Posted on 07/27/2014 12:14:51 PM PDT by lee martell
I have chronic pain issues due to flat feet and tendonitis in one of y ankles. I'm trying to be seen by a Veterans Hospital doctor and be scheduled for surgery if necessary. Meanwhile, I watch my weight (try to anyway) and visit the gym a few times weekly to cycle and life weights. My job supervisor just had a baby a year ago, and has gotten a sore wrist from holding the infant so constantly, especially during nursing. She was just about to get a steroid shot to the wrist to alleviate the pain, but chose a more holistic method of Acupunture. the ancient Chinese treatment. After a few treatments, her pain is manageable. She plans to visit that doctor one or two times a month. Since I have had this foot pain trouble since around 2009, my supervisor is aware of my difficulty. She suggested I give Dr. Ming a try. The first visit would be for $150. with follow up visits at $90. I was told the first visit would be paid for under the auspice of "employee appreciation observance". I was all for trying it out, and I'm still glad that I looked into it, however briefly.
Dr. Ming has a small shop near Mill Valley. The interior walls are lined with shelves. Each shelf is filled with different herb roots, teas, near the old fashioned cash register, now covered in Gold Leaf foil, are stacks of cannisters that contain body salves and various kinds of ointments. The floors are wooden, darkly stained and varnished with a low lustre. I am directed to the left side corridor, which leads to four little offices, two on each side. First, before entering the corridor, I follow Dr. Ming brushing through a green beaded curtain. Our arrival in the corridor is announced by the clicking and clacking of those beads. I am guided to a bench in Room B I sit on the raised bench, remove my socks and shoes, and describe why I'm seeking help. The room smells lightly of frankinscence, the kind I used to smell at St. Cecilia, my neighborhood Catholic Church with the bell tower. Dr. Ming rubbed some salve into the top of my head. and proceeded to stick little needles into that area. I was actually glad I could not see how that looked. He asked me to lightly rotate my ankles in a wide circle, first one direction then the other. I felt a sharp jab down, from the top of my head under treatment. The Dr. asks me; "Is it feeling better now? Somewhat, maybe a little bit?" I said, "Is the relief supposed to be immediate? "Yes" he said. I reply,"Right now, I can only say I feel a little pain and pressure from the top of my head" . I guess that was not the answer he expected. Next tactic, Dr. Ming asked my to lightly clench my fists. He then inserts two of those needled on the outsides of each fist, right below the little finger. Once again he askes me to rotate the feet, and this time slowly flex both hands open and closed. "Feeling better now?" "I reply "Ummmmmm".
Next tactic, Dr. Ming twirls the needles in my hands around slightly. Let's just say it did not tickle. I'm thinking "Where did I read that 'Acupuncture is virtually painless!'. To that I;m thinking "Painless? Hell, Those little F##krs hurt! Since my supervisor has paid for this session, I will try to deal with it. The Dr. is a gentleman and I respect his efforts, but it just didn't work for me. I was left in this state for about 15 minutes while the Doctor ran the counter for incomin customers. After he returns, Dr. Ming simply says, "That all now, better?" I smiled, thanked the Doctor, and tactfully said little else. I had already decided I will not be going back, at least not at those prices. Acupuncture operates by in some cases stimulating energy flows in the body from areas that have become dormant through the atrophy of neglect or aging. In other cases acupuncture acts to reduce inflammation. That is what I was hoping for in my case. It could be that many treatments are necessary to stimulate the area.
Perhaps most cultures have their own ways of dealing with pain. I still recall a movie I saw decades ago while in College. This was during "Foreign Film Week". After movies by Fellini and Ingmar Bergman, there was the inevitable French Farce. The French Ski team was preparing for competition. At one point one of the Skiers fell and dislocated his knee. Then a kindly looking doctor in a suit and wear a monocle on a chain looked at the patient, a youth who was writhing in pain from his dislocated knee. The doctor 'had forgotten' his anesthesia! The doctor turned to his nurse, a very pretty blonde in a white mini-dress with the Red Cross on her hat. The doctor said, "We will have to do 'The Routine' on this boy." "The Routine Doctor? Are you sure?" "Qui" I am most certain. Next scene, the doctor bends over to tell the patient, Just close your eyes for a minute, try to relax. The injured Skier is lying on his back in the snow, and does as the Doctor orders. Together, Doctor and Nurse count backward in french; Trois, Deux, Un! At the count of Un or one, both react as planned; The Doctor quickly, roughly pushed the boy's kneecap into place, at the same moment the nurse open-hand slaps the skier in the face so hard she knocks his helmet off of his head. It was the slap heard around the world. After getting over the shock of The Routine, the Skier is next seen thanking the doctor and hobbling off to ski again.
