I had a great massage experience. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, and the massage helped relieve a lot of tension. I left feeling much better and would definitely come back again ) read more

Liz the receptionist was about to close (like locking the door & leaving) when I stopped by to make an appointment. Without hesitation, she walked back in & cheerfully made a future appointment for me. That's amazing customer service! My masseuse, Barilio, was very welcoming today, upon arrival. His massage, however, was the best I've had in my life, no exaggeration. The experience was on the level of spiritual. He was simultaneously gentle and relentless. He truly healed me, body & soul. I already made my next appointment! read more

Jessica was wonderful! Was able to get my tense muscles to relax and had consistent medium pressure, which I asked for! The rooms have dividers that don't quite reach the ceiling so you can hear other guests which isn't great but still enough privacy. Service would be upgraded so much if they switched from paper table liners and scratchy towels to sheets! Draping felt like an afterthought and bedside manner was a bit odd (she seemed thrown off by me addressing my health concerns before the service and didn't ask questions to give me confidence she understood). Would come again for the quality of the massage, but would love to see improvements in these areas! read more

Professionals that get down to business. I've never had a bad experience in all the years I've been a client.

To the woman who made me uncomfortable, by disrespecting me as a potential client, this one is for you. Your level of unprofessionalism is extremely offensive. I should have read the low star reviews from other reviews that commented on your behavior. I asked for her name and she said, "I don't need to tell you my name! comes around the counter and stand up in my face." Be aware for all the people who might feel unsafe. To the owner- this is 5:05pm on Friday, September 2nd. As someone who could have been a potential long term client, I am running away. I called yesterday to make an appointment. I received a text for confirmation. I walk in and she says rudely, "you're not in my system." i show her the text and she shakes her head and looks at me like i've made up this information. I try and make my case asking for anyone else and she laughs and she's like no. Then the whole incident of her coming around the counter to use her hands in my face made me turn around and fearfully run out. Run away!! I felt unsafe. read more

First time visit and I will not be returning. I scheduled a massage, once I arrived there was no information given to me I had to ask about time/price/services. I was taken to a room and again no instructions were given to me, I waited a few minutes before a therapist came in, no words were said - all she did was wave her finger towards the massage table. Confused, I continued sitting and waiting, expecting someone to greet me and ask me about what brought me in. I am dealing with a painful, hip, work injury, that no one asked about. The receptionist then came in and asked me if it was my first time there - I answered "yes" as I stated over my inicial phone call. She proceeded to tell me to undress to undergarments and lay on the table. The therapist returned and started yanking at my sports bra - I asked "would you like me to remove it?" She said "yes" Those were the only words shared before the painful, one hour, deep tissue massage started. Not once was my problem area worked on. I am still in pain and very upset. read more

Pain Stop Wellness - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Debating writing a review for this place as I have gotten 3 deep tissue massages here. The first two experiences were great no complaints. However last week, it was bad. The lady performing the massage definitely couldn't have been qualified. The pressure she used was painful, I was visibly wincing in pain and asked for her to apply less pressure to no avail. It was so so sore. She was putting her entire body weight on my shoulders and when she got to my neck, it felt like she was pulling it like the scruff of a dogs neck. Absolute agony. I could hear her yawning loudly whilst working on my back (unsure if she was wearing a mask as I couldn't see). My shoulders and back were genuinely worse after getting this "massage". Unfortunately I won't be returning after this experience, which is a shame. read more

Pain Stop is effective and cost efficient. The doctors are knowledgeable and the therapists are fantastic. I always walk out of there feeling better than I did before. And that's all I have to say about that. Jackee read more

As a customer, I just stumbled across the reviews of this business and Im shocked by the "one-two stars" in here. I want to restore everyone's trust and total confidence in this business. My first visit was "11 out of 10" stars quality. I made an appointment based on local referral from friends who live in the area. Winter time, I had trouble finding parking, finally walked in late and embraced. Great grading by a person up front, great looking place. Then at the table, very good intro conversation. The person did an an incredible work on my entire back, legs. Then I had a session with the business owner, again incredible re-setting of my bones with pops bit of a shock at first, but all amazing quality work. I ended up leaving a nice tip. Other places that I went to later, in the Chicago suburbs were not as effective as this place on Milwaukee Av. It's a shame that others leave bad reviews. Everyone who works there dedicated their carrier to serve us and they deserve the best. Maybe you should beat them to the warm-up conversation and i.e. ask all your q's. This place is excellent and a best of the best among others in the wide area. read more

