I suffered from chronic lower back and neck pain for about ten years. I would wake up in the morning with aches and pain that progressively got worse throughout the day as I sat at my desk in front of a computer for the vast majority of the day. I sought help from three different chiropractors and tried various other remedies, but they did not relieve my pain. Finally, I tried a local acupuncturist in my city, and . . . ahhh, relief. Now, with acupuncture and regular massage, I am miraculously pain free!
The session with my acupuncturist was almost always the same. It would start off with a brief discussion with the acupuncturist about the reasons for my visit. After that, I would change into a hospital gown, and the acupuncturist would examine the problem areas and confirm the trouble spots. Then I would lie on a massage table, and he would insert long, thin needles in various points on my body. Although it appears as if it would be very painful to have long needles inserted into the body, it is surprisingly painless. At most, I felt a slight pinch, but there was never any pain.
After the needles were inserted, a heat lamp would be placed over my body as I relaxed on a massage table for about half an hour. After that, the acupuncturist would remove the needles, and an assistant would come into the room and massage my back and neck (which felt great). When the session was over, and I would walk out of the clinic with much less pain than when first I came in.
While acupuncture is not for everyone, it definitely worked for me. There are different theories of why acupuncture works. One theory is that, by placing thin needles in various pressure points on the body where energy is believed to be blocked, it promotes healing. Another theory is that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system to release chemicals that dull pain and boost the immune system and bodily functions. Although some say that acupuncture is hocus pocus and that the only reason why it works is through the placebo effect (in other words, that it works because you believe it will), then why didn't chiropractic care work for me even though I fervently hoped it would?
Since the relief of my back and neck pain, I have gone back to my acupuncturist for an acute upper back pain that occurred out of the blue and a rash caused by an allergic reaction to a new soap I was using. In those other instances, acupuncture greatly relieved my discomfort, and the symptoms went away in just a couple of days. Acupuncture might also be effective for other problems, including weight loss, osteoarthritis, and headaches. Moreover, acupuncture has few side effects and is gentle on the body. Acupuncture may even be covered by your health insurance company.
If you decide to try acupuncture, choose an acupuncturist with care. Just like choosing a doctor, be sure to ask friends and family for recommendations to a reputable acupuncturist before making the appointment.