All I got was another pain in the ass.
So much for self medicating.
Tendons do not have a good blood supply. For that reason any inflammation further hinders blood flow and recovery. Bromelain is a natural anti-inflammatory. It’s strength should be measured in GDUs, gelatin digesting units. Take it several times a day on an empty stomach, between meals. Worked for me to get rid of a painful elbow a doctor said I’d have for life.
I had a headache and while walking to get asprins stepped on a needle....it took my mind off the headache
I agree with the people below who recommended investing in excellent shoes that provide the best support for your needs - it makes all the difference in the world. I had extreme tendonitis in my shoulder and lower arm due to overuse with the mouse on the computer. Tried everything to get out of pain, and nothing worked (including acupuncture) until one simple change: Trackball ! (this all preceded wireless stuff). I was out of pain almost immediately. There are also full body pillows designed for nursing mothers to take the pressure off when holding the wee one. Better football helmets let you really bang your head against the wall longer, too, whenever you read news on FR ;)
Hot tub, Epsom salts and massage coupled with a targeted physical therapy regiment prescribed by your doctor, under supervision of a therapist.
Went through some severe tendon problems 16 months ago, but was back to hiking in wild country within 6 months with supervised treatment. Cheers and good luck!
Try inserts in your shoes... I had the surgery for heel spurs and within two years the spurs grew back. I started with custom inserts then talked to the local shoe repair shop. He set me up with some inserts that cost $40 instead of $400 for custom.
Avoid surgery if at all possible.
Have you been to a foot doctor?
Get a good Physical Therapist, preferably one who does Trigger Point Dry Needling. This alleviates the pain immediately while he or she can start working on helping your tendonitis heal.
That is Trigger Point Dry Needling. PLEASE try it.
voodoo-witch doctor ‘medicine’.
Yes, I’ve been to regular podiatrists, have gotten custom made show inserts, and steroid injections once in a while.
I have been referred to one of their Orthopedic surgeons for treatment. I’m on a slow motion waiting list, as is often the case with Veterans’ Insurance. I’m open to learning about Mediation as a way of pain management, if that modality of treatment is covered. I may just take a few classes on my own to learn the techniques of mediation, vs uses so many pills every day.
Mr. GG2 went to the acupuncturist about a year ago for his back and the guy basically cured him and then put some needles in his banged up wrist and it was painfree for months. I don’t know about tendenitus.
My wife had a knee replacement. Acupuncture was miraculous in the way it helped her pain. Watching her walk after the operation and an acupuncture treatment left me agape. There is no hyperbole in that statement.
No needles for me. However, I have liked Instaflex a LOT - check it out on Amazon. I don’t have tendonitis, but have had hip joint pain due, I think, to a flu shot.
Acupuncture helps to MASK pain. The effectiveness varies from person to person. However, keep in mind that it is not a treatment for the underlying cause of pain.
Have you checked out food grade diatomaceous earth. It is wonderful for several ailments. Did a quick search and tendonitis was one of them. I take it and so do my siblings. Sprinkle a little on my dog and cats’ food.
Do the research. Quite a remarkable product. Also virgin coconut oil and silver biotics. All three of these items should be in everyone’s emergency kit.
Lee,
I wrote a reply, and it disappeared! You need to find a good herb doc, as we’re all different, and the herbs are tailored to different needs. If you have a “Chinatown” near you, ask around.
Thanks. I will visit Chinatown in Oakland. During the morning or early afternoon hours, of course.
Oakland? You should have no problem finding a good doc!
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