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Heather Erb injured her back in a car crash roughly 20 years ago.

A related back surgery she underwent led to severe pain on a daily basis.

When a doctor 10 years later told her she needed to have a second surgery, she declined.

She walked out of his office, told him to keep the prescription of Vicodin and vowed to find another way to alleviate her pain.

That relief came in the form of massage therapy.

“I’ve been out of back pain for eight years now,” said Erb, 44.

Erb, a massage therapist, opened Cloud 9 Massage, Facials & More in Harrison in 2016 to help people in similar situations. She will open a second location at 701 Allegheny Ave. in Oakmont next month to try to help more.

“With the epidemic of pain killers, if you can have alternative approaches to at least try massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, why wouldn’t you take that approach?” Erb said. “I always tell people at least give us an opportunity. If I can help you, great. If not, then I understand you have to take the next step.”

The spa offers massages, facials, airbrush tanning, full body waxing and hair, face and nail services to more than 2,000 clients. Its Oakmont location will offer the same services with the exception of hair.

A New Kensington native and Valley High School graduate, Erb decided to open her first spa in Harrison because she knows a lot of people in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

“I just felt this was the best area for me to open because I did know so many people who I could network with,” she said.

Erb massages people suffering from ailments like arthritis, neck pain, lower back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, neuropathy and headaches.

Mark Gatto began seeing Erb after he suffered a herniated disc in his back. He could hardly walk.

“I was practically crying myself to sleep,” said Gatto, 50. “I couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t get in and out of my truck.”

Gatto’s chiropractor suggested he see a surgeon. Erb suggested massage therapy. Gatto chose massage therapy. Within a few months, he was able to get around comfortably again.

“I still get little aches and pains, but I move and I work. I’m back to normal living,” Gatto said. “I boat. I swim. I ride bikes. I do everything I was wanting to do.”

People who turn to massage therapy to heal pain should understand it isn’t just a quick fix. It has to become a part of your life, Erb said.

Gatto used to see Erb once a week. Now he sees her about once a month.

“Don’t think I came here three times and I was fixed,” he said. “It took several months.”

Erb tries to teach people that it’s important to listen to their bodies.

She encourages people to get up from their desk to stretch or take a walk every 30 minutes. Other good exercises include stretching your back over an apple when you’re watching television or bending over and touching your toes.

“You want to try to prevent the injury or the chronic pain before it happens,” she said.

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