I Look Like a Human Pin Cushion

Acupuncture points
Google images

I've written in the past about being sidelined due to lower back pain but I'm happy to say that I feel much better. My MRI results showed that I have a bulging disk in my lower back and it's narrowing the space for the nerve that comes out the vertebrae that sends messages to my left leg. I feel pain because it's not firing correctly. My next appointment is with a spine specialist and while I wait, I decided to give Acupuncture a try. Why? I don't know but I figured it wouldn't hurt and I've heard it works.

An ancient practice from China, Acupuncture helps with many things such as alleviating pain, reducing high blood pressure, stress, or nausea. My Acupuncturist tells me that it can also help reduce cholesterol levels and behavior health problems such as Autism. Acupuncture involves inserting various lengths of needles the size of hair into meridian points (holes) in the skin at various depths. Each point is connected to a part of the body and energy travels through to help heal. Doctors in "western medicine" don't know how it works and some find it controversial. Research shows that Acupuncture may actually work for pain and I'm here to testify that it does.

Photo by E. OpongBrown

My first session was over two hours long. My Acupuncturist, Tara (name changed) took my vitals and throughly interviewed me to get my medical history and why I was there to see her. She asked about the history of my back and leg pain, when it started, what it feels like, how it started and many more. Tara helped me remember that I was in three car accidents in five years (my car was rear ended) and my first one was when I was a child living in Ghana (car rolled into a ditch). She told me that even though I didn't have visible injuries from those accidents, my body suffered damage. The debilitating pain I was having could be related to the past. Hearing that was an eye opener.

After the interview session, I took my spot face up on a massage table. I was excited but a bit nervous because I don't like needles and I didn't want to feel pain from them. The first needle was placed in my scalp, the entry point of energy. I had needles on my ear lobes, forehead shoulders, legs, and feet. It will take too long to list where she placed needles. Tara informed me that just as women stand on the right side of men (for instance during a wedding ceremony), majority of the needles were placed on the right side of my body. This was also a factor since my pain is on my left.

Photo by E. OpongBrown

I felt some of the needles go into my skin even though I anticipated to feel all of them. They felt like the initial needle prick from an immunization shot or when I accidentally stick myself with a sewing needle. After all the needles were inserted, she attached electrical nodes on a few of them. The current helped carry more energy through my body. I felt muscle spasms. Tara covered me with a foil blanket to keep my body warm. After 20 minutes, she carefully removed the needles (excluding the ones on my hands and scalp) and repeated the process on my back. Just to name a few, she placed needles in my gluts, back, shoulders, and neck. She tried to insert a VERY long needle in my gluts but it caused so much uncomfortable spasms that, I yelped like a dog and she stopped. Overall, I felt relaxed at the end.

I must say that after three sessions, I believe that the Acupuncture is working. My lower back pain is at a two on a scale of one to ten with ten being very painful. I'm sleeping better because I'm no longer waking up in my sleep due to discomfort especially when I turn my body. I'm walking and sitting without any lower back pain. Starting in October, my sessions will be every other week and will continue while she helps me with other problems.

I definitely recommend Acupuncture as a medical option in addition to Western medicine. It's important to research and feel comfortable with the idea. Also check to see if it's covered by your insurance company. I'm paying out of pocket because my medical insurance only covers Acupuncture for anesthesia. The cost is reasonable, one session is about the cost of a massage. Here's to your health!        

It's Okay to Make Exercise Adjustments

modified push-up, Google Images

I exercise five to six days a week but due to debilitating back and leg pain, I have had to take some time off. My doctor told me that the pain is due to a bulging disk in my spine and I have to see a spine specialist. The doctor also told me not to do anything strenuous such as lifting heavy things or running.

My thoughts immediately went to how I was going to exercise. Not only do I exercise for my fitness, I also teach group fitness classes and I was wondering much exercise I'd be able to do. Besides being scared about my medical problem, I was worried about not being able to exercise at all.

I've decided to exercise based on my pain level as well as make sure to be safe so that I don't aggravate anything. I have to exercise because it's part of my lifestyle. I've decided to do low impact exercises, continue  resistance training and stretching. If I'm not teaching, I'll continue doing exercises such as Zumba but I'll make sure to eliminate jumps, hops or high kicks. I'll add more spin classes because there's no impact on my joints that will induce back pain. As for strength training, I'll do different exercises for my legs. For instance, I'll do leg presses using a weight machine instead of doing squats with heavy weights or do modified push-ups on my knees if regular push-ups will be too much for my back. I just have to be extra safe with everything I do.

I can empathize with people with medical conditions even more because as a fitness instructor, I have to  modify all my exercises (level 1, level 2 & level 3) so that everyone in the class can safely participate. Modifying exercises is an adjustment for me but here's to my health while I make sure I stay strong and healthy.