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Daily Headaches and Shoulder Pain
First, I think it is important to give you a little bit of background on me so you can understand the impact acupuncture has had on my life: I am 48 years old, have been a competitive swimmer since I was 7, and have been competing in triathlons for 13 years. In September 2010, my husband and I finished Ironman Wisconsin together: swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles. In October 2010, I was not feeling very well and was struggling with a headache and sinus congestion. Thinking it was just allergies, I took some over the counter drugs to relieve both the sinus pressure and the headache. Much to my surprise, I wasn’t getting any relief. Within a few days, the headache was so severe I started waking up throwing up in the middle of the night. I couldn’t even move my neck because the pain started to go down the right shoulder and into my arm. Then, one evening it was so bad I asked my husband to take me to the emergency room. (We have been married 24 years and I have never asked him to take me to the doctor, so you know it was pretty severe) I actually thought I was having a stroke because it was extremely difficult for me to concentrate and get my words out. At the emergency room, they did a cat scan and couldn’t see anything, so they put me on some very strong pain meds to relieve the pain of the headache. Within a few days we had an appointment with a neurologist at the UW-Hospitals. To make a long story short, four months later, many, many tests and almost daily headaches, the neurologist still was at a loss as to what was going on. In March he recommended that I try alternative medicine and so my husband recommended acupuncture. As a veterinarian, he was reading in his veterinary journals and medical journals that this form of alternative medicine was making a rather significant difference in both people and animals. Plus, we had a few friends who were recommending it to us as well. So I made the call to Abundance Acupuncture and began my ‘alternative’ treatments. I came in very skeptical, as I had truly had it with what was going on, as I was pretty much not functional all this time. Plus, I am leery of trying new things anyway, so for me, this was a stretch. All I can say is: Simply amazing. My treatments began at the end of March. By the end of April, I had gone from almost daily headaches to only having 3 headaches in the month of April. In May, I had only had 1 severe headache. Life was almost back to normal. By the end of May, I was given permission to start running again. I couldn’t believe it. Back in November I thought my way of life of exercising every day and being able to do the things I enjoy was over and after two months of acupuncture I could start doing everything again. Now, I swear by acupuncture. In the fall of 2011, I did my first ½ marathon and the following spring began competing again in triathlons. I go to acupuncture even if I start to feel any discomfort at the back of my head, or in my right shoulder. It has been the best thing I could have ever done. No pain meds have been needed since March 2011. Acupuncture has truly been a blessing in my life. Plus, to top it all off, after thinking I would not be able to compete again, I was very blessed to be able to take part and finish Ironman Wisconsin 2012! Thank you Abundance Acupuncture. I tell all my friends and anyone who asks about you! Rita H. Wife of 1 Mom of 3 2 time Ironman Wisconsin Finisher |
