20-year-old Thai folk singer Chayada Prao-hom died on Sunday morning (8 Dec) after receiving massages at a parlour in Udon Thani that involved neck-twisting techniques.
Source: Facebook
Ms Chayada had been updating fans about her health on Facebook since mid-October, detailing her visits to the parlour and the progression of her symptoms.
On 6 Nov, she disclosed that she had visited the same massage parlour three times within a month, initially seeking relief from shoulder pain.
Source: Thairath
During her first two sessions, the same masseuse twisted her neck as part of the massage.
Ms Chayada recounted that two days after her first session on 5 Oct, she began feeling pain at the back of her neck.
Source: Facebook
Following her second session, Chayada experienced severe pain and stiffness throughout her body.
Within two weeks, she was unable to move while in bed.
In a Facebook post, she wrote: “My mum is a masseuse, and I’ve studied Thai massage since I was a kid.”
“I love massages so much that I didn’t suspect anything. I thought this was simply a side effect of getting another massage.”
On her third visit to the massage parlour, Ms Chayada was treated by a different masseuse who applied intense pressure, leaving her with severe swelling and bruises across her body.
Source: Thairath
Despite taking painkillers, her symptoms worsened.
She experienced persistent tingling in her fingers and fluctuating sensations of extreme cold and heat.
The numbness intensified, spreading to her torso, and within two weeks, she lost the use of her right arm.
By the time she shared her ordeal on Facebook, Ms Chayada revealed that over 50% of her body was paralysed.
On 18 Nov, her condition deteriorated further, leaving her bedridden and completely unable to move independently.
According to her boyfriend, Ms Chayada had considered taking legal action against the massage parlour but was unsure if she had sufficient evidence to pursue a case.
At approximately 6am on Sunday (8 Dec), the singer was pronounced dead in the ICU due to complications from a blood infection and brain swelling.
Following Ms Chayada’s death, the Udon Thani Provincial Public Health Office inspected the massage parlour where she had received treatments.
They discovered that only two out of the shop’s seven masseuses held valid licences, with the rest under investigation.
Source: Thairath
The shop’s manager, speaking to local media, stated that the parlour has been operating since 2005.
While most masseuses are part-time workers, their licences are typically verified before hiring.
However, she could not confirm who specifically treated Ms Chayada during her visits.
The manager also emphasised that licensed masseuses are trained to avoid neck-twisting techniques, as they are considered dangerous.
She explained that while some customers request such procedures, the shop explicitly advises against them, stressing their risks.
Despite these assurances, the manager admitted she was unaware if Ms Chayada had been subjected to neck-twisting during her treatments.
Expressing shock and regret over the incident, she stated: “I tell clients to seek medical attention if their symptoms worsen, but this is devastating.”
Professor Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, a specialist in oriental medicine, explained that twisting the neck can damage arteries supplying blood to the brain.
This can lead to a stroke, which is associated with muscle weakness and paralysis.
“Repeating these activities for a long time will not only create problems for the nerves but also the blood vessels at the neck,” he added.
The investigation continues, with authorities inspecting the shop’s compliance with health regulations and verifying the qualifications of its employees.
Also read: S’porean man dies after experiencing breathing difficulties following 45-minute massage in Thailand
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Featured image adapted from Facebook and Facebook.
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