I’ve been meaning to post about my acupuncture experiences since I started them and a recent health study/questionnaire from the VA actually asked about any “alternative health treatments” I’ve sought/received so I figure now is as good a time as any.  The questions have helped me intelligently categorize my treatments with my reasons for seeking treatments, so all the better since my mind is so very unfathomably complex and brilliant (read: totally scattered and muddled) that me just winging it wouldjust cause more confusion, probable headaches, possible seizures…or at the very least banging of your head against the wall to uncross your eyes…

I’ve heard fantastic success stories about all three treatments, but these are just my experiences:

Massage:

First “alternative health treatment” I ever tried was massage.  I’m sure there are millions of people out there who get, or have gotten massages before.  No biggie.  I still haven’t quite deciphered all the different massages: hot stone, deep tissue, reflexology, Swedish, aromatherapy, sports…the list goes on.  I always thought you just go in and someone rubs on your sore spots for a while and then you feel better.  And then I opted for my first deep tissue massage.  OH THE PAIN!  Yeah, came out feeling SO much worse than when I went in.  And during, I was gritting my teeth so hard for the hour so as not to scream that I gave myself a wicked headache.  But I figured that is just how it’s supposed to be.  Yeah, it hurts but it’s all for the best right?

And then I made friend with a wonderful massage therapist (Y) who pointed out the sore error in my thinking.  It doesn’t have to hurt.  As a matter of fact it’s not supposed to hurt if done right.  And she emphasised this point by giving me several deep tissue massages that – are you ready? – didn’t hurt one bit!  And I felt better immediately.  She even took care of the soreness from lifting weights that I had when I was working out.  In my mind, it was as though she placed her hands on the spot that hurt (usually in my upper chest and armpit area – from benching) and then remove her hands and the pain was gone.  Simply fabulous, she is!  She works with the body to eradicate pain, stiffness and soreness.  She is the first (of many) therapists who has actually taken the time to take a physical overview of me prior to the massage (rather than simply asking where it hurts, or what I want her to concentrate on).  She asks about past injury, tender areas, soreness, stiffness, sleeping habits, the whole deal.  THAT is how a massage therapist should work.  It’s a pleasure to see her, every time I see her.  Totally non-invasive with immediate results.  Fantastic!

What massage has done for me (on a much higher and consistent level when I started seeing Y):

• general muscle soreness – alleviated
• mild joint pain – alleviated
• tension headaches – soothed
• sore back/neck/shoulders – well, of course
• insomnia – I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep!
• post-workout sore muscles – completely gone
• general relaxation – well, you knew that part

Reiki:

At Y’s suggestion, I began seeing my “Reiki lady” when things were rough in my life.  I had just started dating Mr. W seriously, but as you may recall we had quite a few ups and downs before we leveled off to the “wonderful” we are now.  I was also still hot and heavy on the battle front with the exmen, so stress was high, and my spirits were low.  You can read about my experiences with her here, and here.  Y also began training in Reiki, and would practice on me from time to time back then, and I’ve gone to see her for treatments a couple times since.  She even gave me a quick, on the spot treatment at work on a particularly bad day.  It was amazing. 

I wasn’t feeling spectacular physically at the time, and emotionally, I was a wreck.  Mr. W had just returned from Iraq, and we weren’t doing well.  I’m sure there were other stresses involved as well.  I just felt heavy.  I felt like there was this thick shadow weighing on me constantly.  I felt as though my head and shoulders were dropped to my knees and that the crying was going to begin any second.  Y ordered me to sit down at her desk (she works in my office) and relax as she placed her hands on my shoulders.  Five minutes later, seriously five minutes later, she removed her hands and it felt in that moment like she had brushed away that shadow and heaviness in that one movement.  The world was literally brighter in my eyes.  My head was higher, and the feeling of tears was completely gone.  Amazing.  It was literally that quick. 

Normally Reiki sessions are 30 or 60  minutes, possibly longer.  For those that don’t know, it is “energy healing.”  The therapist opens him or herself to not only your energy, but also the energy that exists all around us and uses herself as a channel to bring in good energy, healing energy.  Unlike a normal massage, this is done fully clothed, and the therapist may simply place their hands on certain parts of your body, or may not touch you at all.  They seem to focus a lot on the areas of the 7 chakras (tail-bone, lower belly, solar-plexus, mid-chest, throat, forehead, and top of the head) but other areas as well. 

For me, its a lot in the feet, legs, and shoulders.  Some therapists who have been doing it a long time, or are just a little more in-tuned to the world may be able to read other parts of you, or give guidance passed from spirit guides, animal guides, angels, or what have you, depending on what you, or she, believes in.  But whatever you believe, you can’t deny the existence of energies all around and even if a person doesn’t believe in the healing possibilities of energy work, it can’t possibly hurt, so what’s the harm in trying? 

