Problem #1: Nerve Starvation (Oxygen Deprivation)
Your peripheral nerves need constant oxygenated blood to function. When blood flow becomes restricted (due to age, diabetes, or prolonged standing), those nerves literally starve.
Without adequate oxygen, nerve cells can't repair themselves. They become hypersensitive and start sending false pain signals—burning, tingling, feeling like you're "walking on broken glass."
Your nerves are suffocating.
Problem #2: Inflammatory Stagnation (Fluid Pooling)
That restricted blood flow creates a second problem: fluid begins pooling in your feet and ankles.
If your feet swell by day's end or sock lines deeply imprint on your ankles, that's inflammatory fluid that should be pumped back through your lymphatic system.
But when circulation is compromised, that fluid stagnates, creating pressure, swelling, and more pain.
Problem #3: Nerve Hyper-Sensitivity (The Massage Trap)
Because your nerves are already starving and your tissues are swollen, they become incredibly sensitive to touch.
This is why aggressive Shiatsu massagers feel like torture instead of relief. Your nervous system is on high alert, interpreting normal pressure as a threat.
You're stuck in a triple-lock pain cycle: starving nerves, stagnant fluid, and hyper-sensitive tissue—all feeding off each other.