Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And My Love Affair With Acupuncture
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As I sit here looking at my baby toe, my thoughts turn to acupuncture and how I love it. It has been a valuable companion on my return journey from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Case in point. I stubbed that toe big-time last Wednesday. It became a purple, glowering blob and I figured I was in for a very bad time.
Fortunately, my next acupuncture visit was the following day. While my naturopath Dr. Kelly Upcott did not jab needles into my ailing toe, she would have if she'd seen it sooner.
Even so, I experienced some unusual and I might even say astonishing sensations in my foot after she planted a needle atop it. A shimmering sensation fluttered up and down repeatedly between my big toe and its neighbor amidst great heat.
Next day, most of the purple swelling was gone and my toe looked like a toe again. I can even wear shoes. If I wanted to.
Sometimes I think acupuncture is my very best friend. It's enabled me to continue writing by keeping my right arm and hand intact.
Since I contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, my muscles and joints have been subject to breakdown, pain and disability. Four years ago, after too much knitting of all things, my right elbow started to emit a warning siren.
Within a day the pain spread to my fingertips and things started swelling up. For weeks my right hand looked like a catcher's mitt.
I couldn't hold or carry anything because the pain was too severe and I couldn't bend my fingers. This sad state of affairs lasted six weeks, then gradually eased. But that limb was still basically no good.
A year later, I was introduced to Upcott for treatment of CFS and she introduced me to acupuncture. Things slowly improved. Hand and arm became delicate but functional.
When I started writing more, the siren began to keen once again. Worrisome, especially when the swelling began. I knew where that could lead.
So Upcott started sticking extra needles into my arm and hand every month. This kept things working until the next visit.
I've been more active than usual this summer. I've been lifting three pound weights. I've ridden a bike for the first time in years.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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