Testimonials

Don Kelley | Debbie Iddins | Foot Pain | Back Pain | Knee Pain | Neck/Shoulder Pain | Headache Pain | Arm/Hand Pain

I tore the fascia on my right foot playing tennis and had almost lost hope that it would ever heal. I saw several physicians, got X-Rays, MRI, etc. but nothing seemed to help. Seven months after the injury it seemed the next logical step would be surgery. Until…someone told me about Zana. At the end of my first visit at Neuromuscular Works and the most thorough physical evaluation I had encountered since getting hurt, I got my hope back. I cancelled the surgery and started working with Zana and her staff. Within weeks, I was much improved and, four months later, was dancing at my step-son’s wedding. With Zana's help I reclaimed the use of my foot and my sanity!...Kay Elam

I was in pain and had difficulty walking. I experienced constant, often debilitating, anxiety producing pain. I learned to distinguish between joint pain and muscular pain. I learned specific exercises and my foot problem was corrected...Beth Harwell

I first went to see Zana Zeigler because my back hurt and my shoulders felt tight and I was having frequent headaches. She did a thorough assessment and worked on my back and my shoulders and my head - and also my tight chest muscles and my posture and even how I walked and sat and stood. It soon became a commonplace that, after telling Zana where it hurt on a given day, she would go to work somewhere else on my body! If I came in with a headache, she'd work on my shoulders, my chest, my lower back... I learned from Zana the importance of a systematic understanding of the body, how the bones of the skeleton are held in place by the muscles, and how pain in a particular place is often the result of imbalance - too tight muscles here, overly stretched muscles somewhere else. The goal of her work is to help her clients achieve and maintain healthy balance in the body. Beyond symptom relief, I have learned a great deal from Zana about how to live in my body. I have learned how to distinguish the "good" pain resulting from stretching and working the body from the "bad" pain of strain and imbalance and injury. I have learned how to work on myself when I have discomfort, how to find the tight place with my fingers and use pressure and self massage to get relief. I've had a good deal of bodywork over the years, but nothing has approached the quality of the work I've received from Zana! Her encyclopedic knowledge of the body and the skill and strength of her hands combine to provide a profound and unique experience of healing and learning...David Yarian, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

I started seeing Zana for pain related to TMJ. Over six months, she reduced my discomfort to a level I didn't know was reachable. Treatment with Zana is incredibly comprehensive. She begins with a thorough examination of posture and identifies key areas with causal relationships to pain. She identified several with me and addressed them all through both therapy and stretching (which I still do on my own time). She uses several techniques, and each visit left me feeling significantly better. Week to week, I could observe easily the improvement in my condition. She creates a very soothing and pleasant environment and takes every step imaginable to create a custom healing solution for her patient...Brad Beskin

"NMWORKS AND "REX" ARE GREAT !!! I started coming to NMWorks for tightness and soreness in my neck and shoulders. All of the therapists are wonderful and have helped me a lot. The neuromuscular massage work has done a lot to help loosen up my shoulders and neck. A few months after I started coming to NMWorks, an MRI confirmed that I have 2 bulging disks in my neck. So, approximately 6 weeks ago I started using the Rex disk exerciser/rehydrator. The Rex equipment is a wonderful invention. It is easy to use and the sessions are approx. 15 minutes so they are very quick and convenient. I find the Rex sessions very relaxing. In coming to NMWorks for Rex sessions, I have found that 3 sessions per week is most beneficial but 2 sessions per week also helps. Using Rex seems to help with the spinal alignment in my neck, making my neck more comfortable and less sore and fatigued. I wasn't experiencing any significant problems with my lower back, but after using Rex, I can tell that it has also helped to limber up my lower back and strengthen the natural curves of the lumbar area. I like Rex so much and have been so impressed with how quickly it has helped my neck that I decided to invest in my spinal health and purchase a Rex exerciser for home use. There are cheaper, manual Rex models available, but I decided that I probably wouldn't use a manual model very frequently and that, therefore, the #6100 electronic model was the better choice for my longterm use. Anyone with neck and/or lower back pain/soreness should really give "ReX" a try"!...Lori, Nashville

