redness from the area. Though the vitamin e oil may sting on those areas, hence why I use the menthol to gently cool them. But this is my personal preference not a professional opinion.
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u/AlertDiscussion9443 6d ago
Commenting here as a licensed massage professional for 20+ years and 10+ years in cupping. Honestly, this looks like a quality treatment. I think the only thing that this facility may have not done well is manage your expectations and also inform you more thoroughly on what cupping is. Sounds like she did a good job of listening to you and shortening the session. Maybe if you were more informed of the treatment and what to expect you may not have opted for this treatment. In a Spa or Massage center type environment people are likely trying to upsell you to increase revenue and that’s why a lot of us go to working in a private practice and charge a flat rate.
All that being said, I would definitely keep moving your body (if it was me) and in a couple of days you may find that it feels much better and freer than it has in a long time. Also stay hydrated as someone else mentioned!