I have sought Reiki massages for:

• depression and anxiety – greatly reduced, more with each successive treatment
• focusing – accomplished
• lifting my spirits - accomplished, with amazing results!
• increasing energy – accomplished at the time
• getting to know myself – yep, that too

One side effect I may have mentioned before is the “floaty” feeling that lingers for awhile (up to 2 hours for me).  As Y describes it, the feeling of “not being in your body.”  Not a bad thing, but something to be aware of if you have plans immediately after. 

Acupuncture:

By far the most intimidating thing I’ve tried so far.  I don’t like needles, and as much as I’ve heard that it doesn’t hurt, seriously, someone is going to put needles in my skin?  How could it not hurt?!  But in the desperation of the “mystery pain” that didn’t respond to any pain meds that would leave me conscious, I succumbed to the hope of feeling even slightly better.  Luckily, tow of my co-workers, Y and the fabulous D, both use acupuncture for pain management, as well as for other things, both see the same practitioner, D on a regular, bi-monthly basis.  So I picked their brains and made an appointment.

My first appointment with SAM (Super-acupuncture-mama) was 2 hours long.  (All subsequent ones have been an hour)  Our first hour together was an introduction period wherein we went over my entire medical history, including the physical, mental, emotional aspects, bowel movements, bladder function, sleep patterns and disturbances, emotional history including divorces, sexual relationships, etc, etc, etc.  She had 3 full, handwritten pages of info on me by the time the hour was up.  Everything.  Yes, I will admit that some of the questions she asked were a little more in depth than I was initially prepared to divulge despite, or maybe due to her very grandmotherly aire… –but I sucked it up and answered truthfully, and I’m glad I did.  She immediately recognized patterns in areas of my life, tied to different channels and meridians in my body.  Even the time of night I woke up fit.  My first visit was prior to my Lyme diagnosis, and after our introduction, the first thing she asked was if I had been tested for Lyme or not.  Hmmm…

The second hour began with her going over the equipment (the needles, metal, solid, thin as a hair, smooth – virtually impossible to catch any fluid even if attempted) and the acupunturing itself.  She then had me disrobe down to my undies and had me lay face down on the table (a normal massage table, you know the one with the hole for your face).  She started with my back and shoulders…about 30 there…and moved on to  my arms, hands, top of my head, legs, upper butt (sciatic nerve) and heels.  I probably had clover 50 needles in me total, and although I was a little anxious about whether or not I could move at all lest I dislodge one, or worse, stab myself (incorrectly), I didn’t feel a thing once they were all in.  Seriously.  I wouldn’t lie.  If there were 50 total, about 5 of them stung a little when inserted (like a mild mosquito bite), I felt a slight pressure of her inserting about 10 of them (zero pain), and the rest I didn’t feel anything at all.  Nothing.  Really, I felt nothing.  And as I said before, once they were all in, I couldn’t even concentrate on a spot that I knew there was a needle and feel it.  NOTHING!  All fears dispelled.

As far as after effects, SAM explained that I may not feel anything for a couple days.  There is a possibility of slight (small, 1/4 inch diameter) bruising, but that occurs more with older folks.  Other than that, I was a little foggy from the short nap I got in during the treatment period.  But two days later, no pain.  For four days straight.  Now, I had been in constant pain (averaging between 5 and 8 on the pain scale) for about 3 weeks with no relief, ever.  And those four days were glorious.  But the pain came back.  I’ve been seeing SAM weekly now for a month and I am virtually pain free.  There are flickers here and there, a little soreness or stiffness at times, but nothing even remotely close to what I was feeling before.

Other things she is working on for me:

• emotional well-being (anger and occasional weepiness) – greatly reduced
• waking up at 3am – done
• waking up at 1am – done
• other general insomnia – greatly reduced
• headaches – haven’t had one in weeks
• allergies – reduced slightly
• joint pain, stiffness – greatly reduced

And yesterday I mentioned my cold, and tendency for getting 2-week long colds every month during the winter and she not only promised a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs would make this my best-feeling winter ever, but she also got rid of the head stuffiness, reduced the watery, stinging eyes and runny nose, and eradicated the waves of nausea I was having earlier in the day.  Yea!

Note: I know it is very important to drink plenty of water after a massage or Reiki treatment (I do after acupuncture as well, just in case) due to the release of toxins into your body.  Massage releases all those acids that cause most of the muscle pain, especially post workout and you really don’t want that stuff just sitting in your body.  The water helps to flush it out before it can sit in your kidneys or elsewhere.  It probably isn’t a bad idea to drink water before as well, unless you are like me and will need to pee shortly there after.  It’s hard to get in that relaxing place while doing the pee-pee dance after all.