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BACK PAIN AND HERNIATED DISC
I have tried every conventional method of pain relief ( i.e., pain meds, numerous specialists, pain clinics, massage, chiropractor, physical therapy, etc..). I just could not get any pain relief. The pain recently was unbearable. I was referred again to specialists who basically said... there is nothing they could do (that would produce a successful outcome) ... go home and live with the pain and by the way ‑‑‑ take less pain pills. The pain was greatly affecting my quality of life. Almost every night I came home from work and laid on the couch and then would be in bed by 7:00 PM because I had so much pain I didn't know what to do with myself. I withdrew further and further from my family. I even started leaving work early because of the pain (my work record is impeccable). Occasionally I have to use a cane to walk, which is really a humbling experience for me being a former all‑state football player. Many times I lay on the kitchen floor because of back spasms. My social activities are determined by: How far will I have to travel by car? How far will I have to walk? What kind of chair will I have to sit on! I am a 45 year old man stuck in a 90 year old body. I have two sons who want to play catch with a football or baseball and I can't, or a wife who wants to go to concerts or sporting events and I can't (bleachers are horrible!) and a family that just wants to hear me laugh again. Upon urging from my wife, an RN, and a family doctor, I decided to try acupuncture. My thoughts though were: this is just one more treatment that is not going to help me. I went to see David for my evaluation and initial three assessments and discovered that my pain was going away even though my doctor was reducing my pain medications. I currently look forward to my treatments. The most important thing I've discovered is that David will listen to my problems and have me rate my pain. He is concerned how the pain is affecting my quality of life. No other physician or specialist (which is more than 20) has ever done that. Every time I go to a session, David assesses my pain for that day; asking how much pain and where it is located. He then gears my treatment specifically to those areas. I have more energy, less pain, and once again am able to laugh and simply enjoy life more than I have in a long time. My advice: Don't be "put off" because acupuncture is a non‑traditional method of treatment. Have an open mind and try it. What have you got to lose besides the "just put up with it" mentality of Western medicine ? Sincerely, Bill D. March 2005 |
