Posted on 07/27/2014 12:14:51 PM PDT by lee martell
I have chronic pain issues due to flat feet and tendonitis in one of y ankles. I'm trying to be seen by a Veterans Hospital doctor and be scheduled for surgery if necessary. Meanwhile, I watch my weight (try to anyway) and visit the gym a few times weekly to cycle and life weights. My job supervisor just had a baby a year ago, and has gotten a sore wrist from holding the infant so constantly, especially during nursing. She was just about to get a steroid shot to the wrist to alleviate the pain, but chose a more holistic method of Acupunture. the ancient Chinese treatment. After a few treatments, her pain is manageable. She plans to visit that doctor one or two times a month. Since I have had this foot pain trouble since around 2009, my supervisor is aware of my difficulty. She suggested I give Dr. Ming a try. The first visit would be for $150. with follow up visits at $90. I was told the first visit would be paid for under the auspice of "employee appreciation observance". I was all for trying it out, and I'm still glad that I looked into it, however briefly.
Dr. Ming has a small shop near Mill Valley. The interior walls are lined with shelves. Each shelf is filled with different herb roots, teas, near the old fashioned cash register, now covered in Gold Leaf foil, are stacks of cannisters that contain body salves and various kinds of ointments. The floors are wooden, darkly stained and varnished with a low lustre. I am directed to the left side corridor, which leads to four little offices, two on each side. First, before entering the corridor, I follow Dr. Ming brushing through a green beaded curtain. Our arrival in the corridor is announced by the clicking and clacking of those beads. I am guided to a bench in Room B I sit on the raised bench, remove my socks and shoes, and describe why I'm seeking help. The room smells lightly of frankinscence, the kind I used to smell at St. Cecilia, my neighborhood Catholic Church with the bell tower. Dr. Ming rubbed some salve into the top of my head. and proceeded to stick little needles into that area. I was actually glad I could not see how that looked. He asked me to lightly rotate my ankles in a wide circle, first one direction then the other. I felt a sharp jab down, from the top of my head under treatment. The Dr. asks me; "Is it feeling better now? Somewhat, maybe a little bit?" I said, "Is the relief supposed to be immediate? "Yes" he said. I reply,"Right now, I can only say I feel a little pain and pressure from the top of my head" . I guess that was not the answer he expected. Next tactic, Dr. Ming asked my to lightly clench my fists. He then inserts two of those needled on the outsides of each fist, right below the little finger. Once again he askes me to rotate the feet, and this time slowly flex both hands open and closed. "Feeling better now?" "I reply "Ummmmmm".
Next tactic, Dr. Ming twirls the needles in my hands around slightly. Let's just say it did not tickle. I'm thinking "Where did I read that 'Acupuncture is virtually painless!'. To that I;m thinking "Painless? Hell, Those little F##krs hurt! Since my supervisor has paid for this session, I will try to deal with it. The Dr. is a gentleman and I respect his efforts, but it just didn't work for me. I was left in this state for about 15 minutes while the Doctor ran the counter for incomin customers. After he returns, Dr. Ming simply says, "That all now, better?" I smiled, thanked the Doctor, and tactfully said little else. I had already decided I will not be going back, at least not at those prices. Acupuncture operates by in some cases stimulating energy flows in the body from areas that have become dormant through the atrophy of neglect or aging. In other cases acupuncture acts to reduce inflammation. That is what I was hoping for in my case. It could be that many treatments are necessary to stimulate the area.
