Ryan Lee, LAc

Ryan is a master diagnostician. He has a caring and light demeanor, and he really knows his stuff. He has a true intention to get to the bottom of the issue and get it fixed. I went in for knee pain which 3 other providers coudn’t fix. He found the problem (noone else had even suggested) on the first visit and the interventions worked, no more knee pain! Similar results later when I had plantar fascitis.
The best way to work with Ryan is for you to be proactive about the administrative side:
— Take detailed notes about how to do your homework. You won’t get diagrams or handouts for the exercises
— Be explicit about all of your symptoms, and exactly where they are on your body. Repeat your situation and treatment plan at every visit, even if it feels repetitive. He doesn’t write it down in a «chart» that gets reviewed before each visit, so best results not to depend on memory.
— He won’t teach you how to spell facitis, so either look it up or just spell it wrong like I’ve done here. :)

Saw Ryan for manual massage therapy this past summer, along with my girlfriend, for a chronic pain condition that was really cramping my style, preventing me from body surfing in our fantastic pacific ocean. Really bad hip and back pain that began after getting lost in the forest, no that is not a joke, and having to hike about an extra 5 miles than planned.
In the event, Ryan took care of business and I am now as good as new and boy does if feel fantastic to be able to hike and swim again. The g/​f really liked him too.
Great positive energy, very respectful, and fantastic and unique kind of bodywork i had never had before even living here in SD.
Cheers!

I have had ankle pain which prevented me from running for two years. I tried everything — chiropractors, physical therapy, podiatrist, orthotics, you name it — and found some pain relief but no path to get me running again. A friend suggested I see Ryan and I’m glad I did. After a couple of sessions I was able to start running again. I am able to run farther every week and know what to do to strengthen my legs/​ankles and treat/​manage pain on my own. Highly recommend!

I just started seeing Ryan April of this year and he has change my life!!!
I get spontaneous excruciating lower back pain for many many years, more than 9 years. Been through many chiropractors and massage therapists. If only I’ve met him earlier I would’ve probably still be playing league volleyball.
Ryan is AMAZING!!! So knowledgable in what he does. I just tell him what’s hurting and or what’s bothering me (aching body wise) and with his Godly hand, I’m healed! He also gives me exercise tips and advice for maintenance so that I won’t injured myself easily, and if I do, my body will recover quicker. Before seeing him you would think my body is of an 80 yrs old, always achy and weak so out of shape… but he FIXed me right up. Every time after our session I feel like I can take on the world, join a volleyball league, run a marathon! But I know I have to take it slow. However I’m not afraid to be active again because I know that if I injured my back, Ryan will heal me!
In the past, before I met Ryan, whenever I strained my back or get this back spasms, I could barely move or breathe without excruciating pain for 3 – 4 days and would be on norco and flexeril atc; And my body wouldn’t fully recover till after 7 – 8 days, but I would still need to wear a back support for about 2 weeks.
Well, recently I strained my back (pain level 10+) went to see Ryan, and «poof» I’m healed! Because I’v been seeing Ryan, I feel that my back recovered faster. I’m back to normal, fully recover less than 5 days!
All I can say is, he is so awesome, and I don’t think I can live without him, lol!
I forgot to mention, after 4 years I started playing volleyball again!!! Every other weekend, non competitive, just for fun. And no spontaneous excruciating back pain. Just minor aches and pain from being out of shape

I had some really bad tightness in my IT bands and latissimus dorsi. It was excruciating to do certain leg movements and I could not raise both arms straight up (there would be a bend in my elbows and some tightness in my trapezius). Ryan spent less than 20 minutes on me and really loosened them up. He targeted my pectoral muscles which loosened my lats and trapezius allowing me to raise both arms fully extended with full range of motion. And, the method he used to loosen my IT bands had a significantly better effect than foam rolling and stretching. Now, I have increased mobility in my legs and the tension in my IT bands was significantly reduced. This session was 14 hours ago and the muscles I was having issues with are still much looser than before.
Ryan is very knowledgeable and efficient in his practice. He was able to diagnose where the tightness lie in my body just from watching me do a few exercises. He also gave me very useful tips to do at home on my own or with a partner to continue to loosen the tight muscles and improve mobility and flexibility. I definitely plan on going back to him to address other injuries I have.

As a massage therapist myself, I tend to be particular about the type of bodywork I receive. Ryan is out-​of-​this-​world amazing!
He is incredibly knowledgeable and brings a wonderful intuitiveness and sense of humor to his work that I totally relate to AND my body responds to.
While our sessions are predominantly massage, Ryan has let his intuition and knowledge of eastern medicine guide him to utilize needles, when necessary, for particular «problems» I come in with. Again, it’s always spot on!
Don’t miss out people!!! Go book a session today!

