I have been considering acupuncture for a long time. I do not have a fear of needles but the thought of having needles stuck in me was not a pleasant concept.
I have struggled with swelling in my legs for years; mostly in my left leg. It finally got to the point where the swelling, heaviness, tingling and itching was making me miserable enough to want to do something about it. I went to see a vein doctor and was told I have varicose veins and I needed surgery. They assured me the surgery is “minimally invasive”, I would be able to to go home the same day, I would need to wear compression socks for a few weeks and then I would be as good as new.
From past experience, I know nothing is ever that easy in my world. Anytime I come in contact with something remotely resembling “surgery”, if there is a complication possible, it will happen to me. Therefore, I try to stay away from surgeries unless I have no other option.
I decided to forego the surgery route and went to see a holistic doctor. They tried several different natural remedies without much success. The swelling was a little better but the heaviness and the tingling were still there. The holistic doctor suggested I go to an Acupuncturist. I was very hesitant about doing it but finally took the plunge and made an appointment.
I went to the first appointment and the doctor said she did not know if acupuncture would help my legs or not. It would depend on the cause of the issue(s). I appreciated her honesty and decided to go ahead and give it a try. I AM SO GLAD I DID! I have been wearing compression socks for years and even though this helps, I still have some pain and light swelling. I had three acupuncture visits for my legs and for the first time in years, the swelling and heaviness is gone! This is the first summer in a long time that I have been able to wear sandals again! I am so thankful for the acupuncture and wish I had tried it a long time ago and not been so hesitant. It would have saved me a lot of pain and discomfort.
I have begun to research more about this amazing practice called acupuncture and found that it can help many different health issues; including asthma, acne, allergies and many other health issues. I would encourage everyone to explore all of your health options before taking any path toward better health.
So the moral of the story is, acupuncture works and I know this from personal experience! I also know everyone’s situation is different but give it a chance. If it works for you, it is so worth it! I know a lot of people fear the unknown; especially people who fear needles. Let me assure you, they DO NOT HURT! You will feel a light prick but there is no pain and the results are well worth the time.
Once again, I want to remind everyone reading that I am not a doctor and I am not advocating for any particular practice or doctor. I am just reporting my experience and stating what I think is a valid option for a lot of health issues. Many times, people do not look past the pills and surgeries because these are so readily available. Fortunately, options do exist that are less invasive and do not come with a long list of undesirable side-effects.
Have you had a positive experience with acupuncture? Leave a comment and let us know about it.
