Accupuncture
By now most visitors to my blog know that I’m a rationalist. I don’t go in for crystal power, guardian angels, psychics, prayer, etc. But on Sunday night I really hurt my back, and I spent Monday locked in a terrible muscle spasm. I could barely walk. Couldn’t bend over, could barely roll over in bed. It was bad. I managed to get into Edan Kark today for accupuncture and massage, and it was amazing. He worked on me for two hours and I’m well on my way to recovery. It is strange that when I have a back problem he’s putting needles in my feet, ankles, hand and wrist, but that’s what he did. He also worked the muscles in my back and upper legs.
At the end I was feeling much better, but I told him I still couldn’t bend forward from the waist. I was dressed and starting to pay, but he said, “let’s try something.” He put two needles in the back of my right hand and spun them while requesting that I bend forward. It would hurt, then stop hurting, the muscles would relax and I would keep bending until I had my head on my knees. (I’m pretty flexible from years of ballet and yoga). Anyway, it was wild, and makes me inclined to believe him when he says he can heal the trauma where I had the tumor removed in my pelvis. It makes it hard for me to ride, and I really don’t want another tumor to grow back so I’m going to let him try.
I’m hoping to be able to get back on Exact on Thursday. We’ll see. I don’t want to screw up my back again just a few days before I head out to World Fantasy and NYC, but I really want to get back on a horse. And speaking of horses — the word is that Pi is doing fine, safe and comfortable. I haven’t called Christine because I don’t want to tie up the phone lines, and I’m sure she’s got plenty of people calling her. I hope the winds die down soon. This is just horrible.
Melinda
October 24th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Glad Pi’s fine. And that your back’s well enough we’ll be seeing you (fingers crossed) in Saratoga Springs.
I’ve never tried accupuncture, but I’m a big believer in physical therapy, of which accupuncture is one of the many variations. I’m not at all surprised it worked. The one thing you have to do, though, is keep doing the therapy. Have you got an exercise program you can get into once you’re recovered?
October 24th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
The winds have stopped blowing here in the San Fernando Valley. They stopped sometime last night. It’s unbelievably hot (90+) with your kind of humidity, but it’s much better for those who are fighting flame. We are hearing good news about containment, the possibility of cooler temperatures and higher moisture as we head into the weekend.
I’m glad to hear that Pi is doing well. I will go see the Arabian Prince tonight after my trip to the chiropractor. Because of the wind on Monday and dinner with Jack Dann last night, I haven’t been up to see him since Sunday, but Gayle and Zsuzsu have let me know he is o.k.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I will be in Saratoga! Actually I’m much better today. All of a sudden in the middle of the afternoon the back relaxed. It’s still sore, but I’m no longer in agony. I’m actually contemplating riding Exact tomorrow though I may wait until Friday and one more treatment with Edan before I get on a horse again.
I had to get my teeth cleaned today, and when my dentist discovered that my GP still hadn’t called back, and saw how sore I was, he wrote me a perscription for valium. Now I’ll have them if something goes wrong again.
I sent the first pass manuscript back to Tor today. Now I just have to finish the short story for Thrilling Wonder Stories by end of day Tuesday, and everything is off my plate except the rewrite of book two in the Edge series.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Glad the acupuncture helped! Jan has used it too.
There’s nothing mystical about it, though the precise mechanisms are poorly understood as yet.
October 25th, 2007 at 6:29 am
I’ve noticed one curious thing about alternative medicine. My previous doctor was Chinese, and his practice included some elements of Chinese medicine, largely focused on medicine and herbal treatments; my veterinarians have a practice that includes homeopathic and other alternative methods. When my previous doctor closed his practice to move to the south of China and practice there (which may be a comment on the state of American medical practice!), I asked him if he could recommend a new primary care provider whose approach was similar to his, and tried a visit to a woman who was on his list, who has a practice that includes several alternative practitioners as co-workers. I liked her, decided to stay with her, and in fact have referred a couple of friends to her. The thing with all three of these practitioners is that they actually talk with me. My roommate goes to a conventional practitioner, and I noticed that her communication style was much more clipped and directive, less explanatory and less two-way.
I think I’d rather have a doctor who talks with me, and uses some methods that strike me as a bit flaky, than one who’s rigorously scientific and uncommunicative. (And some of those alternative methods do provide genuine symptom relief, just as you report.) Of course, three data points aren’t enough to establish a conclusion, but they’re enough so that if I need to find another new practitioner I’m going to try another integrative practitioner first, and see if I also like their style.
October 25th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
There is a limit beyond which I will not go — healing crystals, psychic healing, etc., but traditional medicine has seemed to support the effects of accupunture and it was a orthopedic surgeon who first sent me to a chiropractor to help cure my carpel tunnel. (I’m sure I just mangled the spelling of that. *sigh*)
I didn’t get to ride today. I’m working frantically on this IMPERIALS short story, and I guess a day spent in Albuquerque yesterday fatigued my back. I ran to the mail box drop and the market and my back was really twinging by the time I finished shopping. The horse is going to have to wait. Maybe until I get back from New York.