I suffered from frequent neck pain and occasional lower back problems. I have tried physical therapy and prescription muscle relaxers, but they seemed only to address the symptoms and not the root cause of my pain and discomfort. I consulted Deborah Lynn of Touched into Being. She strongly encouraged me to consider Zana's expertise in assessing my conditions and formulating a holistic plan for restoring pain-free mobility to my lower back and neck. In following Zana's simple advice, I have changed my posture, made some modest furniture modifications and added some stretching exercises to my daily schedule. Soon after that, along with some regularly scheduled visits to Zana, my lower back pain is all but gone and I am making very good, measureable progress with my neck...Thomas Conner, President Sitemason, Inc

I have a neuromuscular condition called torticollis, that I have been dealing with for 15 years. I am receiving Botox injections in my neck to help alleviate pain & spasms. I have been to many chiropractors, healers, bio-chemists, neurologists, dentists, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapists, & pro-lo therapy. I am a Pilates instructor & have clients that suffer from neck, knee, shoulder & back pain. Several clients recommended Zana so I immediately made an appointment. Zana is very professional & knows how manipulate my neck muscles to stop the spasm & stiffness. I have been seeing Zana for three years & will continue to do so because I think she is the best in her field. I highly recommend her to my clients as well. Botox is a bandage & Zana is working hard to get to the cause of the spasm so that I can get my physical health back. I always feel much better when I leave her office...Susan R.

My chiropractor, Dr. Sheila Meadows, referred me to Zana for constriction in my neck and pain in my neck and shoulders. I've also suffered with lower back pain. I've had the neck pain and back pain for years, but only in this last year had begun to feel the constriction as well. Another major problem was related to general stiffness in my shoulder blades and upper torso. I've learned how pivotal and vital your spinal health is to all of your body's functioning, internally as well. I've been significantly helped by Zana and have regained full range of motion in my neck without pain! In fact, the constriction had become so familiar to me that I had developed the habit of not looking before changing driving lanes, which of course, eventually led to an accident! I'm ecstatic to say that I no longer have that problem!! The "Sacro-Wedge" and "PCIs" have been tremendous at stopping the problem before it becomes debilitating! I thank God for this therapy and how it's helped me...Kyna Moore, Licensed Professional Counselor

My shoulder, neck, arm and upper right back pain was very distracting and concerning. I thought it was carpal tunnel syndrome. I learned that the roots of my problem went far deeper than the occupational hazard of working at a computer all day. I'm delighted with the progress and with Zana's ability to go beyond the symptoms to uncovering the real problem_one with a 20+ year history...Patricia McCracken

For many years, I suffered with lower back pain, shoulder and neck pain. I honestly can't remember not having chronic pain. I dealt with it as a way of life until one day, my son suggested that I go see Zana. I learned that most of my problems were due to poor posture. It wasn't something that could be corrected overnight, because my muscles were so tight, and just would not relax and lengthen. The deep tissue massage has been essential in my therapy. Now, I'm able to have better posture and have gained strength in my muscles, rather than suffering with chronic pain...Pat Caldwell, Administration Project Manager

As I reflect back to when I first consulted Zana 15 years ago for chronic back pain, I can truly say that in her muscular treatment has profoundly changed my relationship to my body. Not only am I largely free of pain, but I now pay so much more attention to my posture, body alignment, and the importance of not over-strengthening one set of muscles at the expense of another. I have benefited both from Zana's extraordinary knowledge of how various muscles connect and affect each other, but also from her exquisitely sensitive hands… she can tell which muscles need attention, without my even having to tell her! I frequently recommend neuromuscular treatment to my psychotherapy patients who have complained of chronic or intractable pain, and they have invariably benefited as well...Philip Chanin

Two years ago I was having some extreme lower back issues resulting in my having difficulty in walking. I saw my internist who recommended physical therapy. After ten sessions, I was improved but not significantly better. My internist referred me to an orthopedic specialist who gave me cortisone injections. This proved to be a temporary "fix" which helped me for a few weeks. Then my condition worsened. My special education teaching job required me to be very mobile in a middle school setting, and this became increasingly difficult.

