After years of long hours at the computer, my neck and shoulders were painfully hunched forward. With skill and care, Lucie has worked to release the tension and “retrain” my neck and back muscles so that I can finally stand up straight again. She also empowered me with a knowledge of my body that has helped me alter bad habits to help strengthen my new healthy posture. She is a true healer.

A year ago before I went to Lucie, I had been rear-ended by a car. After the accident, I had almost no mobility in my right shoulder, a great amount of pain and was extremely depressed because nothing was helping. I had gone to three different chiropractors, months of acupuncture, two massage therapists, and three months of physical therapy. All of these things would work a little but any benefit was lost as soon as I started using my shoulder normally. I was incredibly dependent on my husband and children to reach and carry things for me. I had a hard time sleeping and I could work very little. Most of all the pain was a constant source of tension in my life. Normally I was an upbeat and kind person, but with the pain in my shoulder I had little patience and littler ability to see the big picture. Lucie highly recommended. After my first session with Lucie, I had my first pain free night in over a year. I could raise my arm finally over my head and the fog of pain was subsiding. I even went to swing for the first time since a year. I started to see Lucie twice a week for a brief time, then once a week, then every other week to finally go once a month for maintenance. The results were immediate and lasting and built over time. Lucie is magical, wise and SO aware. I am so grateful to her for her training and skill. She has retrained my muscles and released a year worth of pain, tension, and trauma. Each time I leave her sweet little relaxing space, I feel so grateful.

December 2015 will bring me my 88th birthday. As you might imagine I ask myself , How ? 1) a caring , loving life-mate, a competent , well-trained family physician and, a superb therapist schooled as an RN plus several effective physical therapy modalities in which she has been extensively trained and certified. From these she creates a well-conceived treatment  plan for each client , for their own health / emotional situation. For me , in the past twelve (12) years , my posture is improved significantly… 

I have a 50 % improvement in my range of motion (ROM)…my low back pain (after 3 surgeries)  is no longer a problem,  and my nightly sciatic  leg aching has been eliminated. Plus several operative scar/adhesions have  been dissolved with deep body work.

Modalities chiefly responsible for such success have been Deep Tissue and Bodywork, Thai Massage, CranioSacral Therapy, and Healing Touch. Lucie will program a specific therapy for you, as she did for me and several  people that I have referred to her. 

As a general physician with 30 years of practice , I do not hesitate to recommend  to you these Healing Hands. The hands have touched me with substantial healing. I am much improved.

I was having a lot of pain in my right rotator cuff that got progressively worse over the course of several weeks. I had trouble dressing myself and performing daily basic task like driving my car. I was also sleep deprived because lying down was so painful. Previously, I had injured my right rotator cuff 10 years ago which took months of therapy to repair and regain strength; therefore,  I knew that trying to get this better this time would be a challenge. 

A friend of mine referred me to Lucie who had help them tremendously with their rotator cuff problem which she is free of pain and regained full range of motion. They asked me to be open-minded and give her a try. I had massage therapy in the past and have been very dissatisfied with the results especially given the cost.  I reluctantly agreed to go see Lucie. 

After three visits, I was sleeping through the night and by the forth visit, I had regained full range of motion in my right arm and was totally free from pain! Lucie not only fix my shoulder  in those visits but located other structural problems in my back which improved my posture as well. 

Lucie’s nursing experience, in my opinion, makes her more qualified as a therapist. She takes a personal interest in wanting you to get better and it shows in the way she cares for you. I will continue to see her on occasion for maintenance and sing her praises. She was an angel sent to me.

In 2009, I underwent several surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.  Afterwards, it left me with residual debilitating issues in my upper and lower extremities.  These became worse over time and I was unable to find help…especially after 5 years had passed.

In my lower body, I had moderate-severe neuropathy in my feet characterized by numbness, poor balance, pain, and swelling.  My Achilles’ tendons would become so painful; I slept with a pillow under my ankles on occasion.  I had frequent swelling in my feet and ankles which resulted in having to wear compression socks and elevating my feet.  I experienced major cramps throughout the day and night in my hamstrings, calf muscles, shins, and feet.  All of my toes were numb and it felt like wearing toe socks pulled up too tightly.  I was unaware of hitting my toes on stair risers, stumping my toes, wearing shoes that were too small, and cutting into my nail quick – unless I saw blood.  It was problematic getting out of the bed in the morning, which usually resulted in major cramps and pain even after stretching.  I had to initially hold on to furniture to help stabilize my balance, since it felt like I was trying to walk on stilts as I would walk flat footed across the room.  I was unable to judge the temperature of bath water with my feet alone and became burned twice despite trying to be careful.  I also had some issues with my sciatic nerve and lower back pain. 

In my upper body, I had pressure change headaches which felt like my head wanted to explode if I lifted medium-heavy objects, tried to scrub things vigorously, or bent over and stood back up.  I would have to bend at my knees to clean / do laundry, or I would become lightheaded and dizzy and the pain would start.  I would have to stop and rest – then pick back up where I left off.  I had a reduced range and speed of motion in my neck and even tried physical therapy 2 times a week for about 4-6 weeks but it didn’t help.  My head had limited side to side movement and during driving I would have to turn my whole body to look to the right or rely on mirrors.  My heart would also race, and I was placed on a low dose of thyroid medication which seemed to help with the headaches somewhat.  I was also diagnosed with essential tremors as a teenager, but after chemotherapy the tremors became very notable causing trouble applying eye makeup and it was impossible to apply nail polish unless it was clear so I could wipe it away.  My hands and fingers also had moderate neuropathy characterized by a poor grip (so that I would drop things more often) and reduced sensation especially on my finger tips for temperature, pressure, and texture.  For years I thought my skin was sensitive from the chemotherapy – only to find out that I was burning my hands with the indirect heat (such as stirring a pot with gas on medium) to the point that my hands were frequently dry, cracked, red, and swollen. 

As you can see, I was debilitated.  I had tried to find solutions, but nothing seemed to make any difference until I found Lucie.  My life has improved in so many ways!  She started myokinesthetic therapy with my lower body and after 10 sessions I saw a huge improvement in my balance and sensation in my feet.  Today I have my balance back (even with my eyes closed) and I can feel my feet!  No more swelling, cramping is minimal and rare like it was prior, I can feel textures with my feet, and I know if I’ve hurt them.  The same thing has happened with my hands as well!  No more thinking it’s just sensitive skin…and I have Lucie to thank for that and so much more.  I also have full speed and range of motion with my neck, I no longer have pressure change headaches, and I have been totally off my thyroid medicine for almost a year.  I can’t tell you how good it feels to do housework normally, detail my car (including the carpet), start back to work, and go on long walks again!  I had given up on the idea that it would be possible to regain function, safety, and sensation in my upper and lower extremities after 5 years of neuropathy based on what I had been told and read.  It is like having a piece of me back.  I would highly recommend these treatments to anyone – especially carried out by such a skilled and knowledgeable therapist / nurse.  Lucie is amazing and definitely has a gift of healing!  I am so grateful to know her and have my life back!

Tracey Shaw