and I am wondering just how common it may be. It is sooo sad and to horrible to even imagine that this can really happen from a simple massage. How common is this?? I don't know, I just thought I would post it because it really scared me. I get massage quite often, and now I am wondering just how safe it really is.

http://www.helpasha.com.au/

Yep, just seen it too, a bit scary, did you notice they were using their elbow to massage in one part of it ?, now using their elbow grinding into the neck didn't look to safe to me, i don't know if this is the norm these days but geez ,i felt sorry for that young lady, now the rest of her life is ruined from that 1 massage.

Boy, will I be careful around his neck and shoulders from now on!!!! Never used elbows, thank goodness for that!!!

Never thought this could happen to anyone.
This poor girl!!!


Melody

Brian.

I clcked on the link to her story, and clicked on all the links. I couldn't find anyplace where they explained about the massage, using elbows, etc.

Where did you read this?
Thanks,

Melody

that activated the ganglia in my neck, where I had shingles before.
I was in so much pain for a few days, I could not believe it!

This warning extends to neck manipulation by chiros too! Compressing the
vertebral artery that goes up the back of the neck can lead to a stroke.

Also, even putting the head back in the hair salon, has caused strokes!

That's all I have to say.

I'll bang his calves though!!!


mel

Mel, I seen it on the news, it was only a quick flash using someones elbow as well as using their hands as well, i have seen it done once before about 12 months ago when i had to virtually carry my mum into her chiropractor see was seeing for a real bad lower back problem, i watched him using a little machine that sounded like a staple gun, then he used his elbow up and down her spine on her spine, of course i didn't know it was dangerous then
Thank god she hasn't been back there for about a 1 year as i have be able to keep her going with heat bags, antinflamatory cream and then some strong magnets.

I looked at it too, such a sad story.
I know what it is like to have a fully active person become a 'quad' overnite- it happened in my family, recently.
My # 2 son hit his head in a swim pool & broke his neck, two months ago & is paralyzed- a 'quad', but not as complete as this girl.
He's an 'incomplete' and can communicate-his mind's fine, now- but we weren't sure for those first few days & weeks.
She communicates by looking up & down?
There's something called a 'blink board' that has the letters of the alphabet & is used in cases like hers.
If she's 'trapped' or 'locked in', she should be able to communicate that way. Maybe the story was written during the first day(s) and things have changed by now. Stroke victims, like spinal cord injuries- recover slowly, sometimes very slowly, but things can change as time goes on.
I wish only the best for this young woman and pray her recovery is ininent.
and I'm not going to let anybody mess with my cervical spine area with 'deep' massages!

I tried some google searches on her name and nothing about her or her injury comes up. I tried searching for news stories about her also.
There is an author by that same name. But a male.
It's odd that her own website doesn't come up in the first couple of search pages.

The "staple" type tool used by some chiros is called and "activator".
http://www.activator.com/actMethods.asp

such as Current Affair or Larry King. It's on everynight at 6:30 pm. The man was massaging her neck,and pressing with his elbow on the news. THis is a very very common tecnique used mainly by Chinese massage. Here in Sydney the majority of massage places run unregulated, and you could go into a shopping mall and have 2-3 massage places. The man that did this to her apparently had the highest qualifications for massage, as he had a Diploma. It's the physical force used that partly contributed. I remember I also had a massage one day that was very hard, and left me with bruises. The neck unlike the rest of the spine sacrifices protection for mobility.

http://seven.com.au/todaytonight/storycontacts2006