I’ve had two serious injuries in my lifetime. Both involved a car accident and these accidents left me in excuriating pain. Although I had numerous visits with doctors and taken an abundance of pills, it didn’t seem like modern Western medicine was really helping. So, I began trying and experimenting with different alternatives. If you suffer from chronic pain, you may want to try these alternatives too.
The accident left me with low back pain and daily headaches. I was sitting at a red light and a car going 50 mph rammed into my trunk. I could barely walk and when I could, it wasn’t for very long without having to sit down. I did the normal protocol of going to a chiropractor. However, after three months of treatment (at two times a week), I felt like it wasn’t helping much.
My massage therapist recommended that I try rolfing. This is a technique much like massage however, it focuses on parts that interconnect the whole body system rather than just working on muscles and meridians. Unlike a chiropractor, it focuses on soft tissue that connects bones while also concentrating on body alignment. According to Cathy Wong, “Rolfing is based on the idea that fascia–the fibrous layers covering muscles–stiffens, shortens, and loses its elasticity after prolonged poor posture and mental and emotional stress.”
The treatments were very promising and cost around $75.00 an hour. Due to my condition, I had to meet with the practitioner two times a week. After one session, my legs were aligned and my headaches were reduced to mild pain instead of excruciating migraines. I learned that the difference with rolfing verses massage, she would concentrate on one area of my body at a treatment session. At the next appointment, she would focus on a different part. I wish I could’ve kept it up but it was rather costly and I ended up moving out of state a few weeks later.
After this experience, I opened my mind to alternative and Eastern practices. A had met a new friend that had a similar experience with a car accident and he referred me to a local acupuncturist. The first session was $60.00 but thereafter, it was only $10.00. The price was really affordable, but I was extremely skeptical. I didn’t like the idea of a million needles being stuck in my skin. Anyhow, I set up an appointment and decided to give it a try.
It was the best thing I could’ve done. My headaches vanished in one session. My lower chronic back pain completely disappeared after one month of acupuncture. I couldn’t believe it. How could a bunch of needles do the trick?
I don’t completely understand the basis and workings of acupuncture however, I now believe in it. The practitioner explained to me that much of my symptoms were due to stress and the needles applied pressure along my nerves to eliminate tension and relieve pain. After my initials treatments, I have only needed follow-up appointments a couple times of year. Since then, my back pain and headaches are still a thing of the past.
Cathy Wong, “Rolfing” About.com
