When I was told that acupuncture would be a good treatment for me, I scoffed at the idea. I could not wrap my brain around having a bunch of needles sticking in my body, nor could I see how that could help. However, all it takes is a good health scare to make you think outside the box! So, with some deliberation, I made the call and decided to give it a try. I showed up a basket of nerves, not knowing what to expect, but Rhianda was very professional, knowledgeable and confident that my experience was going to be painless and helpful.
I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for a couple of years now and have had noticeable changes in memory, sensation, and muscle/nerve pain. Since my continued treatments here, I have noticed significant improvements! My memory has improved so much that even other people are commenting. My tingling sensations in my hand have finally gone away after over a year of irritation! My muscle and nerve pain has also improved. Acupuncture has also helped in many other personal ailments that I have had as well. I cannot believe the difference acupuncture has made in my quality of life! I am so appreciative of the help I have received here! Just awesome!
Thank you Rhianda!
KR
June 24, 2008
This is my true story:
I am a taxi cab driver in Kelowna B.C.
In December 2006, I fell backwards on some ice and my lower back began to hurt. I was told to take muscle relaxers and it would get better. It did improve some but in January 2007, I fell again on some ice - face-first off a snowbank - and reinjured my lower back again. This time my Doctor sent me for xrays and put me on some stronger pain pills (T3's) and stronger muscle relaxers. The pain got stronger not better this time, and as time went by it got worse.
In March 2007 the Doctor sent me for a c-scan and when he got the results, he gave me the news that his diagnoses was Osteoarthritis in my lower back at my pelvis area and all he could do was give me pain pills to reduce the annoyance of the pain and control the cronic pain in my back which caused me to fall on my face when the pain went down to my knees and made them let go.
The "Percocets" he put me on were perscription pills and they did help some to ease the pain so I could continue to work, however I seemed to have an upset stomach and was very on edge all the time. I was not getting the relief I had expected, and as time went by I was perscribed more and more "P" pills and even had to add Ibprophen 400 mgs to my salad of pain meds. The pain was cronic and never really ceased, it was eating away at me all the time - from the time I got up til I went to bed!
At the end of August 2007 I was in a car accident - not my fault - and had to take a month off to recover from the leg and foot injuries and the added back pain and stiff neck inflicted by the accident.
When I went to go back to work my company demanded that I get a letter from my doctor and the motor vehicle dept. saying I could still drive safely while on my meds. It was granted and I went back to work, still in cronic pain, but on reduced hours as I couldn't work the 12 hour shifts that I used to do because of the the pain.
I was very frustrated and depressed. I wanted to either get off the pain pills or die. Life had no pleasure or quality for me anymore.
In October, out of this frustration, I really started to look for something to help me deal with the "lemon" life had dealt me.
I saw an ad for a new Acupuncture practice - Cherry Blossom Acupuncture - that was starting up in Kelowna. The newspaper article said that she had had good results treating the ailment I had, so - grasping at straws - I gave the establishment a call!
The person - Rhianda Armstrong - that I talked to on the phone, said to come in and let her work on me. I told her I had no expectations as I had never done anything like this but that If she would try to help me I would come in and see her. I was a skeptic of any results a small needle would give me, but what did I have to loose but an hour or two and a few bucks!!!
With my time schedule I was only able to get in to see her every two weeks for an hour, but within two treatments which were painless (a surprise), I saw results and by four treatments I was able to ease up on the meds and after the sixth one I was able to do without my pain meds altogether. I still go back to her from time to time as needed for a "tuneup" but have been without cronic pain since. I still have some very mild pain when I "over do it" by lifting too much weight or walking too far, but for all purposes I have my life and happiness back again without meds or side effects.
Thank You Rhianda Armstrong,
Chuck Steele
