Your Therapist

I have found that when my clients realize that I understand their suffering and the loneliness that comes with chronic pain, we can start building trust that is important to start the healing process.

There are years of information to share and I will save you your valuable time and only share what I feel is relevant to my understanding pain and the motivation behind my need to help educate others and help you have more quality of life.

Beginning with my first pregnancy I noticed I had a lot of back and sciatic pain. The pain was sharp and disabling but sporadic and after my pregnancy, the pain increased and was becoming a daily part of my life. I couldn't sleep; I was irritable and felt alone. After my second child I had bought a new bed, seen doctors and physical therapists and was misdiagnosed multiple times, the most common being restless leg syndrome.
After years of many Doctors, PTs, X-Rays, an MRI and being misdiagnosed multiple times, I was diagnosed with congenital lumbar spinal stenosis, LSS. Simply put, I was born with a narrowing of my spine causing compression on the spinal cord and nerves.

At the age of 26, I had a bilateral laminectomy and discectomy to give room for the cauda equina, a bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve roots, which affect circulation and motor nerve innervation of the hips, knees, ankles and feet.

For my post operation recovery, I was prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, chiropractic, physical therapy and massage. I went through roughly five or more different therapists in each of these professions and I never seemed to find long term relief. Being a mother of two, I didn't want to rely on medications. I met a massage therapist that gave me hope, educated me on proper body mechanics and gave me relief each time she worked on me. This is where my life changed and my trust in Massage Therapy began and my personal journey to help others started.

When I decided to go to school to be a Massage Therapist, I was told that my body wouldn't last long. There is a two year burn out for Therapists who are healthy. Yet, I have never felt better. At times I don't take care of my body properly and I still have pain in my back and tingling in my legs but now I know what to do to get myself right back to a mostly pain free lifestyle.

Along with my state license, I have a license in intra-oral massage, which works the neck, head, face and mouth for TMJ and migraine sufferers. I have been taking continued education and am working on becoming certified in Thai Yoga Massage. I will continue educating myself to give my clients the best treatment I can.

I hope this was helpful in understanding me and my journey to helping others. I look forward to meeting you and if you have any questions please feel free to call or email me.

Sincerely,

Shawna Jones, LMT