Acupuncture

I decided to try out Dr. Mark Seem, and my first appointment is tonight. I've put together some information about my medical past and I'm sure he'll think I'm a complete nutter with all of my issues, but what can you do? I think it's a good idea for the doctor to have a clue about this stuff, how else can he treat me? My appointment is at 18.30 and I wish it was sooner. My back is a bit better but my neck is still in a lot of pain, though the chiro did say I was much better than last week. I know I'm not supposed to put all my eggs in on basket but I am praying that this work will help, at least a bit. I am being optimistically cautious I guess. Other than that this weather bites. I so wish I was somewhere warm and dry.

Pain in the neck...

Wednesday was good, I went to the pool after work, then my SIL came in with my nephews. We went to see the balloons being blown up. Thursday we went to the parade, thankfully we had nice weather and it wasn't v. cold out. The only other time I have been to the parade it was FREEZING - I kept buying hot chocolates not to drink, but to keep my hands warm! I was feeling the same as I had been feeling, nothing hugely different, until Friday night when my back and neck started to tighten up. By Saturday I was in lots of pain and it just kept getting worse. Sunday afternoon I actually took a muscle relaxer when I got back to the city. Since I am so sensitive to drugs, and also b/c this particular drug had given me hallucinations in the past, I only took one pill, though the label said to take two. It was a good thing too, because it wiped me out. At least I made up for the lack of sleep I had the previous nights. I was passed out within half an hour, and completely zonked out. It definitely helped, but I can't possibly take that and think I can function. My neck and back are still killing me and unfortunately the chiro wasn't in on Monday. I can't go today but am going tomorrow. I hope I make it. It feels like someone has put a vice around my spine and is tightening it. Lovely, I know.

I did speak to one of the acupuncturists yesterday. She seems to think she can help me, and also works with a lot of other techniques other than dry needling (aka trigger point acupuncture; aka acupuncture physical medicine (APM). The other guy I heard back from only just graduated and I'm thinking I need someone with more experience. Another person I had emailed me responded saying I should see Mark Seem, who started the Tri-State College of Acupuncture. I left a message on his vm so we will see if I hear back. Otherwise I will see about the first lady, Roberta Mittman. She does seem a little more pricey than what I've been seeing, but I may not have a choice. It's incredible the amount of money you have to spend to feel better, even with bloody health insurance. Drives me batty to just think about it! I just really, really, really need to sort out my neck and back right now, it's absolutely killing me.

Ouch!

I haven't taken the anti-inflammatory in a couple of weeks b/c my acid reflux has been so bad, and now my hip, the right one, the post-op one, is not happy with me at all. I went to the pool yesterday, but it was hurting before that. I guess I need to start taking them again, but then what am I going to do about my stomach? The pain is getting bad there and I'm thinking I probably have some damage, so I've been taking the Protonix 2x/day. Why is everything always a catch 22? Frustration!!!

At least I have received a happy surprise. My sister in law is bringing in my nephews tonight and we will hopefully get to see the balloons being blown up and then go to the parade tomorrow. Any time with them is the best!

Oh, and I heard back from two of the people I emailed yesterday so will contact them on Monday after the holiday for further information and decide who I want to see. That is definitely good news! They said they both do the dry needling! YAY!

Knackered

I just can't seem to feel good since I've been back from Holland. It's now been 3 weeks.
I saw the chiro again on Friday, and that was good. I still am so tight around my neck, shoulders and upper back though. The pins and needles have been v. minimal, but this morning I woke up and it happened very strongly for a few minutes. Thankfully it stopped again. I went to the pool on Saturday and it was lovely, nice and quiet and I had a WHOLE lane to myself. Heaven! I was going to go again on Sunday but I got quiet ill on Saturday night and was up most of v. early Sunday being sick. I finally got a little sleep, but not nearly as much as I needed, and I was wiped out. Thought I would crash hard on Sunday night but no such luck, just tossed and turned and couldn't sleep for the life of me. And so the viscous cycle of no sleep = pain = no sleep, etc, etc, etc... begins.
Yesterday I thought I would go to the pool but between the exhaustion and back spasms I passed. I did take a long hot bath to help with the back. I also had a little wine and a clonazapam which usually does the trick, but I still didn't sleep all that well, back and forth from one side to the other. It's all v. frustrating. I am praying I can get a good nights rest tonight so I won't be a total wreck for the long weekend. I have a lot of things I am hoping to do.
In the interim of waiting for my appointment at the end of December, I have been reading a bunch of new articles on treatments for FMS and CMP, not sure what I think I'll find, but perhaps I will be lucky and find some sort of magic solution for me. Ok, I know, but a girls got to dream.
I am on the phone waiting to see if I could get in sooner to see him, but no luck. :-(
Happy turkey day!

PS - reading anything and everything may pay off - I found a website for the Tri-State College of Acupuncture (never knew it existed) and from there found what I believe is the same thing as dry needling - APM - Acupuncture Physical Medicine. From that I did a search in NYC and have come across some people who might be doing exactly what I want, or so it sounds from their websites. You have to love the web, well, they probably won't since I've bombarded them all with emails. We shall see if I reap any rewards with this. Fingers crossed!!!