Let me first start off by mentioning that I have not yelped in years but this experience was too traumatic not to say something. I came here for a massage after a recommendation from 3 different friends/acquaintances. When I walked in I noticed it was a little run down, no big deal because it still looked clean. The receptionist wasn't there, again, no big deal, I'm sure she was in the bathroom. But there was this big cross-eyed guy playing on his phone in the waiting area who would not stop talking to me about the weather and saying that she'd be back. I couldn't even tell if he worked there or not. The receptionist came back, checked me in and led me to my room. Again, no frills, but the room had this big wooden frame built inside of it, I felt like I was walking into a bdsm room. I get settled and the massage therapist walks in, I quick glance up to see who it is since nobody at any point introduced them to me. IT'S THE CREEPY GUY FROM THE FRONT WAITING AREA! I gave him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he's a great massage therapist. I proceeded to have the worst massage of my life both in terms of technique and the constant "hows that miss" "oh yea that's better" comments. I was so uncomfortable and kind of freaked out bc I don't think this guy ever went to massage school. I was going to say something to the receptionist but when I left the guy was back in his armchair next to her desk playing on his phone. I paid and ran as fast as I could out of there. Note how I don't mention his name in this review...because nobody told me! I went home and foam rolled my back and hip out as best I could because I got literally no relief from my pain, maybe they should think about renaming the place. Not sure where my friend's recommendations came from, maybe they had a different therapist? I for one, am too scared to return. read more

I had an amazing chair massage last week by a sports therapist. Too bad I'm having trouble making another appointment- no one answers the phone. And when you finally get someone on the line "oh you want an appointment? Hummmm let me see..hummmm Friday..hummm let me check". (Blank stare) this shouldn't be brain surgery! read more

I've been to PainStop in Lakeview and it became my favorite massage place and I've been to numerous for deep tissue. This time I went to Wicker and I'm very pleased to say their massages are excellent regardless of location. Wendy is the best massage therapist I have EVER had! She worked muscles no other therapist bothered with and she was efficient for 45 min and was able to identify and address all of my knots, including ones I didn't know existed. I have had 5 massages in the last 2 months to address my constant neck & right shoulder pain and none of them helped the pain. This alleviated so much of it but I know I need to go again and plan to real soon! read more

For the longest time I've been putting off trying the Pain Stop. I don't know why, because I love a deep tissue massage, and don't feel like I've gotten my money's worth if my kinks and knots are still there afterward. Oh, maybe it was the whole "naked" thing at the Pain Stop, but that was quickly forgotten by getting an awesome massage. Booking my one-hour massage same day for Friday night is almost unheard of at more high-end spas. But it was easy at Pain Stop! I hadn't written the address down, and asked a couple local business owners where Pain Stop was, and they had no idea! Pain Stop may want to barter a few freebies just to get their name out there in the business community! Upon arrival, I was asked by the desk girl where my problem areas were, and my masseuse, let's call her Grandma Pain Stop, spent all of two seconds asking me about the painful knot in my left trapezius before telling me to disrobe and put a tiny towel over my naked butt. Yeah, that skimpy white towel is about as big as a "Terrible Towel", and it was quickly moved lower, then removed altogether- so I remained uncovered in the altogether! Grandma Pain Stop set a timer and went at me for 60 minutes like a Sumo wrestler! Even though she was a smaller lady, she stomped around the table eyeing the unaligned mountains and peaks of my back that sits in a cubicle all day, and that I've tortured by playing double bass for 30 years. My bad alignment actually seemed to offend her, and she went at me seemingly to avenge the pride of centuries of Chinese masseuses, and Eastern medecine as a whole! For a while there, Grandma Pain was focusing on my right side, and I was thinking something got Lost in Translation, and here I was Mr. Bill Murray. But she worked over my right side to balance the left, and even mounted me for awhile! But the nakedness thing was quickly forgotten, as my knots and imbalances were kneaded away (although in my imagination my butt is floating around on the Chinese Internets somewhere). The massage was deep tissue for sure, but I only winced once, from the good kind of hurt that I like in a massage. At the end she rubbed me down with a eucalyptus type of oil, and snapped my legs and feet in a such a manner that made me laugh out loud! I let out a few Zen belly laughs, then Grandma Pain Stop massaged me some more with hot towels! I slept like a baby that night, and although my knot was still slightly sore the same night, it was gone in 24 hours. If you're training for the Chicago Marathon, I could see this being a great way to refresh training fatigue. As I left, the desk girl said "see you next time", and certainly they will. read more

