Los Angeles Thai Massage & Prehabilitation — Attraction in Los Angeles

Daniel was my absolute last resort before back surgery. To say he changed my life would be an understatement. He saved my life.

You see, about ten months ago, I herniated a disc in my lumbar spine (L5/S1). I had a severe back spasm that landed me in the emergency room for two days and I was unable to walk without a cane at only 28 years old. I was devastated since my life revolved around being active. Prior to my accident I was rock climbing three times per week and practicing vinyasa yoga three times per week. After the accident, I could not even sleep through the night without waking up in pain. I was walking with a cane.

I went to see world-renowned Dr. Leonel Hunt at Cedars-Sinai. I was certain that he would be able to help given his reputation. Upon looking at my MRI, Dr. Hunt told me he had good news and bad news. The good news -- he knew what was wrong with my back. The bad news, and I quote, "you will never have a day without pain for the rest of your life." He told me to avoid any activities that irritated my back (including climbing and yoga) and to learn to live my life centered around my back. If it got bad enough, we could explore lumbar fusion surgery that would in turn start the degenerative process for the rest of my discs. I wasn't even 30 years old, how could this be happening? Not to sound dramatic, but it felt as though my active life was over.

I opted for physical therapy for three months. It helped a bit, but I was still in pain on a daily basis. I was told to try acupuncture. Acupuncture helped, but I still couldn't sleep through the night due to the pain. I started seeing a mobility specialist. Again, it helped a little, but I still had residual pain and was unable to do any other activity besides walking a mile. To go from exercising six days per week to zero was brutal. My mental health plummeted without physical activity. I was even considering flying to Germany for a stem cell injection in my lumbar spine. All I wanted was my life back.

A friend of mine casually mentioned Daniel and his Thai massage practice. I knew nothing about Thai massage, but I was desperate enough to try anything. The first time I saw Daniel, he said "I can fix you" after chatting about my injury, MRI, and what I had done up until that point. I was wary of his confidence. How could Daniel fix me when Dr. Hunt, my physical therapist, my acupuncturist, my mobility specialist were all unable to? Was this some kind of scam? I asked Daniel if this was going to be some longterm type of treatment, like a chiropractor, where I would have to come in for adjustments for the rest of my life. He replied with "don't worry, I have a way of working myself out of a job."

I started seeing Daniel once per week. After our second session, I had my first full night of sleep, free of pain. After about a month, I could go a full week free of pain, both night and day. A Cedars surgeon told me this wasn't possible! Daniel gave me homework so that I could work on back at home in between sessions. After about two and a half months, I was able to endure a six hour flight without fear of another back spasm. After about three months, I started taking yoga classes again and rebuilding my strength. It has now been four months since I started seeing Daniel. I only see him once every three weeks before I start to feel any type of mild discomfort in my back. I am even getting ready to start rock climbing again! The panic, the fear, of having another back spasm is mostly gone, along with any plans for back surgery.

I normally do not write Google reviews, let alone ones of this length, but Daniel and his practice are something I feel strongly about. I am so grateful to have found him and am humbled by his care, hard work, and dedication to...

I am compelled to write my first Google Review to give Dan Carr of Los Angeles Thai Massage & Prehabilitation 5 plus stars.

Around 5 months ago, I injured my lower back which resulted in causing major pain/discomfort radiating down both of my legs (sciatica). The only position where I could find any relief was when laying down on my side. I could walk about 1 city block and could stand for 15 minutes. After that the sciatica pain was such that my legs would lock up so I could not walk or stand and would have to lay down. I could not sit down. It was debilitating.

At first, I went to my primary care doctor who referred me to an Orthopedic Surgeon. As it turned out the Orthopedic Surgeon recommended was known as the “doctors doctor” since other doctors with back problems go to him. After my first appointment, I was not provided a diagnosis, but, was recommended to go to physical therapy. After two visits to the physical therapist it was clear to her that I was in too much pain for therapy. I went back to the Orthopedic Surgeon who only then ordered an MRI. It turned out that I had a moderate sized disc herniation at the L3/L4 level. The doctors next step was to order an epidural where cortisone is injected into the injured area to reduce inflammation. The epidural finally provided temporary relief. I had to call the doctor's office multiple times to move the process forward (i.e. getting insurance approval for the MRI and then again for the epidural). The time between my first Orthopedic Surgeon visit until the epidural shot was almost two months during which time I could hardly move due to the daily, extreme sciatica pain. My doctor visits would last less than 5 minutes with the doctor who was quick to want to leave without even providing me time to ask questions. I never felt important.

