Acupuncture: My Mysterious First Visit

It's always strange going into something for the first time.

Especially when you don't know what to expect.

I met my acupuncturist just a few days ago.

He asked to see my tongue.

And..that's perfectly normal, apparently.

He said my pulse was weak and shook his head.

The language barrier was tough as he asked me my major ailments.

Then I laid flat on my stomach with my head in a hole.

Totally typical Saturday.

I began getting needles tapped into the lumbar area of my back.

"Is this good?  Doesn't hurt? Are you okay?"  after each needle.

Each one, I was good, no, and yes.

Then a machine was rolled out and he hooked me up via the needles to a power source.

I felt the needles warm up and pulse.

I was staring at the floor the whole time, I wish I could have slid my phone out of my purse for some photos.

I still have no idea what went on behind me, it's so very strange.

A few needles heated up to HOT. I mentioned it, he changed them out.  I heard the slight clinking of needles in a jar and the popping of them off or out of somewhere.

Soon the machine was off, there was more clinking and then I was given an massage that was more like slapping up and down my back and legs.

It didn't hurt, but it wasn't very gentle either.

Then nothing for a few minutes.  The next thing I knew there was a cotton ball swabbing the inside of my ear, then I was asked to turn my head the other way and again more swabbing.

Something round and small was being taped into my ears that I was later told was medication.  I needed to not shower for 3 days and press the "buttons" 3X a day about 20-30 times.

I had some "herbal medication" being spread all over my back, it smelled like Ben-Gay, had a nice cooling sensation.

I then finally turned and was on my back.  I brought my knees to my chest and I rocked a bit, getting "aligned" is what the acupuncturist said.  I was then to sit up and come back in 2 weeks.

Baffling.  Not only did I feel so out of the loop on what I just experienced, I can't explain it when people ask, "how was it?"  I felt great for about 48 hours, and now PMS is kicking in and my back is pissed about it.

Sigh.

Normal?  I'm not sure.  The acupuncturist is a block away from home and inside my general practitioner's office, so it's convenient.  I just wish he would have walked me through the process. 

5 supporters in group:

  1. lewalk said...

    I have soooooo wanted to do this for the 10 years since my rollover car accident. I haven't worked up the nerve though. Thanks for sharing your experience. I love reading your writing.

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

  2. Jennai said...

    Thanks for the info! I've always wondered what Acupuncture was like -- needles scare the crap out of me.
    HobartsMama @ aol.com

  3. won said...

    Whoa.....


    That sounds very scary to me. I have a fear of needles, so I know I couldn't do it.

    Do you have to continue going back?

  4. MTgunfighter said...

    I hurt my back at work awhile back. I tried every conventional method of treatment and nothing worked.

    I went to the acupuncturist three times a week for a couple of months.

    By the end of treatment, I was back to riding 30 miles a day on my road bike.

    I can't say enough about how great the acupuncturist was...

  5. Anonymous said...

    it does sound very scary but i wonder if this would help with nerve pain?
    how did it work out for you?

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