My experience with therapeutic (as compared to spa) massage is that you need to commit to a period of treatment, and then to maintenance. My problem was deep in my hip. I went in several times a months for a few months, and then moved to maintenance, which is going in every other month or so. Tim, my guy, says what happens is people come in once or twice and begin to experience relief, so they quit coming until it gets bad again. I feel strongly that by sticking with the treatment phase, I had significant relief that enabled me to really back off into maintenance.

Massage isn't cheap. I have to pay out of pocket for it. But, I am pain free after years of discomfort and tons of other treatment that didn't work. So it's worth it to me. It's taken years to find the right massage person. They are a dime a dozen in this town because we have several massage schools that primarily teach spa massage.

I love my massage therapist. Relaxing he isn't. He might have Johnny Cash on the iPod; no water sounds or flute. Bu wow does he get them job done!