Whoa. I staggered in here last night - on the recommendation of two friends (Paulius and CX!), barely able to walk, from throwing out my back earlier that morning. *whine* Fixxx mmeeeeee! First of all, this place looks like a "happy ending" type massage joint. Bright florescent lights, linoleum, bare bones. No fluffy white robes, herbal tea or stupid new age music. You'll get water in a styrofoam cup and you'll like it! So. You're in a brightly lit storefront on Milwaukee Avenue, in a back room that only has a thin strip of material covering the door, and about a two foot gap to the floor. People walk by, and the curtain blows slightly, exposing the room. Now, take off your clothes! Yes. Everything. Get them panties off. Now. Completely naked with small towel across booty, you wait briefly. Wow. This was the best massage of my life. I didn't think it was as painful as some people have mentioned on here, but then, I like my massages like I like my men - invigorating, relentless, persistent and . . . okay, I'm going there . . . hard. And ultimately, good for you. There's no "Hmm, am I going to be able to feel that soon?" no "Wow, I think you missed a spot." No way. This is thorough. And your ass WILL be completely exposed AND kneaded. Yes, kneaded. Full on butt massage, and it is glorious. At one point the female masseuse got on the table and straddled me. For more leverage, yah! Now, I've spoken considerably about the nudity factor,but at no time was it skeevy or weird. All business. No talking except to check if the pressure was okay. "Yes, *drool*, it's fine, thank you." I was face down the whole time, and at no time was the real business exposed. After the massage, the hot towels come out. Glorious. A rubdown with towels relaxes muscles further, and takes off the massage oil they use. And it's a pleasant oil, with no overpowering or cloying smell. After, I felt great. The way I looked was another story - disheveled, as if I'd just had sex for four hours in a car and then got pushed out onto the highway. But that scenario was not this. I felt GREAT with a goofy grin on my face, and sort of in love with the world. $65 for an hour of blissful massage? Yes, please + a 20% tip is well worth it. Today, my back is MUCH LESS sore, and I can walk again, albeit still a bit creaky. I think I'd be much worse if I would not have visited these magical Chinese ladies and their ancient massage secrets. Wonderful, just wonderful, and I will be back. Oh, and! AND! They take BCBS insurance when the doctor is in. Definitely going to make this a regular thing if I can. read more

Ah, the power of Yelp. Because, seriously y'all...there is NO WAY I'd be stepping foot in this place had I not read about it all up in here. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Just a no-frills massage joint in a relatively junky strip of Milwaukee Avenue. Generally if I am going to strip naked and get beat up by people, I prefer there to be Enya, some herbal smelling candles and...ya know, robes. Not so much here. But, due to Kevin A's most stellar ROTD to date...I made the trek with my mother in tow. Both highly stressed and harboring some killlllla knots, we needed therapy ASAP in the form of an Asian beating. Oh, and it was walking distances to the Aldo Saleshop, a bonus. $50 for a 45 minute beat down. Damn, good stuff. I was very prepared by reading these reviews...they speak the truth. I'd just like to add that this place is not only "no frills," but VERY clean. There are also VERY anatomically correct posters in the waiting room. I chuckled like a third grader, and I am not ashamed. Medical posters NEVER get tiresome! I will most definitely return for a foot massage. I can only imagine its sublime. I will update if/when I see the bruises. They MUST be coming, but the therapist assured me not. I don't know how this is possible. Then again, I never had pain feel so damn good, either. Maybe they should change the name to "Masochist Stop Massage Therapy?" wink. wink. read more

Pain Stop Wellness - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just feel like I'm lying to people If I keep this at a 5 star after the last handful of massages I've had here. This place was the sole example of bliss for me for the past 3 years. I used to be in this place on a 8 week basis like it was my religion, however, in the past year I believe they have had somewhat of a staff turnover and with that the quality of services has been steadily going down. Down to the point that I may qualify my last two experiences as the worst massages I've ever had. After my last experience I said never again, however in a time crunch and still having not found a new place to try I decided to give the Pain Stop one more chance. Unfortunately, I got stuck with the same therapist as my time previous and this time as I sit here in worse pain then I went in with I really say never again. I've had men and women at this place in years previous who were both amazing. I like a good heavy massage, however, today was the first day in the past 3 years that I've actually had to speak up and tell the man it was to rough. Why you ask? Because unlike previous therapist who actually focused on pressure in specific areas my last 2 appointments with this man have consisted of nothing but the back of the arms being rubbed across the length of my body with extreme pressure for 1 hour and that's it. No real focus on specific needs (even though I stated what areas were bothering me) It was just general hard rubbing with no rhyme or reason or really even any sense that the therapist knew what he was doing. I give them 3 stars because I really used to like this place and I hope they can do better again, but for now I will be going elsewhere and for the moment I will be sitting here with a stiff neck and wafting in the scent of icy hot all while being $65 +tip poorer. Sad. read more

