LJ brain trust

[cjsmith]

Do you know an acupuncturist who is
- in Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Los Altos, or Mountain View
- good at getting results
- personable
- not likely to insist I do eighty million other random woo-woo things along with acupuncture
whom you'd recommend? If so, please do!

(I need a "people local to me" filter for stuff like this, huh?)

Those of you who know how I feel about needles are probably getting a picture of how annoyed I am about my feet. I have been known to pass out when approached with needles. In fact, passing out is a relief. I am willing to consider acupuncture despite the fact there is currently no reason for me to believe it will help.

For the folks keeping score at home, I've run out of bromelain and nettle and have now added MSM, some much better arnica cream, and 3x/day calf stretches. I have also ordered hammertoe straighteners, mumble angles weight-bearing mumble.

Comments

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

I have someone for you who is a little further south. Not sure exactly, but I know she's somewhere in San Jose near a Kaiser. I've known her for 20-ish years, when she was getting her RN. Then she went on to get her Nurse Practioner's License, and then went for her Master's in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She's got some woo-woo in her, but understands and knows how to use western medicine.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll put you in touch. Thru comments, or via my email on my userinfo page.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

She sounds perfect -- if I can get to her without taking too much time off work. Yes, thank you, I'd like her info.

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

Okay, I finally got her contact info, and I'm really sorry it took me so long.

Her name is Deepa Gleason. Her appointment number is 408-370-3007 and there's 24-hour reception on that number. If for some reason you can't get thru, let me know via email, listed on my user page and I'll send you her cell phone privately. She left me a message saying I could give you both numbers but I'm not comfortable posting the cell number here.

She's very laid-back in her affect, but don't be fooled. She's *sharp*. I hope this helps! I un-heart chronic pain.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

I loathe needles. I can't look at them. I about freak out when they have to draw blood. But for some reason accupuncture needles don't squick me out. Maybe it's because they don't have the syringe attached to them. Maybe it's because they are so small of a gauge. I don't know, but I hope they work for you.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh good - maybe I'll do better with acupuncture needles too. Thanks!

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

i watched my dad get acupuncture once for lower back pain. the needles are super-duper-teeny-tiny. you'll probably barely even feel them.

they do stick them in weird places, like your ear, just so you know.

{{{hugs}} and good luck!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I watched a demonstration of acupuncture once and I had to go sit down on the floor. :-/

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

ok, this is where we're different: i like the gross stuff, as long as it isn't happening to me. (i once spent an evening perusing www.celebritymorgue.com followed by the gross pics available on snopes!)

i'm sure any decent acupuncturist would have good ways of helping you through your needle-phobia.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ah. I don't even find needles gross, or painful for that matter, but whether it's me or someone else doesn't make much difference.

You and I would probably have fascinating mealtime conversations. ;-)

Oh well. You're probably right -- I won't be the first needle-phobic patient that's ever darkened the door!

[ericainohio.livejournal.com]

Hey, throw me in on that fascinating mealtime conversation, and I'll guarantee we'll have diners running out of the restaurant with their hands over their mouths. I have been known to discuss placentas, mucus, and blood clots with great enthusiasm. Heh.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Bwaha, I can imagine that! I'll toss in random bodily functions, surgery stories, and what happens to the body after death. :)

Maybe it's a GOOD thing we don't live in the same city!

[annina-writes.livejournal.com]

Oh man...I wish I knew something else to suggest you try that would give you some relief. Acupuncture might help. I have had some modest joint pain success with ginger, which is a natural anti-inflammatory. Chris whirls an entire hand/root which has been sliced, in the blender with warm water and a little honey, then lets it steep and strains it. I pour it into tea and drink. It's spicy/hot because there is capsaisin in it, which is probably the cause of the anti-inflammatory effect. That or 1 tsp. of ground ginger three times a day also helps. I stir it into iced tea.

But as in all things, it will be trial and error to find what treatment or combination works for you. Some people have success with ice massage. It definitely cuts down on the pain, and is used quite a bit in back pain due to inflammation. After the initial shock, simply peel your fingernails out of the ceiling with a nail file, and apply the ice for about ten minutes. ;-)

Well, gentle hugs if nothing else. I hope you get some relief.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Are you the person who recommended acupuncture to me once already? I seem to remember someone did, but I looked back through my recent "footpain" posts and didn't find the comment.

I definitely use ice. Mmmmmmmmmmm ice.

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

It was probably me, Ceej. I know I've recommended it to you before. Acupuncture changed my life -- radically -- for the better, and I recommend that everyone with chronic pain issues try it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. Not finding the comment makes me wonder what it was I thought I remembered!

[annina-writes.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was me who recommended the acupuncture. I've often thought of trying it myself though.

[ambar.livejournal.com]

Um. Let me check a reference & get back to you.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I appreciate it.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

woo-woo things

*snicker* *appropriates term* ;-)

Perhaps a bit non sequitur: do you use glucosamine/chondroitin at all?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sure do. The glucosamine/chondroitin combo is one of the few "dietary supplements" whose value has actually been verified by independent testing. (I haven't looked for tests where MSM was added to the mix.)

I already have osteoarthritis, and I'd like to stay mobile when I'm older... if my feet will let me, that is.

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

I wish you could go to my acupuncturist -- I can almost guarantee she'd be able to help you. Unfortunately, 3000 miles is a bit far to go every week.

Rather than recounting the whole story of what acupuncture did for me here, you can read it in this journal entry (http://www.livejournal.com/users/sunnydale47/156265.html); this comment (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fibromyalgia/504451.html?thread=3812227#t3812227); and this entry (http://www.livejournal.com/users/sunnydale47/572467.html). What it has done for me is nothing short of amazing. And it's not a placebo effect, either, since I was initially very skeptical, and had no expectation that it would work at all, let alone help me so much!

The needles are extremely fine -- about the width of two to three human hairs. Even though I'm extremely sensitive (thanks to the fibromyalgia ), I can't even feel the needles being inserted. They're stuck in very shallowly -- maybe a quarter inch, just into the skin -- and if they're not quite centered in the acupuncture point, I feel nothing. I do get a sensation when it's exactly in the right place. I'ts not painful -- it's more of a very brief, dull achy feeling, definitely not from the needle itself. To me that's clear evidence that something is happening in my body when the needle goes into the acupuncture point.

You might also want to read this comment about choosing an acupuncturist (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fibromyalgia/504260.html?thread=3815620#t3815620).

Good luck!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links, particularly the one about choosing an acupuncturist! I have no idea what to look for except "nearby" and "not a slimeball". The find an acupuncturist web site has search forms "by specialty" and "by style", but I don't know what many of the keywords mean.

Do you still go regularly to your acupuncturist? I admit I'm a little leery of starting in with something that won't work unless I keep going. :-/

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

It's not like that. You might need multiple visits, but it's not ongoing.

Bean had *terrible* RSI's in her wrist and shoulder, and lots of things helped, but acupuncture (rec'd by her chiropractor) is what solved the problem. She had several visits then, but that was several years ago. Not ongoing.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's good to hear! Thank you.