Needles are not my thing. I know people say that acupuncture needles are very thin and so they don’t hurt, but I thought they were lying.
Okay, maybe I don’t mean lying, I just mean they are trying to make themselves look good. You know, when people say, “Oh, the hike is not that challenging” and then look surprised and full of smug pity when I am panting and falling down the side of a mountain. Or they say “that dish is not that spicy” and I’m choking because my mouth is on fire. Then they look at me like I’m a wuss – which I totally am when it comes to long hikes and spicy food.
But this ankle injury was dragging on and by month number two, I was ready to try out acupuncture.
Here’s what I learned:
- Acupuncture doesn’t hurt. Not just like I’m trying to be cool. For reals.
- My ankle immediately felt 90% better and within a few days was totally back to normal. Awesome.
When I went for my acupuncture session I was a tad nervous, but my acupuncturist was the perfect mixture of competent medical practitioner and huggy Earth Mother and she made me feel comfortable immediately. She asked me to show her what hurt my ankle most. I pointed my right foot and she asked me for a pain number. I winced and told her it was an 8.
Then, she poked around my left wrist and asked if I felt anything. I didn’t, and I kept thinking this was odd since my wrist was fine. Until she got to this one spot that sent shooting pains up my arm and I told her so – by yelling “OW!”
She said “great” (it didn’t seem “great” to me, but whatever) and put a tiny needle in it, which honestly, I didn’t feel at all. She then asked me to point my foot again and asked me the pain number. It was a zero. There was nothing. Incredible.
She added a few more needles in various places, apparently to knock out my lingering cold and give me a little energy boost. Then, I just laid there in meditation for about 20 minutes. It was lovely in a way that you wouldn’t think meditating while you have needles in you would be.
After 20 minutes, she came back and removed my needles and told me to drink lots of water and then instructed me to not have sex for 24 hours (oh my!) so that my meridians could adjust. I don’t actually know what my meridians are, but apparently hanky panky can jostle them out of place.
I floated out of the room with this deep sense of balance and calm. I felt like I’d just had a 90 minute massage. Within a few days my ankle was 100% better and it has stayed that way ever since.
I am totally sold on this thing that I don’t understand at all. I know there is science and research to back it all up but I can’t explain any of it to you. All I know is it worked and I am truly grateful. And it was totally worth 24 hours of abstinence.
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I don’t understand acupuncture either but I’ve got a laundry list of experiences that says it works so I keep going. It’s funny you wrote about your ankle. In my last appointment, about a week ago, I had ankle pain and we focused on that. It was gone the next day. So weird and crazy but so worth it.
That’s so great that it’s working for you! I feel like I don’t really understand how yoga does all the amazing things it does, either but I just accept and give thanks!
I’m cracking up right now about hanky panky jostling your meridian out of place!! You have such a way with words – too funny!!
Well, thank you. I’m just hoping that my Grandma (a loyal reader) finds me as amusing as you do…
I have my very first acupuncture appointment coming up on Thursday. I’m super excited. As a diabetic, I suppose I don’t have the needle fear that most people do, so the only hurdle I had to get over was the “taking time to make an appointment” hurdle.
Glad to hear it worked out so well for you!
Cool! Let me know how it goes for you! I find it so fascinating….
Ooh, mine felt nasty. But the hospital physio giving me it did say it might not be pleasant. All the needles round my neck and shoulder were wiggled while in place. Ugh. I had two sessions and it helped a little but I much prefer yoga and trad physio exercises – which have been effective! But I was glad to try it.
Oh, that sounds icky! I think that the pain factor does have to do with your acupuncturist and what issue is being addressed. Sorry it didn’t work out better for you. But at least there is yoga!!
Yes, she did say to me there were other more relaxing types of acupuncture for other purposes but that was not what I/my condition was needing…so maybe I shouldn’t rule it out in future for a different reason or in a different setting!
Interesting. My acupuncturist has never mentioned abstinence. But maybe it depends on what they are working on. I am glad you discovered its wonder!
Thanks – me, too!!
Im interested in your follow up.on this. How long does the relief last?
I actually received this treatment about 2 months ago and my ankle has been feeling great ever since!