Pain Stop Wellness - Additional brusing - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ok. I actually think this is my 1st yelp review. I'm being generous with two stars only because they were nice people. I went in hoping to get acupuncture as I get chronic headaches and it helps relieve them. The lady said due to it being Sunday and no doctor being available they could only offer a massage but she was sure this would be helpful for me. The masseuse was extremely rough. Heavy handed. And continued to hurt me. I literally cried. I specifically said you're hurting me and this is going to ignite a migraine and she replied "you're stressed". Wth?!? I left feeling bruised. Violated. And completely misunderstood. Clearly our language barriers must have been the only logical reason to keep going with such roughness after I clearly stated my discomfort. I guess the real question is why did I lay there through 45 minutes of torture? Idk? A part of me wanted to believe that if I let her massage all of my tension out I would no longer get the headaches that I suffer from daily btw. Well. 5 hours later I lay here... With a headache and my neck hurts...my feelings are a little hurt too. Oh well. Guess I know better for the future! if you need Gentle. This is not the place for you!!!!! ****UPDATE***** So I'm literally just now leaving ER. I have prescriptions for pain killers and muscle relaxers. When I read reviews I always say "well every one is different!, I'm sure my experience will be better" But honestly in this case because I expressed to her that she was hurting me and she continued to pound and press and elbow me beyond my consent... I would not recommend massages by this place. Now I cannot vouch for any of their other services. As I have not had them. But the massage has cost me medical expenses, great physical pain, emotional irritation. I am very upset. It's 1am and I am sitting in Walgreens waiting on a prescription, afraid to go home without it for fear the pain will return. My shoulder blades feel like someone lit them on fire. My neck has limited mobility. My left arm can only raise so high before shooting a sharp pain into my entire left side.... And I'm left handed. Ugh. I'm so discussed. If this was 10 years ago I would Sharkisha that lady. But I've come so far in life... And I've grown to understand that a Yelp review can go a long way. I really hope I save a shoulder blade or two with my review. Sign a broke back... Not mountain. read more

I'm convinced the staff here could start a lucrative gang. They may not appear intimidating, but their hands are like lethal weapons. One rub or poke on the right pressure point and they'll have you on your knees offering up your ATM pin, your turf, a kidney, or really anything they wanted. Think about it. As others have said this place is no spa; I hesitate to call it a *parlor* because that sounds like a place that offers happy endings and that it is not. You won't get massage foreplay (new age music, incense, idle chit chat) at Pain Stop, once the therapist comes in - it's business time. If you have any modesty, this probably isn't your place. There was a little confusion between me and the woman up front about laying on the table, but I'll come back to that. Basically, you need to get butt naked and lay face down on the table - no sheet, no nothing will be covering you. It's a bit like you're the plat du jour and your therapist just got off a 10-day fast. I think there's a saying "before pleasure, there is pain" and if there isn't, there should be. A knot in my calf that wouldn't quit finally got me in the door and my therapist, as nice as she was, beat the sh*t out of me - in a good way. She gave me a thorough massage with special attention to my calf-area. I say special because she went to town on my leg, breaking out special oil and hot towels too. I didn't want to be *that person* that yells out or weeps uncontrollably, so I silently swore like a sailor knowing that if I could endure the temporary discomfort I would feel better in the long run. Consider this review 4.5 stars, the only reason it falls short of 5 is because of my exchange with the woman up front. When she led me back, I didn't really get any instructions, I was just shown my cubicle. I assumed I was to get between the towel and paper on the table, which is pretty normal; I was not. When she pointed out my mistake she was rather rude; I apologized for my confusion, but she kept repeating, somewhat crossly, that I was supposed to be laying (yes, butt naked) with no covering on top of the paper, sheesh! NOTE: BRING CASH. Yelp says they take credit cards, but several reviewers note that they *prefer* you to pay cash. Me and another customer weren't given the option using a card and had to make a quick dash to Jewel for the ATM. TIP: They accept walk-ins, but I recommend an appointment. read more

You know the pain is bad when while on the train home you attempt to use the back of the steel part of the chair to massage between your shoulders. I did a quick Google search and found this spot. I learned they offered a $20 20 minute chair massage! I called and the very pleasant receptionist told me they could see me in 45 minutes. Perfect! The interior is nothing fancy at all, and in fact there was an odd smell when you first walk in. A scented candle could do wonders. The area that the chair messages are done is also the waiting area, foot massage area and receptionist area. It pulls a lot of duties! This was a little distracting, with the various movements and noises. However, my massage therapist was SO AMAZING that none of this mattered. She was relentlessly firm and thorough. She even added a couple minutes to the time. But, I would still suggest a privacy screen and some candles. :) It would really go a long way. read more

Pain Stop Wellness - Not the fanciest of places, but then again the price is right! - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have been coming here for years since discovering it. Recently we had an awesome massage with Vee and Taylor. This is not the kind of massage that you would typically get at a spa. It is very intense,but in a good way. I had a lot of shoulder and neck pain, and I felt so limber after I left. Some parts of the massage were a bit painful but for the kind of pain I had I think it was necessary. Give it a try if you want relief from body aches and pain. read more

