Acupuncture
Oct. 25th, 2005 09:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhienellethOk. Some of you who have read this journal for a long time know that Mark (husband) teaches martial arts and goes to Japan every year, yadda yadda. This weekend, we had another guy who teaches the same art out from Texas (he lived in Japan for a while, and he has a lot of info and knowledge that we don't) to teach a seminar this weekend. He's also in school for chiropracty and chinese medicine, including acupuncture. This is the second time he's been here, as we had him out last October as well.
What probably no one here knows, because I haven't talked about it, is that I've been having knee problems for two years. To the point where I've barely been able to train (i.e. participate in budo class) for the last year. Or exercise regularly, or do a lot of things. The falling down and getting up kills me. Going to movies where I can't stretch out my legs kills me. Driving for long periods kills me. Anything at all requiring me to bend my knees significantly and straighten them again kills me. Our guest instructor knew this from his time here last year, but apparently his schooling has proceeded quite a bit since then, and he came this time armed to help.
A bit of history on my knees and what I've already tried. This a hereditary thing. The muscles which hold my kneecaps in place are weaker than they should be, thus allowing for more motion than there should be when I am walking or moving. Everyone naturally has scar tissue that builds up underneath your kneecaps. Mine has built up in the wrong direction because of that additional movement, which is what led to pain. My sister's knees are worse - hers will just dislocate suddenly all on their own as she is walking. But then, she doesn't have pain all the time like I do, so I guess it's a trade off. I've tried doing exercises to strengthen those muscles, having regular trigger point massage on them (recommended by a chiropractor/massage therapist who specializes in knees), and pretty much everything short of talking surgery, which has been my dread.
Well, Luke came armed with his acupuncture tools. I hate needles, I mean you have no idea. The last time I tried to be good and give blood, the nurse took one look at my face (before she'd done anything more than swab my arm and get the needle ready) and refused to do it. She was afraid I was going to pass out, and sent me away. I was relieved, having only gone out of a sense of guilt and obligation in the first place.
To my surprise, Luke didn't use needles. He used this neat little electo-thingy, that sent an electric current into whatever special spots he chose. It took a total of about thirty seconds, and when he was done I had no pain. None. Whatsoever. I trained all weekend, falling down and getting up repeatedly, with no pain at all! He repeated his acupuncture thing twice a day, and it was wonderful. And then he told me he could show me how to do it myself, if I wanted. He said the scar tissue should start breaking up, and if I did this regularly and also did the strengthening exercises he showed me, my knees should get back to the way they used to be, pain free without surgery. The electro-thingy cost about $80, but that is a small price to pay as far as I'm concerned. I ordered one Saturday night. He showed me some other points, too, after looking at my tongue (weird). He said something about my spleen being messed up and causing me joint pain.
Anyway, words cannot express my joy. Today, two days after the last treatement he gave me before leaving, my knees are starting ache again just sitting here at my desk. I can't wait to get the electro-thingy (yes, my technical term) to try this for myself.
I was very skeptical of acupuncture before. Not anymore. I am totally impressed.
What probably no one here knows, because I haven't talked about it, is that I've been having knee problems for two years. To the point where I've barely been able to train (i.e. participate in budo class) for the last year. Or exercise regularly, or do a lot of things. The falling down and getting up kills me. Going to movies where I can't stretch out my legs kills me. Driving for long periods kills me. Anything at all requiring me to bend my knees significantly and straighten them again kills me. Our guest instructor knew this from his time here last year, but apparently his schooling has proceeded quite a bit since then, and he came this time armed to help.
A bit of history on my knees and what I've already tried. This a hereditary thing. The muscles which hold my kneecaps in place are weaker than they should be, thus allowing for more motion than there should be when I am walking or moving. Everyone naturally has scar tissue that builds up underneath your kneecaps. Mine has built up in the wrong direction because of that additional movement, which is what led to pain. My sister's knees are worse - hers will just dislocate suddenly all on their own as she is walking. But then, she doesn't have pain all the time like I do, so I guess it's a trade off. I've tried doing exercises to strengthen those muscles, having regular trigger point massage on them (recommended by a chiropractor/massage therapist who specializes in knees), and pretty much everything short of talking surgery, which has been my dread.
Well, Luke came armed with his acupuncture tools. I hate needles, I mean you have no idea. The last time I tried to be good and give blood, the nurse took one look at my face (before she'd done anything more than swab my arm and get the needle ready) and refused to do it. She was afraid I was going to pass out, and sent me away. I was relieved, having only gone out of a sense of guilt and obligation in the first place.
To my surprise, Luke didn't use needles. He used this neat little electo-thingy, that sent an electric current into whatever special spots he chose. It took a total of about thirty seconds, and when he was done I had no pain. None. Whatsoever. I trained all weekend, falling down and getting up repeatedly, with no pain at all! He repeated his acupuncture thing twice a day, and it was wonderful. And then he told me he could show me how to do it myself, if I wanted. He said the scar tissue should start breaking up, and if I did this regularly and also did the strengthening exercises he showed me, my knees should get back to the way they used to be, pain free without surgery. The electro-thingy cost about $80, but that is a small price to pay as far as I'm concerned. I ordered one Saturday night. He showed me some other points, too, after looking at my tongue (weird). He said something about my spleen being messed up and causing me joint pain.
Anyway, words cannot express my joy. Today, two days after the last treatement he gave me before leaving, my knees are starting ache again just sitting here at my desk. I can't wait to get the electro-thingy (yes, my technical term) to try this for myself.
I was very skeptical of acupuncture before. Not anymore. I am totally impressed.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 05:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 10:03 pm (UTC)And hmm, have knee troubles myself, but I'm hoping gentler exercise will help...
no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-27 05:01 am (UTC)