Moments D712: Relief

So, I'm still dealing with the pinched nerve in my shoulder/neck.  It hasn't been much fun.  Sleep is short-lived as when I roll over to my side (either!) the pain wakes me.  Sleeping on my back is not natural for me.  It's been challenging.  

Thursday after work, and a day of pain, I thought I'd see if I could get in for another acupuncture treatment.  I've never had an acupuncture treatment with my naturopath and thought to myself, "why not?".  Boy, am I glad that I stepped outside the box a bit.  Honestly, if my naturopath wasn't also practising acupuncture I may never have contacted her.  Shame on me, for her suggestions have offered the most relief and, in the end, I've learned something new.

My ND suggested that I pick up a homeopathic remedy:  Hypericum Perforatum.  This I've never tried before, but it's good for nerve related trauma.  In her words, "it takes the edge off."

She also suggested doing an Epsom salt compress for the tender area as I hadn't been seeing any relief from an Epsom salt bath.  (Again, something that I never thought about doing!)

So Thursday night, I started up with the hypericum perforatum and did my first Epsom salt compress.  The edge was definitely lifting, but there was still a lot of pain.  I can say that I slept deeply for the first time in nearly two weeks.  Friday I found I still had some discomfort, but any time I took the hypericum perforatum the edgy pain noticeably diminished

I've kept up with the prescribed use of the hypericum perforatum through to today and did another Epsom salt compress.

And now, I'm a believer.  Today, not only is the edge gone, but I feel like I have a shoulder and arm again.  (It's been on again/off again numb/tingly.)  I can turn my head side to side nearly completely.  What sweet, sweet relief.  Good thing because I needed to have a productive day to get through a lot of readings for school.  BANGARANG!

All because I connected with my ND for a pinched nerve.  It was random and unexpected to find solutions that were not based in either acupuncture or massage.  Label me impressed.

And my ND did this all over the phone.  I owe her.  Big time.

Moments being shaken out of the box you didn't even know you were in.

Moments finally finding some relief from a pain you've been carrying for two weeks.

Moments D705: Vibrating Needles

I have been dealing with a pinched nerve and a kinked next for a week and a day as of today.  Yes, laugh it up - I'm getting old.  Sleeping deep and hard in one position apparently is not good for one's neck!

Early this morning, it my neck finally popped back into place, but all the muscles around that point are still furious with me as I haven't been relieved the pain I've been carrying around.  To make matters worse (or the pain in this case), all week my left arm has been spasming because of the pinched nerve.  Today my entire arm feels like I've been doing major workouts on it every day for the past seven days.  It's sore, it's exhausted, and it is still spasming!

And so, I made an appointment with my chiropractor for some acupuncture and an adjustment in the hopes that I would finally find some relief from this crazy pain.

Now, I've been doing acupuncture for many years now.  It's always been helpful on the strangest pains that have cropped up over the years.  What happened in today's treatment has never happened before.

As my chiropractor inserted the needles into my shoulders and elbows (both points), I could feel the needles vibrating, wiggling in their points.  It was the weirdest sensation.

Once inserted and fully into position, they felt the same as all the other needles:  a bit warm and biting in my tense muscles.

Twenty minutes pass and it's time to take the needles out.  Again, as my chiropractor goes to remove the needles, they are actively vibrating just as she pulls them from my skin.

Very weird and wondrous.  I don't really know how it works, but the pain in my neck was nearly gone and I had better rotation of my head too.  The pain in my shoulder and forearm, that was still there, but definitely lighter than it had been earlier.

BANGARANG for vibrating needles.

Now to deal with these tight muscles.  Spa anyone?

Moments finding solutions to a problem.

Moments experiencing something new doing something old.