I arrived on time for my massage and was told my time would be reduced to 45 minutes instead of an hour and I would need to wait 30 minutes to start. When I asked why, I was told the woman before me was late for her 1.5 hr massage apt and "because she had a good excuse" would recieve her full time. When I asked what the late policy was the receptionist had an attitude and told me I could reschedule. I responded if she knew so far in advance why didn't she call me to reschedule rather than wait until I arrived and paid for parking. I asked to speak with a manager to discuss how late appointments are handled and there was no one there to speak to. Totally unacceptable practice, every buisness should have a policy for how appointments are handled. The two stars are for Shaiyna who is a great therapist! read more

It was cheap, and I was prepared to disrobe fully after reading reviews on yelp. However, why did my 1 hour massage consist of a LOT of butt massage? Did they really think I was holding that much tension in my derriere that they needed to spend half their time kneading it like a piece of dough? I think there's enough cushioning in that area that I don't really feel any butt soreness in my everyday life! The lady didn't ask which areas were sore (shoulders and upper back) anyways when she first started working, so I think she had a butt fetish or something :p. Attempting to communicate was futile since the lady only spoke Mandarin with very very limited English. Since it was so cheap, I can just say you get what you pay for. As for the rest of the massage, the non-gluteal part of it was in fact very good at least, with the right amount of deep pressure for my liking. Would I go here again? Well, maybe for reflexology since my friend said her reflexology massage was very good, but probably not for deep tissue massage read more

I'm shocked at the positive reviews for this place. Writing this to spare others an uncomfortable experience. Yesterday, I went for a 60min massage. I walk in and it's no frills, like others have said, which is fine. I check in at the front desk and it seems like the woman doesn't really know what she's doing, again fine. Then she takes me to the one of the "rooms" which has a curtain door and walls that don't go up to the ceiling, so you can hear everything going on outside the room. The "Chiropractic Doctor" comes in with an airpod in one ear and tells me we'll be doing an adjustment before the massage. I respectfully decline the adjustment. He says okay, the massage therapist will be in shortly. He doesn't give me a name, so here I am naked on a table with a single towel over my back side, not knowing who's about to walk through the door. A guy in street clothes walks in, doesn't introduce himself and gets to the massage. Honestly, I added a star because the massage was decent and DEEP, which I like...but borderline painful. After the 60mins, he says okay all done with not another word and walks out. I never write reviews, but this experience was SO UNCOMFORTABLE. Ladies especially, avoid this place! read more

Taylor is an an Amazon goddess. Strong but not dumb muscle this lady know what's she's doing. I went in with nerve damage in my lower back just above my glutes. Taylor was able to get under the muscle, and relieve all that pressure. Then the stretching holy smokes! I walked out of there feeling like a new man. Thank you Taylor. read more

Had an appointment at 4:30. Drove to this location because Lakeview was closed. Waited about 10 minutes, asked how much longer it would be. I paid a meter. She said another 20 minutes. I have to get home by a certain time to let my dog out. The Lakeview location is always on time. This is super frustrating because this location was out of my way and I had to pay a meter for nothing. I'd already be home if I had known. If they're running behind schedule, they should give the courtesy of a phone call. If the tables were turned and I was running late, they'd cancel my appointment or charge me. Unacceptable. read more

I've been regularly visiting the Pain Stop on Milwaukee Ave for more than 6 years. I began after visiting many different massage therapists on the north side of Chicago and not getting relief from my symptoms.  You can learn a lot about a businesses' philosophy and style by reading Yelp reviews, and Pain Stop is no exception.  I discovered Pain Stop by reading these reviews and have been singing their praises ever since my first visit. As described by most reviews they mainly specialize in traditional Chinese massage therapy and not tranquil spa-like relaxing massage. These are very vigorous and firm therapeutic services. If you feel the pressure is too firm you simply need to speak-up and not suffer through it. Each therapist has a different style, and of the 6 or 7 therapists I've experienced over the years, all were excellent. Thanks to my regular visits, the intensity of my chronic physical symptoms have been greatly alleviated. Their pricing is fair and they accept insurance. If you need to feel pampered, or are shy about being mostly naked on a table, you may prefer to look elsewhere. Otherwise I highly recommend Pain Stop for world class massage therapy. read more

Slept weird and had a pinched nerve on my upper left shoulder for 2 weeks. Finally made an appointment the next day and went. Massage was great. She focused and zoomed in on my problem areas. Pain never felt so good. Prior to this, I was beating my neck with a pvc pipe and using a tennis ball to self medicate. Nope this was 100x better. She was able to get into the nooks and crannies of my knot and after a few hours, my neck loosened up. I can finally look down. Granted all my pain didn't go away but it made tolerable now. No more throbbing sensation radiating down my arm. Hooray. Moral of the story- Go get a massage if you have any pain. Ps. There was a lot of butt massaging, not sure if that was normal if I had shoulder/ upper neck pain. Still great regardless. read more