Perhaps most cultures have their own ways of dealing with pain. I still recall a movie I saw decades ago while in College. This was during "Foreign Film Week". After movies by Fellini and Ingmar Bergman, there was the inevitable French Farce. The French Ski team was preparing for competition. At one point one of the Skiers fell and dislocated his knee. Then a kindly looking doctor in a suit and wear a monocle on a chain looked at the patient, a youth who was writhing in pain from his dislocated knee. The doctor 'had forgotten' his anesthesia! The doctor turned to his nurse, a very pretty blonde in a white mini-dress with the Red Cross on her hat. The doctor said, "We will have to do 'The Routine' on this boy." "The Routine Doctor? Are you sure?" "Qui" I am most certain. Next scene, the doctor bends over to tell the patient, Just close your eyes for a minute, try to relax. The injured Skier is lying on his back in the snow, and does as the Doctor orders. Together, Doctor and Nurse count backward in french; Trois, Deux, Un! At the count of Un or one, both react as planned; The Doctor quickly, roughly pushed the boy's kneecap into place, at the same moment the nurse open-hand slaps the skier in the face so hard she knocks his helmet off of his head. It was the slap heard around the world. After getting over the shock of The Routine, the Skier is next seen thanking the doctor and hobbling off to ski again.
Acupuncture has been very effective in releaving acute neck pain caused by injury years ago in close relative. Key is finding a good acupuncturist and going a couple of times a week at least for up to 15 to 20 visits.
I cured acute foot pain caused by Plantar Faciatist with Curcumin/Tumeric. There was very quick results with this product. Here is a link with info and product. http://curcumin-turmeric.com/
The product I used was the Extra Strength CuraMed from Terry’s Naturally: http://www.terrynaturallyvitamins.com/products/curamed-750-mg/
This product works, I could barely walk before I started on it.
Confucius say: “Acupuncture only work if patient get point of it.”
I wore magnets for a year and it has not returned.
Gave up on the idea of acupuncture when my wife went to one of the most recommended “practices” in our major city here in Texas. She was pregnant at the time and was told it would help with her morning sickness. The acupuncturist treated her and then told her to go smoke a joint. It would help with the morning sickness. (we didn’t follow the advice, btw.)
Seriously.........
Look up prolotherapy. The idea is to strengthen the tendon via an an injection of proliferant agents that provoke an immune response which then leads to tissue regeneration.
My wife started acupuncture 3 weeks ago. First session was $100, had a little effect. Next two were $90 and she says they really helped. She has a bad back, every night I would put 4 pain patches on her back. For the last two weeks she did not need any.
The Dr came here from China in 1990, has a medical degree, and said that acupuncture is required for their medical degree.
..then tear or the tape
https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/13882_813601272018215_6324525050595782600_n.jpg
The generic tapes are not very good... ACE is okay, Franklin, Futuro, and Mueller are great
Okay, but how do you get the dog food/cat food down? Do you chase it with anything?
: )
Thanks. I’ve gotten pretty good at achieve ‘Mummy Wrap Status’ with ace bandage.
I tried acupuncture for chronic neck pain and muscle spasms. After each session I experienced about 20-30 minutes of relief, then problems begin to recur. After $750 in fees and no noticeable cumulative effect, I gave it up. On the other hand, I tried prolotherapy for tennis elbow with excellent results. There is a big debate if this therapy works. It worked on my elbow but not my neck. I’ve also tried platelet rich therapy for my neck as well . While some of these therapies worked on some parts of my body, I never got the desired relief from neck pain and live on a constant cocktail of drugs and occasional epidurals. There is no one cure for everyone. My advice is to see a good doctor who specializes in pain management. Best of luck to you.
this is quackery - they put sugar in your joint and then close it up and call it therapy
I use the AuraWave system on my shoulder quite a bit for a rotator cuff injury I sustained in high school. It seems to be doing very well now.
I’ve used acupuncture 4 times over the last 40 years and it has worked every time. Tennis elbow, back problems, ankle problems and shoulder problems. These were problems that I had sought solution from my medical doctors and they failed to cure any of them. I highly recommend it.
Why that just sounds...Bogus!
(kiddin'...I need to give it a try myself. Though I live out where they we have docs, let alone needlers.)
Bwaaaa! But the herbal doc has helped with several things. But he’s had no luck with my sinus problems, but I smoke, which may be THE problem. And he;s had very limited success with my back. But I compression fractured three verts 30 years ago, and he says he can’t restore them to health, only help with the discomfort.
Helpin’ the lame to walk, Doc.
Can’t ask much more than that.
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