A friend shared information about neuromuscular therapy and Zana. He had experienced amazing relief over time from her efforts, so I decided to make an appointment. Zana spent a great deal of time during my first two sessions analyzing my complaints, explaining how the muscles work, suggesting and demonstrating specific exercises, and doing neuromuscular massage to relieve pain. Between sessions, I faithfully continued the exercises, and over a period of weeks, my pain lessened and I began to walk with less discomfort. Now, with Zana's encouragement and massage expertise, I am almost fully recuperated.

I have moved from the Nashville area but am still faithful to the exercises Zana suggested. These have become my prevention tools for sustaining a healthy back. I feel fortunate to have discovered the wonderful benefits of neuromuscular massage in general, and Zana Zeigler in particular. She not only is an expert in her field, but also a kind and compassionate person who supports personal wellness. Her manner is thorough and professional in all respects. If you are fortunate enough to become one of Zana's clients, you will not be disappointed...Mary Keith

April 20, 2011
(A Letter to my Surgeon),
This is a brief report on my back health and a hearty recommendation for some people who turned out to be helpful in my healing. My surgery was 10 months, in July. I was in bad shape for a long time afterward, but I did my exercises religiously and kept on the rehab track. Walking was especially helpful, as were the initial exercises provide by your therapist. The McKinsey exercise I was taught has been, on the whole, the best of all exercises. I still do them 3x daily and imagine I'll always do them. By November, I was getting frustrated with the speed of my progress so I searched the internet for more exercises and got Rolfed twice as you suggested. In February I was told by a woman runner friend who had had a shoulder injury, about Zana Zeigler.

Zana Zeigler and her clinical associates Don Kelley and Debbie Iddins, have been a great help to me in going to the next level of wellness and improving my fitness. They have provided me excellent assessments, good exercise techniques, advice and helpful massage.

I have been to several PT places over the last 10 - 15 years for my back, knees, shoulder, etc. No one has helped like Zana and her team. When you have a future patient eager to improve his/her self after a difficult surgery like mine. I hope you and your staff will tell them about Zana.

In conclusion, I would not be writing this letter if it weren't for what you did for me. I am very grateful for your care. And hope that we never meet again in a surgery center...Doug Andrews, Lam-Andrews Creative Group

I came to Zana through a mutual friend, who called her a "gifted healer" at a time when I needed some real help. My back was injured from years of life in working bands, and was going out on a far too regular basis. Today, in my work as a professional tech geek, I spend tons of time hunched over the computer. Neither of these professions is particularly helpful for back pain. I had tried several other kinds of treatment, chiro, doctors, etc., but wasn’t really getting anywhere. Zana got me on track pretty quickly, and over the past couple years has provided me with ongoing relief of my symptoms. Working with her, combined with my recent adoption of a REAL exercise program, I am essentially pain free. Plus, Zana is a wonderful spirit, and her wisdom, energy, & thinking are always inspiring to be around. I highly recommend her...Mark Montgomery

I came to see Zana because I was having pain in my back and needed more relief than chiropractic adjustments were providing. I had tried regular massage therapy and chiropractic for almost 9 months with little help or improvement in my pain. After having 4 Neuromuscular Therapy treatments, my pain was gone; and, I received ideas about posture, ergonomics, and home therapy approaches, all of which will help prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. I'm a manager with an insurance company, and spend a lot of time in front of a computer. The information I've learned has made a real difference for me...Scott G.