This place was my favorite up to 2 or 3 years ago because they had good massage people. but all of them are gone now. So now I go to other place ($43 for 90 mins for full body including foot massage) but today I only wanted foot massage and tried here again as it is close to my area. And I realized it was waste of money! The quality is really bad now with $40 for 30 mins foot massage only. Chinese lady's massage was too soft for me, her attitude is not good, and they could not change the person either. I really disappointed and will never go back to this place. Honestly I can do massage better than her....please note that they are still using old pictures of people who have all gone. read more

I came to pain and wellness for my back and working with Taylor with the deep tissue massage and some yoga moves and she works the whole body. I would recommend this place read more

Since the Lakeview location closed and since some of my favorite therapists have taken an extended break, I don't go to Pain Stop much anymore. I finally landed, though, on that Chinese technique I miss. I selected Mike, who gave me one of the most intense massage experiences I have had in a long time. Well worth it and my next visit couldn't be soon enough. read more

I heard great things about Pain Stop's services so I decided to make an appointment. Their website says, "Covered by Medical Insurance? Under the guidance of a doctor, your prescribed massage may be covered by your insurance plan. Simply call our offices at (773) 342-2081 or (773) 698-8356 with your insurance information, and one of our staff members will contact your carrier to determine your coverage and benefits." However, when I called I was told very brusquely that they ONLY take Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, so don't bother calling if you have different insurance. read more

No-frills environment and definitely not for those who prefer lighter massage. That said, every massage I've had here has been fantastic, and it's an incredible value for the money. My experience has been that each therapist has their own unique technique/process so I never assume I know exactly what to expect, but each has perfectly addressed what I needed. I absolutely love Pain Stop and if you struggle to find a therapist who actually does a very strong, intuitive massage, I think you will too. Allow a few extra minutes for parking. read more

Meh. I have chronic back pain so I've been on the hunt for a good masseuse downtown. I had high hopes for this place and dragged my boyfriend with me for an hour massage each. My therapist (forgot her name) did not ask any questions about my problem areas. Did not assess my muscles whatsoever. She went straightaway into her normal routine. Rub the arms. Rub the legs. I told her to focus on my back and she continued to rub my arms and legs and push around the skin on my back. I was so disappointed. My boyfriend's masseuse sounded like she was attacking him - forcefully pushing all of her body weight down onto his back. He likes pressure, but it was shocking that she did this without asking either! Do your masseuses not ask patients what areas they'd like to focus on? I'm so disappointed with my experience here and would not go back. read more

Great place I come with legs pain and I feel the massaging really helped me Very quiet place and then masseuse was very professional really every touching was in the right place I didn't want it to stop read more

I got a tense upper back and sometimes foot problems. Foot was aching a bit this morning so I went for the first time without an appointment. The man who massaged my feet, swear to god, I will never go back to a woman. This guy was amazing. I was getting my feet worked on in the lobby waiting area. He made me fall asleep while the other people waiting were looking at my feet. Now for the full body "massage". Holy. I go into this room that looks like a 3rd world country hostile. "Take all off". Shoot, aight. The boxers went. I'm butt naked. I'm laying face down and waiting. 5 minutes later I see a pair of granny sandals walk towards me. (You know when you open your eyes and you try to imagine who your masseuse is based on their shoes). I shit you not, no trust building, no conversation about pressure, no soft touch in the beginning....she drove her elbows straight through my neck and shoulder blades and kept going. Holy cow, I was laughing because the whole bed was shaking and I see her legs pouncing on my body constantly. It was loud! I was also tearing. I didn't want her to call me a wuss, so I took the pain like a champ. ...Silence...for 30 seconds. (yes, the worst part is over)...guess again, she drove her elbows deep into all my knots. I'm sitting here writing this review and I feel more relaxed in m upper back and neck. I think it's because my knots and muscles are afraid to act up again or else Chinese Grammy is going to drive her elbow into them. Another funny thing was, as I lay there butt naked, she climbed on top of the massage table and was walking all over my body (yes, calves too). Her heels drove through my already beat up neck and shoulders. She put her heels on my butt too. At this point I didn't feel awkward, I just felt half dead. When I thought I was about to die, it was fitting, they played the theme of Gladiator when he was about to die (spoiler). It will take me another month to have the guts to go back - but this is a place for therapy not relaxation. You must be into S&M to enjoy this treatment (only half joking). $50 for 45 minutes (no filler, straight beat your ass type of massage). $40 for a 30 minute foot massage. Dirt cheap compared to swedish massage joints. read more