I have worked with numerous acupuncturists and massage therapists during my athletic career and Ryan is one of the best. He has an incredible way of working with his patients. I am super picky with my therapists because I want to have a relaxing experience but also get work done. He does exactly that. He makes the session very relaxing while still attacking any injuries you may have.
Ryan is extremely knowledgable, giving me 100% confidence in his practice. His knowledge of acupuncture is profound as well as his understanding of how the body works. He does a fantastic job of integrating acupuncture and massage therapy into his sessions to ensure that you get the best and most inclusive treatment possible.
He recently worked on my nagging shoulder that had been causing some severe pain down my bicep. I was having a hard time lifting my arm and had pain that radiated all along my shoulder girdle. In just one session he helped reduce the pain a tremendous amount, allowing me to regain full range of motion in my shoulder. I am a believer ha! I can’t rave enough about him!!! Definitely go see him if you are looking to have a nagging injury fixed or just looking for a nice, relaxing experience to rejuvenate yourself!

I have been going to Ryan Lee for bodywork for the past three years, mainly because he is fantastic. He has so many maps of the human body in his brain, from musculoskeletal, to myofasical, to acupuncture channels, and he is always accumulating more knowledge and excited to employ it. With this curiosity about the human body, he actively engages with what is going on in your specific situation and gets to the root of the problem, while educating you about your situation and what exercises or lifestyle changes to use as self-​care. Go see him, already!

I was suffering from extreme pain in my shoulder and had to stop surfing and working out. Chiropractic, my normal massage therapist, thai massage, and regular old rest wasn’t helping. I tried everything i could think of. My chiropractor suggested accupuncture with Ryan. She also goes to him. She is a great chiropractor and I trust her advice. After multiple sessions of acupuncture and deep massage work targeting the problem area I’m back to to doing my thing. And completely pain free. I feel like a new person. I’m back to surfing, and working out the way i did before and have also started rock climbing. All with no shoulder pain. It’s been 6 months and I still feel great. Don’t let pain stand in the way of life! Ryan is a good dude, you should definitely see him. He will probably heal you too!

Best. Ever. That’s Ryan.
I have had hip and back pain for years and have long been in search for release. M.D.‘s were (not surprisingly) totally useless. Chiropractic helped. Acupuncture helped more. Then my acupuncturist recommended bodywork with Ryan…
I used to tell people that I wish someone would just twist me and pull me apart so that I could get the release that I felt my body needed. You know what Ryan did? THAT. And without me telling him that’s what I felt like I needed. And it was amazing. Like angels singing and rainbows and unicorns amazing. You tell him what hurts where and when and he somehow just knows what you need.
He really listens and he really cares. You can see his passion for helping others heal and be the best physical, mental, emotional beings they can be. He doesn’t talk all hippie though, unless you want him too. And then he’ll probably do it in a way that you’ll laugh so hard you’ll forget that he’s currently digging what feels like the sharpest elbow on the planet into your too tight butt muscles. But when he’s all done you’ll feel like a new person or at least a much less broken person. Promise.
I see Ryan for bodywork because I already have an acupuncturist that really works for me, but given how intuitive he is with his massage and stretching, I wouldn’t hesitate to let him stick little needles in me, too.
Just do it.

Seriously the best cross trained in massage, acupuncture and movement therapy. He’s helped my family so much. The most impressive was when he readjusted a misaligned jaw with only a couple of sessions –which was something that the dentist and doctors could not do. We go to him regularly to keep our healthy and active lifestyles going.
What ever the ailment he gets us positive RESULTS every time!

I have been going to Ryan for almost 2 years and love him! Always takes time to listen to what’s wrong and works to correct it with a mix of acupuncture and massage. He also gives great tips on what you can try at home such as meditation exercise and stretching. I have received acupuncture from others but it’s just not the same. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for treatment or just a better state of mind.

Ryan is a Godsend! I’d been having some nagging back pain for quite awhile… which I’d attempted to patiently ignore/​overlook for as long as I possibly could (yes, I’m stubborn and proud). But it was getting to the point where my fitness goals and general livelihood were beginning to suffer, as a result. Not ok. A fellow Crossfitter and an all-​around awesome person; he knew what kinds of workouts I was doing (and the mental nature of it all, to say the least). I had a quick chat with Ryan about my issue one day, in passing; and as a result, I made an appointment with him, stat. I’ll admit it; I’m very green in the area of alternative health, and have only even begun to dabble in it as of recently. But it didn’t take much to convince me of the positive benefits, upon my first visit. Where I was feeling immense frustration and hopelessness; I left my first couple of visits feeling (knowing) things were about to get way better.
Ryan did such an amazing assessment of my moments and helped me to identify not only what was hurting; but more importantly; what I needed to do to fix it now, and to keep myself moving properly, going forward. He does a good, healthy mix of massage and acupuncture; whatever it takes to help you feel better. And he makes you feel really comfortable; and that’s saying a lot from a person who is virtually incapable of relaxing! I am grateful to have come across Ryan through my own community circles, and can only hope this review further encourages others to seek out some positive changes.
Ryan will fix your shit up!

