In short, a Thai-like massage Eric Silber, owner of 5 Elements Massage Therapy in Algonquin, IL, administered left me with torn ligaments, tendons, and sprains in 12 places of my body, and 11 months of physical therapy has not been able to relieve the extreme pain I now live in.
I went to Eric Silber of 5 Elements Massage Therapy early April 2017. I had given birth in Nov. 2016, and my pelvis was rotated, causing inner thigh pain on the left leg. A month before going to Eric, I threw my back and pelvis out and needed to see a chiropractor. After my 6 chiropractic visits, I was suffering muscle aches, so my mom thought I should get a massage. I had never had a massage before and didn't know what to expect.
After telling Eric what had happened, he chose to do what he called "joint mobilization," where he took my body and contorted it in all sorts of ways. He said it was a combination of Thai massage and his own creation when I asked him about it. There was no traditional "massaging." I felt he was far too aggressive, and hours after coming home, muscles in my entire body began to severely burn and felt gritty, like sandpaper. Joints everywhere began grinding, clicking, cracking, popping, clunking, and felt gravely. I was in so much pain, I was entirely bedridden for over a month and have to spend most of the time in bed over the last 11 months due to pain.
At my doctor's appointment, it was diagnosed that I had sprained and torn ligaments in both shoulders (that have loosened areas in my sternum, collarbones, and back shoulder blades as well, since they are connected), my left knee, my left ankle in the Achilles tendon and heel, my right wrist, both hips, the sacrum and both SI joints, portions of the spine, and it is suspected an internal ligament that holds the spleen. I was told the fascia of all my muscles was damaged.
I have been doing physical therapy for 11 months and am in daily pain in these areas, so bad that I have not been able to hold or care for my baby whatsoever and struggle to do even the simplest of things, like bathe or sit down, even on the strongest painkillers the doctor can prescribe me. I have not left my house other than PT appointments in 11 months, because I cannot sit in a car, nor can I walk without severe pain in my ankle and knee. I cannot work, and my husband is left to work, do all household tasks and errands, and care for our baby.
My husband and I contacted Eric with these issues, and he refunded our money.
But I remain in pain. I have joint instability in all these areas, joints audibly grind over each other and crack and pop, and I have no idea if/when I will get better, since ligaments and tendons that are torn/overstretched do not return to their original state. I am now at risk for osteoarthritis in all these places. I fear I will ultimately need surgery on both of my shoulders, my knee, and ankle, all of which are extremely unstable and extraordinarily painful.
I regret going to Eric Silber of 5 Elements Massage Therapy with all my heart. I caution anyone to ever see Eric Silber for any bodywork. read more
