Success Stories

“I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy three months after giving birth to my first child. I could not close my eye, smile, or raise my eyebrow on the affected side of my face. My face was literally frozen, and I had trouble speaking, eating, and drinking– even playing with my baby!

The doctor’s protocol was for me to take high doses of a steroid in hopes that I would not suffer any long-term nerve damage. This path would have required that I stop breastfeeding my little girl who would have had to go on formula until I had finished rounds of steroids; and there was no guarantee that the steroids would actually help.

Luckily, I had previous, successful, experience with Myofascial Release treatments after a car wreck in 2008, which left me unable to sit or walk without pain. So rather than filling the prescription for the steroid and buying formula for my baby (especially after we had worked so hard learning how to breastfeed), I turned to my MFR therapist, Julie Leigh, OTR/L.

I saw Julie within 24 hours of being diagnosed, and after one treatment session, I was able to move my face more freely! Most Bell’s Palsy sufferers progressively get worse over the first few days, and I was already seeing movement in my cheek. I was given ‘homework’ that included a myriad of different exercises to help soften my tight face until I could see Julie again. I was feeling so much better, just after a few days, that I asked her, “Is it possible that I am already getting results?!” To which she replied, “It’s all possible.”

It’s now been almost a month, and I can smile and play with my little girl again with no problems at all. Most people who didn’t see me during that time don’t even know I ever had Bell’s Palsy. And I am indescribably happy that I did not take the stint of steroids, for both my daughter’s and my benefit.”

“After I had two hips replaced in less than 2 years, I had so much to do to get stronger. All was going well until I developed some knee pain, and a few days later fell down 6 or 7 concrete stairs in a parking garage. Nothing I did seemed to be able to get much of a handle on that pain, even very diligent PT from wonderful therapists, until I went to Julie ‘s MFR therapy at Ballet Memphis, where the progress became startling! It was extraordinarily helpful, and I learned so much. Having been a ballet dancer, basketball player, and serious hiker, and avid Stott Pilates practitioner, I had plenty of body awareness, but this was a revelation to me. I recommend it to anyone with injuries and desires to keep moving!”

“I have been running pretty much injury/pain free for many years.... A little over a year ago, while running trails, I was stopped in my tracks by a deep strong pain in my right leg below the calf and just above the Achilles tendon. This pain was so instant severe, that it was as if someone hit the pain switch. I at first thought I had “torn” something. I walked very gently back to the car, got home and applied ice.

Several days of no running and easy walking and the pain eventually subsided........Forward two weeks later I eased back into running and all seemed fine. No pain or discomfort..... After running for several weeks, bam!!!

Here it was again. Just like the first time. Stopped me in my tracks once again, exactly like before..... Ice again and some discussion with other runners etc and we all felt I must have something torn, even if only a micro tear.

At about this same time, I had heard about Myofascial Release and I thought I would look into it to see if there might be a diagnosis made..... After consulting with Julie, and learning about it, I decided to get it a go....... In the very first moments of my first treatment, I was told that there was an incredibly tight and restricted area surrounding my pain......Maybe scar tissue from a previous blunt trauma I suffered years earlier ??

So as the treatment continued, over the next few weeks, a couple of treatments a week......Along with the office treatments, I was also prescribed some stretches to do at home.....I was starting to feel pain-free once again and eased back into running.... I continued with a few more office treatments and I was totally running pain free again... It has been over a year now since I was treated and am running as good as ever.

There is no question that the treatments I got there are responsible for the success of my running..... I would highly recommend Myofascial Release as an option to think about when seeking treatment.”

“I was six weeks away from undergoing a total knee replacement when I sought treatment from Julie for plantar fasciitis of my right foot. I had seen chiropractors and had multiple cortisone injections in my heel trying to relieve this pain. My doctors told me that plantar fasciitis was very difficult to treat and that I would probably live with pain the rest of my life. I was amazed when after a just a few sessions with Julie my right foot quit hurting AND the swelling in my left knee disappeared. My orthopedic surgeon was amazed and the surgery was cancelled!

Julie is more than a practitioner…she is an educator. During our sessions, she taught me about myofascial tissue and how it’s connected to every part of our body. She showed me how my hips were out of line because of the pull of the myofascial tissue. This was causing both my knee and foot pain.

She provided me with educational materials and handouts outlining Myofascial Release techniques that I could do on my own at home. I discovered the more I put into my therapy by following her directions, the greater results I achieved.

I am a pediatric dentist. The dental profession is very tough on the upper back, neck and wrists. Julie was able to release the myofascial adhesions I had in my upper back, neck and wrists. Now I feel ten years younger.

The treatments are absolutely pain free. After most sessions I feel very relaxed although sometimes I feel energized as if I had taken a power nap. If you are tired of living with pain, please try Myofascial Release. I guarantee you will have a great experience. Out of desperation I sought treatment from Julie for severe foot pain and ended up avoiding knee surgery. Now my body is stronger and healthier than ever! ”

“Myofascial Release therapy is the first course of treatment that actually helped with the widespread pain I was having. Over the years I had tried everything from massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors, cortisone shots and various medications, but none of those things ever gave me the long term relief that I experienced after working with Julie. My general pain levels have gone from staying in the 7-8 range, down to the 2-3 range overall.

There were also short term benefits from treatments including the time I went in with a migraine, and left without one, and the time when she was able to alleviate horrific menstrual cramps I was experiencing. As I learned the techniques from her, I was also able to deal with pain spikes on my own. I recommend this therapy to everyone experiencing pain. It is a process, but it’s a worthwhile one!”