With all the hype surrounding Pain Stop I knew I would be disappointed with anything other than a mind blowing, eyes rolling in the back of my head, full body tingling experience. The bar was high, but I'll be damned if Pain Stop didn't sail over with ease. The first thing that blew me away was that they took an appointment on a moment's notice. Their hours online say they close at 8PM, but when I called at 6 hoping they had a 7 o'clock slot, I was told they would be closed. Hearing the disappointment in my voice the lady asked me if I REALLY needed a massage that night. I told her that I had been sitting at a desk for 12 hours a day each of the last 3 days and she said (get ready for this) they'd wait for me. Wait, what? Yes, they waited for me and started an hour long massage after closing time. I was expecting the place to more be like a doctor's office per the other reviews. While it didn't seem as clinical as I'd thought it'd be, it was very bare and model home clean. After being escorted to my room, I was told (as expected) to strip naked and put the teeny (seriously, it's slightly bigger than a hand towel) towel over my butt. The room had a curtain instead of a door and every time it swayed in the tiniest bit, I was certain someone was going to get a peep show. Luckily, because this was after hours, there was no hall traffic. It's been said on here that this is a "no frills" massage. While this is true, it by no means takes away from the experience. I never even SAW my masseuse. There was no 5 minute "How is your Chi?" conversation with Enya playing in the background. I got naked, laid on the table and with a quick "hi" a strong gripped gentleman went to work on every inch of my back side. Think of enjoying a 5 star dinner, prepared in your kitchen by top chefs and served to you while you're on your couch watching your Tivo. Now imagine that it's half the price. The frills are gone, but the delicious food remains and you're left with a little more cash in the end. In his very first motion, he pressed down on my back with open palms. I heard 4 distinct pops and would have gladly paid $65 just for those 3 glorious seconds. As he continued, I could tell that he could feel what was tight and he applied the appropriate motion and pressure. Yes, it hurt at times, but as it's been said, it's the best hurt one can feel. He rubbed and relaxed just about everything. The reflexology was a wonderful touch (he spent about 3 minutes on each foot) and I can't say that I've ever felt anything like the butt massage. The walls of each room do not come anywhere near the high ceiling so I was holding back some serious moans out of fear that the people in the front would hear. One thing I noticed was that unlike most great feelings, my hour seemed longer than a normal massage hour. What I noticed was that they start their timer when they begin the massage whereas most places start when you undress and stop 5 minutes early to allow you to undress. 60 minutes means 60 minutes. When it was all said and done, my masseuse slid out the room as I sat up on the table feeling euphorically light in the head. I'd imagine this is what it'd feel like to make out with a masked bandit before he disappeared into the night. Seriously, when I went in the front, there were only women. I had walked in with unbearable back pain just an hour before, and I left feeling like a million dollars. All this for $65 plus a fat tip to my masked avenger. I didn't care that my motor senses were severely impaired (I'm not kidding.. I could barely walk straight let alone drive) or that I left with my makeup irreparably smeared like The Joker. That was some freaking massage. read more

Just don't bother going there. This place was recommended to me. I had a 10am appointment scheduled, arrived 10 minutes early. Over the phone they said the prefer cash only, but will take a card-tips only in cash. Waiting until 10:15am no one was at the front desk, just chatter in the back room. Asked if Wendy was in, and got nothing but a blank stare, so I just left. read more

