Acupuncture and Chiropractic Adjustments

Acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy are a perfect trinity. They each play an important role on their own, but each treatment is most effective when all 3 treatments are done. I have come to rely on these treatments because they're just that helpful. I will not discuss massage therapy in this post, but will in a later post.

I've talked with many people who claimed that these treatments didn't do enough good for them, so they have dismissed them. When I asked how long they were getting these treatments, most of the people said only once or only a few times. The trouble is that people tend to have the impression that any type of body care therapy should have instant results. I believe this idea stems from how Western Medicine operates: go to the doctor once or twice, get put on pills or have a procedure, and then you're supposed to be healed. Acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy do not fit into this model. Each of these therapies require many sessions, and are not able to be "instant fixes." It is just like going on an exercise program: going to the gym and working out once won't do much for you. It's an important start to a long-term exercise plan, but it won't make you lean and muscular. If you go the gym 3-4 times a week over the course of year, then you can expect a major change in how your body looks and feels. You should expect to be more muscular and lean after that much work. With acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy, you really must have treatments done consistently and regularly to produce results.

Chiropractic care:
I'm starting with chiropractic care because it is the treatment I have been getting the longest. I've been regularly seeing a chiropractor for 6 years now, and it has been one of the best investments in my health I've ever made. The reason I initially went to a chiropractor was because we were trying to get my husband into one. He was complaining of never-ending back pain during grad school (to get a degree in Piano Performance, which is taxing on the body.) When he went in for the first time, the chiropractor invited me to do a free consultation, including x-rays. What ended up happening is that the chiropractor looked at both of our x-rays and said to me, "I'm surprised that you're not the one complaining of pain! Your husband will benefit from adjustments, but your spine is really out-of-shape." He wasn't exaggerating. My spine looked bad. My neck was curved backwards by 9º and my back was in the shape of an "S," from side-to-side, when it should be perfectly straight. Truthfully, I was in pain pretty often, but I was so used to the pain that I didn't know it wasn't normal. We think the cause for me was being in gymnastics, ballet, swimming, karate, soccer, t-ball, and track as a kid. I was contorting and working my body a lot while it was still developing. So my husband and I both signed up to get adjusted regularly, and we both benefited immensely. After a year of regular adjustments, my neck was close to normal (it was at least bent back in the correct direction again.) I was thinking more clearly, sleeping better, walking with better balance, had better circulation, didn't get headaches as easily, could hear better, had improved vision, my shoulder wasn't in constant pain anymore, and much more. I kept improving over the years, but I also go in regularly to maintain my spine. I don't always hold adjustments well, so I tend to need an adjustment on a regular basis.

Let me back up. What does a chiropractor even do? Should you see one if your back is straight? I originally thought that chiropractic care was only for people with bone problems, and it seems to me that most people who haven't been to one share this assumption. It's true that chiropractors adjust bones, but they are not bone doctors. They are nerve doctors. They move bones back into place in order to free up nerves that could no longer function fully or properly due to surrounding bones that were out-of-place. When nerves are constricted, all sorts of problems occur. Most obviously, it can be painful. Less obviously, but more importantly, organs cannot function as well. When the nerves going to organs get constricted, they can no longer send all the messages from the brain to those organs. This is how adjustments improve vision, hearing, brain function, digestion, menstrual troubles, infertility issues, bladder control problems, hormonal imbalances, and more.

I highly recommend everyone seeing a chiropractor, even if you think you're in good shape. Getting adjusted can free up nerves you never knew needed to be free. It also helps to prevent your spine from getting worse over time. Bones that are out-of-place can degrade over time from being worn in the wrong way. Cartilage can wear out, even to the point of disappearing. Yes, chiropractic care benefits everyone.



Acupuncture:
I love acupuncture. I cannot speak enough good about the effects of acupuncture. I was a bit skeptical of it before trying it. I didn't doubt that it was effective, otherwise acupuncturists wouldn't stay in business. I doubted that it was for me. I thought it was too spiritual, like yoga is, and I didn't want to try a New Age practice that would conflict with my Catholic faith. I also thought the ideas of putting needles into my body sounded unnecessary - I thought there must be other ways to get the same healing effects without putting myself through torture. I was so very wrong, and I'm so thankful I decided to try it. My occupational therapist was the one who suggested acupuncture first, saying it can offer relief in my hands ways she couldn't. I didn't want to try it then, because I didn't want to spend the money. About a year later (last year,) my chiropractor suggested it too, and even gave me a recommendation on who to see. He pushed me pretty hard to go. My health was deteriorating so quickly, and I was so desperate, that I decided to try it. If my OT and Chiropractor, who are both Christian, highly recommended it, then maybe it wasn't what I though it was.

My first acupuncture treatment was interesting. I didn't walk away with great relief, but I was very intrigued and I was looking forward to my next session. I learned a substantial amount. I learned that Chi (or qi - however you prefer to spell it) does actually exist, and it's not some New Age, Hindu, or Martial Arts stuff that I should avoid. While many Eastern religions recognize chi and use it in their religions, it isn't in contradiction to my faith at all. It is something I now openly embrace. Chi is simply our life energy that flows through us. Acupuncture works by releasing blockages that prevents our chi from flowing through us correctly. When that chi starts flowing correctly, it's one of the most amazing feelings ever. Before you blow this concept off, you should know that actual scientific studies have been done on acupuncture, confirming that it does work to heal the body, such as this study, and this study. Science hasn't been able to find this mysterious "chi," but the studies have proven that the effects people claim acupuncture has do happen.

After about 3 sessions, I started to notice a fantastic change in my body. I was much calmer, my pain was in more control, and my fibromyalgia flares were easier to deal with. After a few months of sessions, I noticed that my energy levels were always at their best the day or two following treatment. I noticed that my aching joints moved more freely. I noticed that my brain was working better. I noticed that I didn't bruise as often or as badly. I noticed that I was more in control of my self. I've been going regularly for a full year now. The most obvious benefit as of late? My menstrual cycles have become much less painful and more tolerable. It has been the perfect therapy to accompany my health plan of dieting, supplements, detoxing, and exercise. It has increased the benefit from all of these things. 

Do the needles hurt? Not usually. They only hurt when I'm tense, stressed, or my health is poor (and by the end of the session I'm no longer feeling poorly!) I have a fairly high pain tolerance, so when I say the pain is mild-tolerable, it may mean that it's a bit intense for people with low pain tolerance. The pain only lasts a second or two, as the needle goes in. If the pain lasts any longer than that, then something is wrong and your acupuncturist will adjust the needle so it doesn't hurt anymore. The needles are not painful 80% of the time - in fact, I often don't feel them going in at all. The needles are so thin that they don't even leave holes or marks on your skin.

Acupuncture is not something that I think everyone needs to try, unlike chiropractic care. I do think it's something that everyone can benefit from, though! It is great for pain management, destressing, detoxing, or relieving discomfort (mental or physical.) It it not a treatment to fear!