I went to Ryan on the recommendation of two different people who didn’t know the other went to him. I’m glad I listened. Ryan listens to my complaints and tailors his treatment accordingly. I always notice an improvement after every session. Highly recommended Ryan!

Ryan is a magician!!! I was referred by a friend for stress relief (I work at a computer all day) and to quit smoking. Voila! I can now deal with my daily stess through ways he taught me, not just needle work. Hes great at what he does and really knows how to get to the bottom of any problem area– physical issues like aches and pains and like me, stress. It shows how much he enjoys his work which is a great trait to have in someone who is «fixing» you! I also got my chronic heartburn/​acid reflux under control and its never an issue anymore. One session and its gone. Now its basically «tune ups» for me and I love how I feel so relaxing and genuinely happy after I leave. I would definately recommend him to anyone interested in accupuncture. Its a great alternative to traditional methods and therapies and hes awesome!

Since I started running, I have always been with a little bit of pain. A little twinge there and little cramp here. But as runners, we learn to take that in stride. Ha ha! See what I did there??? Not anymore. Yesterday, I took a couple good friends’ advise and went to Ryan Lee. He does accupuncture, integrated orthopedic massage and herbal medicine. He spent 2 hours with me helping me learn why I feel pain and how to get rid of all my various aches and pains. I got out of bed this morning PAIN FREE! For the first time!
I feel a little sore like I had a great massage but he knew exactly where I hurt and helped with each specific area. He even gave me specific stretches to help out each problem spot. He is in the Hillcrest area and his #619−252−2218. Tell him I sent you. He isn’t cheap but he is so worth it! You won’t regret it!

I started seeing Ryan because of chronic hip pain and because, as a fellow yogi AND Crossfitter, I knew he understood the physical demands of my workouts. Ryan taught massage therapy at PCOM and combines acupuncture and massage in every session. That combination seems to work better than massage or acupuncture on their own. Usually when I see him — one session and the pain is better if not gone completely. He genuinely cares if you get better. He brings his A game every session! Try Ryan if you Crossfit!

If you’re looking to treat pain or injury, this is your man! Ryan seamlessly weaves his wide range and adept skills in active listening, massage therapy, Active Release Technique (ART), and Accupuncture to treat the WHOLE you.
I started seeing Ryan after meeting him at a yoga retreat where he used some of his ART and accupressure skills on me to decrease the discomfort I’ve had in my shoulder for over a year by at least 60% in a matter of 4 minutes. After seeing him in his office, I’ve not only seen great improvement in my «yoga shoulder» he has also treated me for neck/​shoulder pain, sciatic pain, and knee problems. At the simple mention of my feet being cold during our first treatment, he had several questions that lead him to not only improving my chronicly cold feet, but also my 3-​year long lack of appetite has vastly improved. I feel like a teenager again and I’m finally gaining weight! His «homework» exercises add in a physical-​therapy aspect to his work that gives you the tools you need to heal quickly and completely.
It’s fun to watch him thinking as you can tell there are like 42 wheels turning in his head… a few seconds pass then sets his laser-​beam like intention at the ROOT of the problem. Not only is this man brilliant, he is a warm-​hearted nurturing soul that puts his whole self into his work. He’s got an amazing intuition that combines with his intellect to make him a powerful healer. Book an appointment with him today and see why I call him Ryan «Magic Hands» Lee!

I have been a client of Ryan’s for many years. Apart from his masterful technique, he actually listens! I have had many bad experiences at many renowned spas because the therapist does not listen to my description of whatever is ailing me at the moment. Usually they just classify my pain and work on whatever they think is best. Ryan Lee listens, then explains what he is going to do and why he is doing it. One of my favorite qualities is that he gives exercises and stretches to do that will improve whatever is sore, tight, etc. I have referred many friends and clients to him and will continue to do so.

If you’re looking for an acupuncturist, Ryan is the man! I am a runner and am constantly dealing with knee issues, inflamed tendons, and sore muscles. I like the fact that Ryan obviously knows what he’s doing and it shows; he often tells me where the pain is before I can even identify it. I immediately feel a great release after my sessions with Ryan. My training has been made a lot more pain free since I started going to him. Additionally, I am a paralegal working in criminal law which means that I am at a desk for most of the work day and deal with stressful cases. My neck and upper-​back area are always tight and following the neck pain is usually an extreme migraine. I’ve also been treated by Ryan for these problems and it’s still amazing to me how quickly he can resolve the pain. I will continue to get treated by him and highly recommend him to anyone with just about any issue.