Karen Salisbury, Massage Therapist and Bodyworker

My Personal Story

In the winter of ’97, I was in a serious auto accident that left me with severe injuries. My primary care provider at the time was a chiropractor, and we began a course of spinal adjustments. After three months, I felt some improvement, but I was still dealing with chronic low back pain and a debilitating weakness in my right leg. I kept up with my adjustments and put myself on a daily routine of stretching and walking.

But after a year, nothing had really changed. I finally saw an M.D. to get a referral for physical therapy - something that had helped me years earlier when I was dealing with tendonitis in my right foot. I was diagnosed with chronic mechanical back pain and sent off to PT.

After several sessions, I returned to the doctor for a follow-up. He decided the therapy wasn’t helping and suggested cortisone shots in my lumbar spine (L1–L5). I wasn’t comfortable with that and chose not to go that route. Instead, he handed me a prescription for massage therapy.

At that time, the only image I had of massage was what you’d see on a cruise ship or at a fancy spa - I had no idea it could be used for healing. But I was worn down from a year of nonstop pain, unable to walk more than 15 minutes or sit longer than 30. I was even driving my truck using my left leg. I felt like I had nothing to lose.

A friend recommended her massage therapist, and I made an appointment. That therapist found the exact muscle causing both the back pain and the leg weakness - and it wasn’t even a back muscle. It was a hip flexor! From that day on, I was singing her praises. I followed an intensive treatment plan, and within four months, I was pain-free - for the first time in nearly two years.

Massage gave me back my quality of life - without drugs, without invasive procedures. Just therapeutic touch, focused on healing. That experience changed the course of my life. I knew I had to give back what I had received, so I went to massage school and became a licensed therapist, specializing in Neuromuscular Therapy and other therapeutic techniques.

I'm here to help others - just like I was helped.

~ Karen Salisbury, LMT