Ten days after the epidural I had my first of two visits with Dan. Dan is without question a master of Thai massage. I knew I was in good hands after our first conversation. Dan knew all about my injury and explained to me why the epidural provided temporary relief and he told me that he could help me overcome my lower back pain and resulting sciatica so that I would be able to lead the type of life I had prior to my injury. It would be my first Thai Massage.

During both visits Dan explained to me what he was going to do before he began the massage which put me at ease. Thai massage is deep tissue type of massage. During each massage, which lasted about one hour, Dan was continuously seeking feedback for how I was feeling and if I was doing ok. At times, I asked him to back off which he did immediately. It was obvious that Dan knows what he is doing. During the massages I could feel the pinched nerves in my lower back being released. At the end of my second massage, Dan informed me about what I would experience in the next few weeks and demonstrated for me rehabilitation exercises that I still do a few times each day. They too have been of great help.

The day after the second massage Dan followed up with me to see how I was doing. He followed up again a few days later. Then a week later and then again a week after that. I really appreciated his concern for my well being. Then after more than two months since my massage treatment Dan reached out again to see how I have progressed. I was pleased to tell him that I have my life back and can do all the activities I did prior to my injury and without experiencing any symptoms of sciatica, although with extra care so as not to re-injure myself. He then gave me some exercises to perform in “Phase 2” of my recovery and let me know that by doing them I can heal my lower back to be stronger than it was before I injured it. I...

have been to Thailand 11 times in the last 7 years and married a Thai masseuse - so i know a little bit about the healing properties of a good thai massage. I have "fibromyalgia" and arthritis in my neck and shoulders and my foot. My trip to thailand in 2007 i sought out "nerve specialists" and they turned my world upside down and brought me a lot of relief.... but i only had a few treatments and pain returned. None of this prepared me for what Daniel could and still does do for me.

Let me say that i have passed kidney stones 3 times in my life and that was more fun that one of Daniel's intense workovers.

Nonetheless, i give him a full five stars. Over a period of 3 months and about 8 treatments he has relieved me of about 80% of active pain, almost off of all pain medications now.... my foot arthritis pain is completely gone and shoulders and neck only occassionally spasm. When i first went to see him - he said he felt at least 3 major whiplash events in my body and that was the cause of my current pain situation. I could not believe my ears! Acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists (all over a period of 2 years)- none had ever referenced my 3 car wrecks or suggested any relationship between these incidents and my chronic pain. Daniel correctly found the root cause and has been FANSTASTIC in fixing the situation. I will see him a couple of more times before i go to thailand for another month of relaxation and then that will be it. But if i ever experience pain again from my "fibromyalgia" or arthritis - i know where to go.

Well, went to Thailand for a month, got several massages from Daniel's teacher, was extremely intrigued by the blind master's techniques and have returned to Daniel's care.

I now wear shoes i could never wear before (due to my foot arthritis), sleep well at night, have NO pain during the day and have actually walked a couple of miles over SFO hills - something i thought i would never do again.

Pills are all gone , pain is gone and i will be sorry to stop seeing Daniel. I know i will get a "tune-up" now and again... but i also know that my body will never forget the healing he has enabled me to experience.

What more could you ask for?

I can't say enough about the man's personal committment to healing and his integrity. Top marks all the way around.

And because of the way/what he treats, you may find yourself healing in other ways too.... seeing him has been a life changing experience.

Update from Thailand, two years later. I have now lived in Chiang Mai for almost 2 years and been getting massages whenever so inclined - hey, at $10 for 2 hrs, i am inclined a lot! Anyways... i thought i would mention that i have yet to find a massage in thailand as comprehensive or as healing as what Daniel gave me in San Franciso. I am still free from pain around my original complaints - Daniel gave me that freedom! But sometimes here, i get kinks or cramps and i want them worked out. Off to massage. I have found two people here that begin to approach the energy and strength that Daniel brings, and only one, that seems to have a potential for technique. My wife is thai, so she conveys to the masseuse what i need and still, they fail to deliver like Daniel did. Daniel achieved a perfect marriage of thai techniques, asian chi dynamics, basic body health, and a deep understanding of nerve systems. Once again, i say thank...