StatCounter

Friday, July 21, 2017

Alternative Medicine



The doctors have done what they could for my leg and foot. The infection is long gone, but my leg still swells up as the day goes on. I have to stop and elevate my foot above my heart until the swelling decreases. No idea how long it will be until that's under control.

Not being satisfied to just wait, I've employed the services of a licensed acupuncturist. My first treatment went well. I'm scheduled a second one for next week. Will it help? I hope so, but it can't hurt.

When my lungs were badly injured by smoke inhalation, the doctors mess around with me for months. Finally they basically threw their hands in the air and wrote me off. After that I had two years of intensive training with a martial arts master. He taught me exercises to strengthen my lungs and taught me how to breath again. Only then did I really start to get better.

I'm not against regular western medicine. For example, it's hard to argue with the effectiveness of modern antibiotics. However, once western medicine reaches the end of the line, I'm willing to try alternatives.

Even when using “normal” medicine, I tend to go with the least invasive practices. When I had a bad back injury I was told I had two alternatives. They could operate and I'd probably feel better in three weeks, but there would probably be more surgeries in my future. The other option was six months of intensive and painful physical therapy. The therapist did not sugar coat how painful it would be.

I took the physical therapy route. It was painful. My therapist would say: does that hurt? I'd say yes. He'd say: good, and then he'd smile. He acquired the nickname, the Prince of Pain. The guy seemed to like that. As painful as the therapy was, he did not lie. My back has been 100% ever since.

At least acupuncture isn't painful, so that's good.

It's all covered under my normal health plan: pay for everything myself out of pocket. One advantage is that I don't have to argue with insurance companies.

-Sixbears

11 comments:

  1. Doc told Hubby after some major surgery on his foot, that it would probably swell for the rest of his life. He used compression socks for several years to control the swelling when he didn't have the time or patience to do the foot-elevation routine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think the doctor know what to expect for me in the future. I have some compression socks, but hate to use them when the weather is nice. Hope to make a full recovery, but will have to live with whatever happens.

      Delete
  2. have shingles, got them last year. intense pain. after conventional and helpful treatment i was advised that acupuncture had been known to help.
    i took it and it helped so much that, even though i still have shingles, i am perfectly able to function.
    i think you will receive relief through acupuncture.
    i also figured that it could do no harm and i had nothing to lose by trying it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know the guy well and he has a good reputation. Glad you found relief.

      Delete
  3. Acupuncture cured my migraines. Hope it works for your leg problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! Congratulations! That's a big deal. So many people have no relief at all from those.

      Delete
  4. Some foods are natural diuretics and might help your body to get rid of the fluid. Google the subject if you're curious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was curious and had already looked it up. Added some things to my diet.

      Thanks.

      Delete
  5. I prefer to be in control of my own health. Don't want the government involved but I my only income now is Social Security. I paid a heck of a lot more into it than I will ever get back, since I was self employed, I had to pay my part and my companies part.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The self-employed really get slammed on SS taxes.

      We have to take control of our own health. After all, it's our bodies.

      Delete
  6. SB. -- seriously tell me how to find a physical therapist that can do what yours did for your back. I have no idea how to search for one. My back is showing degenerative conditions. Am willing to go through the torture to cure this thing.

    ReplyDelete