So, I'll be the first to admit, this whole acupuncture thing- it's like freakin witchcraft to me. I don't get it.
When my back hurts, I see my chiropractor and he cracks my back bones and I feel a bit better. Makes sense.
When my neck muscles hurt, I see my massage therapist and she makes me cry while she works out the knots in my neck and then I feel better. Makes sense.
Bones and muscles, those are the frame and gears of the body that get the wear and tear, so it makes sense to address those problem areas directly, right?
The skin, well that's just a skeleton slipcover. A sausage casing we evolved to keep us from leaving a human shaped myoglobin goo stain on the couch when we get up. So acupuncture...well that's like attempting to fix a flat tire on your Prius by applying a new "Coexist" bumper-sticker to the bumper. It don't make no practical sense!
Still, desperate times call for desperate measures. I developed a fairly severe case of tennis elbow over a month ago; and despite the best efforts of both my very competent chiropractor and massage therapist, the problem has persisted. Everybody agrees that what I need more than anything is to rest it; but my job is very labor intensive and I simply can't afford to not work. The constant pain was making me grumpy on a full time basis, so at the pleading of a friend/coworker, I resolved to give acupuncture a shot.
Obviously I chose Crossroads because their price is cheap as dirt compared to other acupuncture options. How much is snake-oil actually worth after all? Was my thinking.
Now, I will admit, their low cost is reflected a bit in the atmosphere of the business. It's obviously run on a budget. For instance the front receptionist's desk looks suspiciously like a desk I bought from Walmart and thoroughly abused for ten years before giving to Goodwill. And once you get to the communal treatment room and lie back, you'll have a nice view of the missing ceiling tile. In their defense, it is a rather high ceiling, and ladders aren't cheap.
They do put their money and efforts toward more important things though- like health and safety. Every treatment begins with them opening a packet of new needles; and they have proper medical disposal recepticles for the used stuff.
The "bedside manner" of both "Dr. Ryan" and "Dr. Janet" (as I like to think of them) is excellent. I've been there three times now- seen Dr Ryan once and Dr Janet twice. I was impressed that she remembered me and my elbow the second time. They see a LOT of people in their day so one wouldn't reasonably expect them to remember individuals after only one visit. Maybe it was my dashing good looks that made her remember. More likely it was the smell of my feet from the first time, as I had walked over a mile in 100 degrees to get there, not realizing I'd have to take my shoes and socks off so poor Dr Janet could make pin-cushions out of moi pieds.
And the result of these treatments? You may be asking. ...well, first of all, prepare to take a nap. I don't care how awake you feel when you arrive, once they get the needles in you, some sort of melatonin/sedative thing kicks in and you're ready to nap. I guess it's similar to twitching a horse's lip. You just go all zen. And if you happen to be there while I'm there you may hear the occasional snore from my general area. It's not me though. Sorry though.
My problem area being my left elbow, they stuck like a dozen needles throughout my head, right ear, right arm, both legs and feet, and, like, two in my left elbow.
Don't make no practical sense!! Yet somehow, I've seen more pain relief this past week with the acupuncture than I had the entire month prior.
It's not completely better. I still get some pretty nasty flare ups- especially during my long work days with consistant heavy lifting... but in general the pain is not as widespread and not as constant.
I still don't think acupuncture is some sort of miracle or cure-all, but I don't consider it snake-oil anymore either. Like chiropractics and massage therapy, I think it's another viable option for "human maintenance" we should all have. I don't understand it, but I guess I don't have to so long as Dr Janet and Dr Ryan are willing to take care of me for such a reasonable cost. " read more