Tuesday, November 9, 2010

On Pins and Needles

Ok, not really on them but they are in me. And, no pins involved, just needles. What in the heck am I talked about you ask? I have delved into the realm of acupuncture.

I have had some lingering back issues for about 5 years. On and off my back gets "tweaked" or "goes out" and I deal with it for about a week with heat, lying flat on my back and then it usually heals up. Well this time it had been going on for about 3-4 weeks. It just won't get back to normal. So for the past three weeks I have been going to physical therapy, which I have always enjoyed no matter what body part I am focusing on--knee, ankle, back, etc. I was pretty much at my breaking point about a week an a half ago when my back "tweaked" for the third-ish time in a couple of weeks. I don't know what made me think of it but I thought of acupuncture. This thought of acupuncture took me back to a soccer camping trip when I was in middle school and staring into my friend's ears when I asked her, "Do you have burnt marshmallows in your ears?"
She laughed and replied, "No, it was acupuncture for my allergies." She had white-clear-ish tape in her ears over some black seeds where the needles had been. That was the first time I have ever heard of acupuncture.
Flash forward about 12 or so years later and I am thinking about it again. I have heard different things about it but most things have been positive. Instant relief, relaxing, amazing, helps pain, etc. I think, why not, what have I got to lose?
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Now, let's review. I am the kid/girl/woman who freaks over shots. However, I know the needles aren't that big at acupuncture, and I think why would so many people partake if it's torture? So about a week ago, I had my first treatment. I go in and visit with the Dr. and she questions me about my problem and let's me know that she thinks she can help. I lay down face-up on the table and she starts with my arm and says that your forearm mimics your body with your hand being your head. Ok, sure, I think. She sticks me with the first needle. My hands and feet immediately break out in sweat and turn to ice. She asks if I'm ok. I nod. She sticks me with another. More clamminess on the hands and feet and a feeling of heat that rushes up my body. I let her know and she says, "Okay, I'm going to take these needles out and give you a break. It's no problem, this is a normal reaction to the needles. It's more the thought of having them in than anything that is getting to you." I stepped out of her office, got some water, calmed down and about 10 minutes later she came out to talk to me.
"Do you want to continue?"
"I do," I said.
She said, "I think you will be okay now after these first couple." So we continued. That day I only had 4 total but it was completely fine when I went back in. The needles didn't hurt at all and when I sat up from the table I had no pain which was a change from when I walked into the office because sitting up had caused pain before.

I had my second treatment yesterday and it was a full treatment with no weird reactions. The only thing I am not really liking is that it isn't really very relaxing. She doesn't play any music, she sits in the room with the lights on the whole time and types on her computer while I'm laying there. I may have to talk to her about this.

It is interesting to me that Western Medicine is not able to explain acupuncture only to say that it does help some people. Obviously with a problem that has been going on this long for me, I was willing to brave the dreaded needles to get some relief and I got it. I guess my point is, that even though a different way of looking at things might be a little scary or off-putting, don't rule it out. Has anyone out there had experience with acupuncture? What experience have you had with trying something new and being pleasantly surprised?

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