Recently, the Community Acupuncture Center that was previously across town moved closer to my home. I finally gave in to my Mother’s suggestion that I try acupuncture
to help with the severe back pain I have as a result of a work related injury
in 2010. It has been a long road with
many ups and downs. I’m at the point
where I’m trying whatever I can to just ease the pain. This was my first time trying Acupuncture.
The on-site acupuncturist is actually a Franciscan Sister as the site is a sponsored ministry of one of the more well-known orders in my area. This is completely irrelevant except that I
believe Nuns have good energy, or maybe just the nuns I've met anyway.
Community acupuncture means that treatment takes place in
one large, quiet room. It is a group
healing setting that allows people to be with others who are healing and takes
away the feeling of isolation some people feel in other, more traditional
settings. That group setting also means
that you can spend as much time as you want in your treatment chair, and makes
it possible for the center to charge an incredibly reasonable sliding fee
scale.
I probably should have done more homework about acupuncture,
but as with most things I chose not to read too much about it in order to have
my own experience and not experience any kind of “placebo” effect or be disappointed
at not experiencing certain results.
I had filled out a brief medical history beforehand, then
when I arrived I was greeted
by a very nice volunteer who had a few additional forms for me. The space was very nice, and clean. There was a soft, soothing music
playing. I finished my paperwork and
waited.
I was the only person there that morning, so when Sister
came out to introduce herself and give me a quick tour we were able to talk in
normal tones. She explained to me how community acupuncture works. We discussed what time I needed to leave, as
she would wake me up should I fall asleep-luckily, I had set aside my entire day for this.
We then discussed what I was there for, and Sister then explained where she was going
to place needles. She checked my pulse, looked at my tongue and then rubbed
an alcohol wipe on the areas she was going to insert needles.
Many of the websites I've looked at since my treatment say
that people don’t feel the insertion. I
did. It wasn't awful, more like someone pinching you quickly or reaching out
and pulling a few arm hairs. The only
needle I didn't care for was the one on top of my head. When all was said and done, I had needles at
2 points on each leg, in the space between your thumb and pointer finger on
both hands, one on either side of my neck (think Frankenstein), a few in my ear
and one on top of my head. I've created a crude little drawing...it’s the
approximate points as it has been about a week since I was there. I’m not sure how many needles were used, as
some areas had more than one but I’m going to say about 15 from what I recall.
Sister then decided to stimulate the needles, which was
interesting because you get a feel of the depth of the needle. I only requested that she not stimulate the
ones in my left hand because shortly after insertion, they started to hurt-more on that later. By that time I was starting to feel a little
chilled, which I tend to do whenever I have any kind of body work done-even
getting my nails done. I was covered
with a blanket and a heating lamp was turned on over my feet (which felt
incredible, by the way). I was then left
with the promise that I would be checked on in 30 minutes.
As I laid there doing an internal body inventory of what I
was feeling, I noticed that my left hand hurt.
It wasn't like a sharp or stabbing pain, my hand was in a natural
position when the needle was inserted and felt like it was tense and cramping. I couldn't move my hand as the movement felt
like the needles were moving around and it made me uncomfortable. At this point, I've very aware of the needles
in my hand and the one on top of my head, which hurt as well. Other people had come in and Sister was talking to them. Being the nosy person
that I am, it was hard not to listen in but then I reminded myself that focusing
on someone else and what is going on with them doesn't help me and I’m looking
for distraction. I start deep breathing,
attempting a meditative state, or relaxation.
At this point, I’m really open to whatever happens. I’m just focusing on my breathing.
Suddenly, I’m dreaming.
I don’t think I was completely out, at least not at first
because when I woke up I wasn't surprised by any of the lightly snoring people
that surrounded me. It was explained to
me that if I fell asleep or when I’d reached the end of my time, I should sit
quietly and make eye contact and she would come check on me. I woke up slow. I felt pretty awesome…like I
wanted to jump out of the chair. But I
had to wait because the needle in my left hand still hurt.
When I got out of my chair, I felt stiff. I’d slept hard and deep in a way I didn't think possible in a room full of strangers.
I felt pretty awesome in spite of the stiffness. I’d describe the feeling as blissed out. I felt a little shaky and like I wasn't able
to fully wake up from my nap. I was even
a little unsure about driving. Sister explained to me that my hand probably
hurt because that is where the needles were for my back, and it isn’t unheard
of to feel it for a while when I’ve had chronic pain.
I drove home and felt energized.
As the day progressed, I started to realize I felt
sore. And I noticed that night and the
next few days that I felt sore and achy, like I was about to get sick. But I started drinking water and soaking in
warm baths and was fine within a few days. I did not notice any improvement in my back pain, though I was extra sore for a few days (some people suggest this is because I'm reactivating my self-healing processes).
I’m already trying to find a way to go back.
What I liked about the experience/treatment:
The community atmosphere wasn’t awkward or
uncomfortable. It was actually kind of
nice.
My acupuncturist was nice and knowledgeable.
I fell asleep for 2 ½ hours and woke up feeling wonderful,
and energized, much more refreshed that I had felt in a long, long time. What really makes me think this was more than just a nap was the fact that I fell asleep in a room full of strangers, probably snored a little, and I was completely ok with the experience.
I slept really well the night of my treatment and the
following nights.
Last but not least, and this might be the important thing...I felt really good internally, like I was doing the right thing for myself.
What I didn’t like about my experience/treatment:
The center is only open weekdays, when I’m working. I actually had to take a personal day in order
to keep the appointment that I had to schedule a month in advance.
While I enjoyed the community atmosphere, one of the
individuals that was also there for treatment was clearly going through
chemo. This is a personal issue and it is probably all in my head,
but I’m terrified that someone who might have a compromised immune system would
get sick from me (when I worked at the hospital, I wouldn’t even set foot on
maternity if I had a cold). I feel this way about babies, people with compromised immune systems due to illness or medical procedures, and nursing homes. I was healthy that day, but many websites I
see encourage people to get acupuncture at the onset of a cold. I can’t bear the thought that someone could
experience complications because of me. This isn't a problem with the facility or, heaven forbid, that person. But the anxiety it caused me when I wasn't feeling well later in the day might not have been there had I had taken a one on one treatment path.
I wish I would have been told to drink more water that day.
Feeling flu-ish and sore afterwards really wasn't the most awesome side effect, but it didn't bother me enough to keep me from going back.
Tips if you go:
Stay hydrated and drink water before you go, and after.
Eat something light before you go. I didn't listen to this advice and my stomach gurgled and groaned with hunger within 2 minutes of needle placement. It was weird and I instantly wished I had eaten something.
Wear comfortable clothes that can be moved for the placement of needles.
Know what kind of a time frame you have. I walked in at 8:00 a.m. and left at 11:30.
No comments:
Post a Comment