For over 20 years I have sought relief for my lower back pain. I have been diagnosed with degenerative disks between my L4 and L5 and L5 and S1-I have been treated by some of the best orthopedic surgeons in Nashville-I have sought chiropractic treatments, exercise therapy, drug therapy, massage therapy and holistic medicine with mixed and or temporary relief at the best-a friend knowing my frustrations recommended Zana at Neuromuscular Works-after researching the concept and consulting with my orthopedic doctors I decided to give Zana a shot-her approach and treatments to my pain were different, very logical and to my amazement effective-for the first time in 20 years I can actually say "I have no pain in my back"! Zana has made a believer out of me with her simple, logical and very professional knowledge of the body-I find myself telling anyone I know with similar pain about Zana!...Bruce Bennett, Bennett Construction and Real Estate Development

When I started to receive neuromuscular therapy I had pain in my lower and mid-back, and an injury in my cervical spine that prevented full rotation of my head and neck. Previous to coming, I had the neck injury for three years and back pain, for one year. Sometimes the work was gentle and other times more difficult, but for every session, I felt attended to, in exactly the way that I needed on that particular visit. I always left my sessions, feeling a sense of relief and relaxation that affected the rest of my week. Over the course of my two-year treatment, Zana has further helped me to understand the tightness in my lower body that is affecting my lower back pain and even my neck injury. I've incorporated the knowledge that I've gained in neuromuscular massage into my yoga practice for a more integrated approach. I feel empowered by my sessions, because I am learning about my body, and how to care for it, rather than only receiving massage which is fabulous, too! Today, I have close to full rotation in my neck and the pain in my back is nearly gone. I am in overall brighter spirits since my pain has lessened, and I've learned how to take better care of myself. I will continue in neuromuscular therapy the experience is invaluable!...Rachel Moss

I am a massage therapist and after many years of working as a massage therapist, I began to feel pain in my right knee. I thought I had strained a muscle attachment around my knee and after a bout of unsuccessful self treatment, I sought Zana's help to figure out the source of my knee pain. After consulting and receiving treatment from her, my knee problem turned out to be in my hip, and now I am as good as new! Another time, after some intense dental work, the resulting pain in my jaw would not go away. I kept returning to my dentist to no avail. She finally suggested that I may need a root canal and my endodontist said I did not need a root canal...my roots were fine! Frustrated, by now, I called Zana and after NMT work on my neck and jaw area, my pain was finally relieved by 90%! It turned out to be muscular! My clients will ask me, "Gail, who do you see for your body pain issues?" I am happy to tell them, Zana Zeigler at Neuromuscular Works, and I do not hesitate to refer many of my clients to Zana for treatment. Zana is the best, and if you have frustrating pain issues in your body you cannot figure out I wholeheartedly recommend her. I have known Zana since she moved to Nashville in the early 1990's. She left Atlanta and moved to Nashville to begin a "Neuromuscular Clinic" in this city, an approach to soft tissue work we did not have at the time. There were massage therapists here and people who added NMT to their massage sequences, but no one who specifically offered Neuromuscular Therapy as an approach to help and treat musculoskeletal pain felt in one's body. She has successfully educated Nashville of the differences in Neuromuscular Therapy for the past 18 years and has helped many to learn where the source of pain originates and what to do to help reduce and even alleviate that pain...Gail Felts, LMT, Touch Therapy Associates

Knee pain led me to consult Zana. I was uncomfortable walking, and I spend a lot of time walking. I learned that my problem was based on the hip muscular. I learned stretches that were helpful. The result is that I'm pain-free! Thanks for the deep massage and instructions to maintain healing...Jane Montegue

Recently, when I tripped and wrenched my knee and foot while on a trip, the first thing I did on returning home was to call Zana. Zana reassured me with her thorough examination, worked on my leg and hips to release muscles that were hindering progress and best of all, sent me home with exercises to help with the healing on my own. She also recommended new shoes and orthotics to support my legs and feet in better alignment. I learned so much—the wrenched knee was an opportunity to address all the little misalignments my body had adjusted to and come up with a plan for a straighter, healthier future. Zana empowers and I really, really appreciate that...Anne Williams

I sought treatment with Zana because I have many structural weaknesses in my body that create symptoms that I have experienced as fairly debilitating over a long period of time. The symptoms include severe headaches, backaches, difficulty standing for a long time, and discomfort walking long distances. While all of these conditions still exist to some extent, I have experienced pain relief and a general upgrade in the tone of my body. My feet are much more comfortable for longer periods of time, and I am generally less stressed, anxious and in despair about my body because of the superb care I have received from Zana. What I like about seeing Zana as a body worker (practitioner) is that she is a technician as well as a gifted and caring healer. She is trained to analyze the underlying root cause of symptoms, and she addresses the specific problem I am experiencing each time she works with me...Aruneema Orr, Art and Soul