Two of my life goals: 1. Be touched by as few people as possible. 2. Be seen naked by as few people as possible. Coming here basically goes against everything I stand for, but I somehow managed to throw my back out today while I was walking 10 feet across my tiny apartment to get a glass of water. File that under both hashtag 'old' and hashtag 'boring'. So I came here because every time I breathed in and/or out it felt like a muscle running the length of my spine was electrocuting me. I'd very lightly skimmed the reviews (mostly their star rating) and called to book an appointment, which they were able to accommodate within the hour. Thank gawd. In my head this place was more of a sterile medical environment. Real legit like, ya know? Only it wasn't. Not at all. This isn't that type of place. I walked in to a gaggle of older Asian women playing with mahjong tiles on a front table and was warmly greeted by a young lady in neon sneakers. I made a mental note to ask to use the washroom pre-massage so things didn't get awkward halfway through when they pressed on my kidneys. The bathroom sitch is odd. It's like half bathroom other half is laundry and storage, so you'll be peeing next to the drying towel you may later be rubbed down with. The girl said I could undress to whatever I was comfortable with, so I asked her to get me an extra heavy sweater and some cargo pants. Just kidding... sort of. The only thing I hate more than being naked is being seen naked. I weighed out my undressing options and decided to keep the underoos on and be thankful that I had enough sense in the morning to choose one of the few pairs I own that aren't in a haggard condition. Honestly though, I would never go sans underwear (hell, I might even wear a sport bra next time). There's a few moves that are just a bit too open and I'd prefer to keep my nethers as private as possible. The girl also asked me if a male masseuse would be okay and I kind of wanted to scream, 'No', but I didn't because I was in a tremendous amount of pain from my stupid, old-ass back and didn't want to risk having to wait a moment longer to get my sh*t rubbed out, so I went with it. I liked my massage as far as the pressure goes. It was by far the most intense professional massage I've ever gotten... but I also have a super high pain tolerance so for me I actually felt like my guy could have gone harder.. but my face was far too mushed into the head-hole to get any audible words to come out. Plus I may have been busy drooling and/or trying not to drool. The massage lasted the full hour and I even got a few extra minutes on the back end. Literally. Man, there's a lot of butt play involved. It was generally pretty quiet. The walls don't go all the way to the ceiling and the entryway to each room is a tiny almost-sheer white curtain so it's not all that private. I could definitely hear the guy in the room next to me breathing all heavy and sh*t and it was half making me laugh and half grossing me out. Keep your grunts to yourself, man -- There's people trying not to think about what's being done to you in the next room over. My room also had a poster of the pressure points on a very naked illustrated man. I had no idea the testicles and it's friends to the north and south had so many trigger points. Whodathunk? The price for an hour was $65 and they're cash only. Not exactly the face of a legit operation but they were very clear on the phone that the service was cash only so I was able to stop at an ATM nearby and grab a few extra bones. At the end of my massage the pain in my back felt like a dull tickle compared to how I started the day, so I'm very thankful for that, but overall I just think the esthetic of this place keeps me from giving the full 5-stars. The outside looks more like a pawn shop than a place you'd get a massage and there's just a few too many water damage marks and holes through the ceiling and floor for my liking... and I def spent the first 45 seconds I was in the room scanning to see if there were a creepy hidden camera because it does kind of totally have that vibe. Also, the lotion/oils they use smells like old lady make-up. Like that dusty, soft, drid up smell. Absolutely one of my least favorite smells in the world and now my whole person stinks of it. read more

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T WORK HERE No really, I don't. Yes I know I'm Asian and I'm in a Chinese establishment, but your first clue should be that...oh I don't know...I'm not sitting behind the desk. Or at least ask me if I work there...don't just assume. This happened to me TWICE while I was there, but I digress. On to the review... ************************ THANK YOU MA'AM, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER? This is mecca for masochists, a pleasure-dome of pain, and most importantly my new massage place. I sit at a computer all day, drive an hour each way to and from work, and work out a lot which makes my back more knotted than a pair of macrame'd jean shorts. So when it comes to massage, I don't need Enya, candles, and whale songs...I need someone strong who gets down to business. Thank heavens for the Pain Stop. This NYC Chinatown-esque massage place is perfect when you have knots that need to be attacked with a shock-and-awe assault. It's not the most peaceful environment (expect occasional phones ringing, conversations in Chinese going on, etc.), but that's not what you go here for. You go here for strong, expert practitioners in Qi Gong / Tui Na who can work out even the toughest knots. Tips: Call ahead and make a reservation, don't forget to get a buy 10 get one free card, and prepare to be a bit exposed from time to time. read more

It seems as if every friend I have on Yelp is in love with this place. In fact, it was all of the glowing Yelp reviews that brought me here. However, this was the WORST massage I have ever received and as much as I don't want to be "that guy", I am going to have to lay out the one star smack down. Yes, Pain Stop is cheap. My hour deep tissue massage was $65. Yes, they can get you in on short notice. I was able to call and get an appointment in one hour. This is where the good stuff ends. I was asked when I arrived if I had any specific issues and I told the receptionist that my right shoulder had been bothering me. I was then lead off to the massage room. From reading the other reviews, I was aware that these rooms were semi-private. Meaning that the walls don't go all the way to the ceiling (think soft loft) and there is a skimpy curtain for a door. This was not an issue. What WAS an issue was the fact that my male massage therapist kept talking to the therapist in the next room during my massage. On what planet is this acceptable? The entire point of a massage is to relax. Every time I felt relaxed, I was jolted out of it by thinking he had asked me a question...only to find he was speaking to the voice behind the curtain. This may not have been the most annoying thing ever, had the massage actually been good. Yet that was horrible, too. I repeatedly had to ask him "not so hard". Since I didn't hear him speak one word of English and he kept up with the abuse, I tried just saying "Ow!" and tensing up. You would think that this would transcend language barriers. It did not. I woke up the next morning with a bruise on my neck. And he did nothing special to my shoulder, which was my whole reason for going. The icing on the cake was that the bathroom was dirty. Please, be aware. If you are used to any kind of spa environment massage, you will not want to come here. In fact, I could not stop thinking after wards that I could have paid an extra $15 and had an $80 hour massage at any number of well reviewed places. Shame on you, Pain Stop! read more