Client's Post-massage skin issue

[Frank N. Stein]

I had this client who seemed normal during the massage, said at the time that it was good. He then called me 3 days later saying that 2 days after the massage he started having a burning sensation on his shoulder and arm, accompanied with a tingly little finger. He said that his body usually reacts that way to exercise, that it takes a day for the soreness to kick in. The way he described it made it sound (to me) like it could possibly have been a knot that was uncovered during the massage or even possibly some kind of nerve issue(I didn't say that part because I am not a doctor and would never suggest more than "it could be a knot"). I suggested he come in so I could check it out. No response.

It was not a deep tissue massage and I have researched that deep tissue is the only cause of nerve damage incidents that I could find. I was skeptical because he was happy directly after the massage, even gave a modest $5 tip and said it was good. Two days is plenty of time to do other things that could cause pain. He insisted that couldn't be, he hadn't exercised.

He called me late during my hours I work, and it really made me feel horrible, him questioning every single little thing about everything in my practice. Do I have insurance, yes. Do I wash/change the sheets every time, yes. Saying how I did techniques he'd never received before(which everyone else usually loves) and that maybe that had caused it, he might need to go to the doctor, he's lost productivity over it, etc. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and lost plenty of sleep and felt thoroughly stressed, wondering if he will sue me, if I would win or lose. Thinking what it could mean for my practice if he's out there bad mouthing me at the very least or attacking me at the very worst.

It was simply a one-hour massage. Yes I'll admit I did not do a pre-massage first time interview on that busy day, or have him fill out paperwork. Kicking myself over both of those mistakes, still. I am a one-man operation and doing everything myself gets the best of me sometimes.

Two days later now he just called me again, late. The symptom description has changed, even though he said it was slightly better, the description made it sound worse, welts he can't move very well. He says he spoke with a dermatologist friend of his and continued to grill me about the same things we discussed before. He kind of makes it sound like he's building up to suing me in the end, with little comments he makes.

When I asked him what he's been doing to help with it, lotion or whatever(both calls), he doesn't say anything and continues talking about my credentials, the sheets, the techniques, etc. I told him if he thinks it's an allergic reaction(to the coconut oil, which he'd never had before), I do acupressure specifically for allergies and that may help. He gave no real response, changed back to talking about the pain or previous topics. From that I have gleaned that he never wants me to touch him again. Fair enough.

From this, though, I have learned that I really do not want to talk to him again. It only stresses me out and I am losing sleep again over it. I think now that he is only going to receive help from other health practitioners and that I can't deal with this any more. I have no proof(because I have not seen his welts or whatever) that he even has a problem/isn't hypochondriac or that I even caused his issue.

Part of me wants to not answer his calls. The other part wants me to record the next conversation, politely declining to speak to him again until he has received medical attention from a doctor or other health professional. What are your thoughts on this? Could I lose my license over one person having a skin problem two days after a massage(in California)? I've only been in business in this city for three months(yr an 1/2 since I finished school) so I am still fairly new and don't know all the ins and outs of this stuff. If he sued and won it would just be my insurance covering it so that's not super worrisome. It would still be stressful and degrading, or so it seems. What could the repercussions be?

Sorry it's such a long post/any bad grammar, I'm sleep deprived and have to get this all out there for some one else to give me an opinion on or I will continue to over think about this situation and not sleep.

Thanks for your thoughts.