Please stick your tongue out

So this scary picture seemed to have made a few people freaked out! And so many of you couldn't believe that it didn't hurt.
I thought I would tell you all about the whole "acupuncture experience". But first, let me give you a little history as to what led me to take the acupuncture route. I'm sorry this post is going to be kind of long!

When I was 18 in 1998 I ruptured a disc in my back at L5 S1. Part of the broken disc was laying on my sciatic nerve. It was excruciatingly painful and I needed to have back surgery. I had the surgery and instantly my nerve pain was gone. However I still had mild to sometimes moderate back pain. And then sometimes I would still have bouts of really bad pain but the pain was now on the opposite side of my back. You see, I had been dealing with a bad back for almost 2 years before I finally had surgery. During that time, my left side compensated for my hurting right side. (Yeah, I was all shades of messed up!)

In late 2004 early 2005 I started seeing a chiropractor. I followed a plan with him for a little while but never really got any where so then I went for physical therapy. I still wasn't feeling better after a couple months of that. It was then that I started getting recommendations from other people to go see an acupuncturist. I had talked to a good number of people that did it with success. Hey, I was willing to try anything at this point if it meant being pain free!

So I made an appointment and I went to see an acupuncturist. It was freaky. It was very very freaky! I had been warned that he was going to ask me some pretty personal, ridiculous questions that seem to have nothing to do with anything but some how do really have something to do with something. (got that?) One of the questions was "let me see your tongue". (hence the name of this post!)

During my visits he would do cupping, insert needles into me (sometimes the tips of the needles would be on fire too!) and use hot rocks. Once or twice I even went home with a needle or two left in me. (on purpose!) None of these procedures hurt. NONE OF THEM.

The cupping looks awful, but it feels like a deep tissue massage. The heated glass cups form a vacuum on your skin and the acupuncturist would move them up and down my back while not breaking the suction. It was a little awkward but actually felt good when it was over.

I never felt a single needle being inserted into my skin. They were placed in my legs, my arms, my back, and my head. When he would light the needles, I would feel the warmth. That too didn't hurt and really felt wonderful!

The hot rocks, well they rocked! he he he They felt really good!

The best part about all of this.............I HAVE BEEN PAIN FREE SINCE 2005! And I have never been back to see him. Really, if conventional methods aren't working for you, consider trying acupuncture. One of my biggest fears when I got pregnant was "how is my back going to be able to handle the added weight gain and baby?" I also wondered "will I be able to deliver this baby?" I went through everything wonderfully!

The cost at the time was $40 a visit. It was not covered by health insurance. My co-payment for physical therapy was $40 as well so I didn't think the price was bad. I went twice a week for the first two weeks. Then only once a week for a couple of weeks.

Here is a picture of one of the needles. They are long. Very long. BUT YOU DON'T EVER FEEL THEM. (please don't look at the dust on this table!)
Here are a few pictures of one of the needles that I wore home. Freaky, huh!?! It wasn't until I took it out at home that I found out how long the needles really were. Yeah, I was freaked out too! But again. It didn't hurt. The needles are so fine. (I have major cankles!)
I hope this was a little bit informative :)