I began seeing Zana upon the recommendation of my massage therapist who felt I needed more than she could give me. I had never completely regained full mobility from injuries sustained years before: a broken kneecap and torn meniscus, back surgery, and tennis elbow complicated by a bit of arthritis and bad posture. Zana has worked at getting to the root of my problems in her office, then has given me a few exercises and other props to use at home. Neuromuscular Therapy has increased my enjoyment of life immensely by keeping me flexible, strong, and agile, slowing my decline into old age...Janet Davies

I had numbness in my arms and fingers and pain in my neck, shoulder and low back. I could not sleep well. It was very painful to turn my head, and I ate constantly. Zana taught me how a lot of my symptoms were connected to each other and within three weeks I was pain-free and sleeping great!...Kim Hawkins

I'll simply say that Don Kelley quickly and accurately diagnosed my problem, dealt with it effectively, and educated me as to the cause of my problem. He then gave me very clear instructions as to how I should stretch my own muscles so as to avoid future problems. After a month, I can honestly say my visit with Don Kelley was exactly what I needed, and I would definitely recommend any musician with tendon and muscular problems in their arms and/or hands would be well served to have at least one session with Don. Some people may need more help, but my problem was not severe, and was handled by Don in one visit. He definitely knows his stuff!...Lance Martin

Debbie Iddins was, is, and will always be a Excellent Massage Therapist! I have been a patient of Debbie's for over two years, She is a caring and talented therapist. I was seeing Debbie every Friday for a deep tissue massage for upper body. I am a professional dental assistant, and Debbie kept me working every week.. I have missed her dearly in the year that she has been gone, due to her move..I had an hour massage last time she visited in Maryville, and have also contemplated driving the two hours to see her in just the last few weeks. She has excellent skills, and is caring, compassionate and extremely talented in massage therapy. Thank You, Debbie!...Janet Overly RD, Dr. Kim C Norman D.D.S.

To have great hands as a therapist it can take years to get attuned to being able to read soft tissue dysfunction; Debbie Iddins had an astute and intuitive touch from the very beginning! I moved to Tennessee to be an instructor at a massage school after practicing massage in Florida for several years. The first year in Tennessee, I could not find a Licensed Massage Therapist that would do any deep, specific work, or one that had studied neuromuscular massage training, and knew how to properly use it. As part of the curriculum I taught, the students had to work on one of the instructors prior to graduation. I was the fortunate one to receive my first massage from Debbie. I knew immediately upon graduation that this girl was going to be my massage therapist. She was a student with little experience, but I knew in the first few minutes of the massage, that she had the "touch" and that special intuition to feel muscle tissue! That was 8+ years ago. Since then she has grown into a phenomenal therapist who specializes in Neuromuscular and Myofascial body work. Her knowledge of the body, soft tissue dysfunction, and assessment skills of body structure, and posture is amazing. She has strong hands, so body work with her is not for anyone who wants a light, superficial massage, but she has a huge heart for people and their total body wellness. I have worked with a lot of well known therapists, and had some of them work on me. None of that work has ever helped me as much as Debbie has over the years. She is a gem and anyone who is fortunate enough to have her as a therapist will be extremely blessed...Kimberly K Heinks, LMT

I met Debbie Iddins about five years ago. At that time, I walked with a bad limp, and was in constant pain due to spinal scoliosis. Debbie took on my case with great determination, a strong belief I could feel better, clinical expertise, and just plain hard work for four years. Her deep tissue work reached the deepest layers of my musculature. I discovered my problems were caused more by my soft tissues than by my bones. My improvement has been truly remarkable. No more limp and lots of pain is gone. I highly recommend Debbie for any deep, clinical soft-tissue work...Pamela Schell, TN

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