Reposted from October 26, 2010
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As usual, whenever a post appears here that does have some informational value to it, (which is seldom) it must be prefaced with how it came to be. Most of you who have been reading here for some time know that most of what you read doesn't make much of an impact on your lives one way or another. But, every once in awhile, it might be worth your time to take heed and notice. Today may be one of those days.
And so it begins...
A couple of summers ago, I found myself in Nashville hanging out with my friend, Becky. She had an appointment with Dr. Xu (pronounced Shoe).
Because I was suffering with pain from an injured rotator cuff, from falling off flying off a sled doing about 30 miles per hour, she suggested that I make an appointment with Dr. Xu. He was able to schedule three appointments for me before leaving Nashville.
Several days later, after arriving home, the pain was subsiding, so I made follow-up appointments with Bing Lee.
After three more treatments, not only was I able to lift my arm above my head, he had also addressed the subject of my migraines. We discussed why I was "tasting" metals after each acupuncture session. My guess was it was residual "chemotherapy" from years before. His guess was the hair dye I was using to cover up my gray.
That was a year ago. If you've seen photos of me lately, you know that the dying of my hair has stopped.. . along with the migraines ! Almost. Instead of having one or two a week, I now have migraines about once every three weeks. If you've ever had migraines, you know that instead of having eight migraines a month to having one or two can make a significant difference in your life.
Who knows if it was the acupuncture . . .or no more hair dye. . . or the combination of the two. . .or what ? The fact is, the occurence of my migraines has dropped considerably. And, I'm now not facing surgery on my rotator cuff. I truly believe the acupuncture helped with the pain and range of motion in my arm. And no, I've not been back on a sled heading down a mountain again.
All that to say, "I believe acupuncture works !"
That takes us to the topic of today.
FINALLY, you say !
June Bug, our eight-year-old Boxer suffers from arthritis. Severe arthritis. So severe, there are times she is almost unable to walk. She will lie down and "cry" from the pain. Even when she sleeps, her breathing indicates she is not resting well.
Enter: Katie Jones, DVM, CVA
Dr. Katie feels the pet benefits more from having the acupuncture treatment administered at home. This alleviates having to load, in our case, the dog into the car. Unload the dog and treat her in an unfamiliar place like the vet's clinic, load the dog back into the car, then unload at home. All of this can possibly negate all the good that the acupuncture might do.
By the look on June Bug's face, you can tell she is a bit apprenhensive when the first needle goes in.
Dr. Katie continues placing the needles in very exact points on June Bug.
After placing needles in Bug's shoulder and neck areas, Dr. Katie begins on her back and hips.
Bug was doing so well, Dr. Katie decided to attach clips to the needles and apply "electro-stimulus" for added benefits.
Dr. Katie was very careful to give "low doses" of the stimuli this first time.
It was quite evident when the needles were inserted, where the most sore spots were by Bug's reaction.
If you've never had this procedure done, it's almost impossible to describe the sensation it gives. Imagine a combination of a tingle, tickle, twitch, a prickle and a quiver...with a dose of warmth.
Here are the needles Dr. Katie uses.
And here is the Electro-Stimulator.
After all the needles were removed, Dr. Katie gave Bug a rub down.
Then she started 'acupressure' on all important points from her shoulders to her hips. Dr. Katie demonstrated this for HansMan and me so that we can do the same for Bug on a daily basis.
June Bug was very receptive to this.
Dr. Katie even gave Bug a foot rub, which as you can tellby the look on Bug's face, she is enjoying tremendously.
Don't you just love the smile on her face ?
Dr. Katie has a pretty smile, too.
This is June Bug's way of saying thank you to Dr. Katie !
Afterwards, Bug went outside to tell Dr. Katie good-bye and to tinkle, then came back inside and did this.
. . . and she continued to do this. I did notice that Bug's breathing was much slower and deeper than it has been in the past. Many times, Bug will fidget, and whimper, and whine while she sleeps. During this hour long nap, she hardly moved. It was a good nap. If you listen very closely, you can probably hear her snoring.
June Bug says, "Thank you Dr. Katie. I will see you next Tuesday."
The following information has been taken from Dr. Katie Jones' pamphlet:
Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, sterile, stainless steel needles in a patient at precise location and depths to bring back the body's natural balanced state. Acupuncture has been used in humans and animals for over 4,000 years. Today, The American Veterinary Medical Association considers veterinary acupuncture as a valid method of treatment. Used either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, veterinary acupuncture can assist the body to heal.
How does Acupuncture work? Acupuncture works primarily through the stimulation of the central nervous system to affect all major physiological systems. acupuncture increases circulation, causes a release of many neurochemicals, including endorphins (the body's natural pain killers) and hormones. Acupuncture relieves muscle spasms, stimulates nerves and the body's defense systems.
What conditions respond well to Acupuncture ?
1. Musculoskeletal: back pain, arthritis, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disk disease, degenerative joint disease, post-op orthopedic surgery
2. Skin Problems: allergies, granulomas, decrease wound healing time
3. Gastrointestinal Problems: chronic diarrhea, vomiting, irritable bowel disease, chronic constipation, chronic colic, decreased appetite
4. Neurological Disorders: seizures, nerve disorders, nerve injuries, paralysis
5. Respiratory Disorders: asthma, reactive airway disease, COPD, nose bleeds
6. Miscellaneous Disorders: ocular KCS/dry eye, urinary incontinence, reproductive problems, pain management for cancer patients
7. Any condition that is decreasing the animal's quality of life
What animals benefit from Acupuncture ? All animals can benefit from Acupuncture, including, but not limited to horses, dogs, and cats.
Is Acupuncture safe ? Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies utilized if administered by a certified veterinarian. Side effects are rare. Because Acupuncture balances the body's own system of healing and no chemicals are administered, complications rarely, if ever, develop.
