It is a privilege to write an accounting of my experiences since 2002 until the present with Fang-Tsuey and Yi-Jen. In 2002 was in a car accident. Someone hit me from behind while I was stopped at a red light. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance in a neck brace and a great deal of back pain. I had an MRI and was examined by a neurosurgeon at Lahey Clinic. At that time he thought surgery would be the end result. Apparently the impact had thrown my back out of alignment causing discs to be squashed and pushed around. This caused pain in my neck, lower back and legs. I missed weeks of work because the pain was so severe. With rest the pain got somewhat better so we decided that before I opted for the surgery I could try physical therapy and a back brace. I went to PT at Lahey twice a week for weeks, was fitted for an expensive brace and was on heavy amounts of Ibuprofen just to get through the days. When I returned for the follow-up, the pain had eased very little so he sent me back to PT for many more weeks. The therapist was convinced surgery was the last resort. So back to the neurosurgeon. At the consult he felt that surgery would only relieve the pain temporarily, that it would help only in the short term. So he suggested I try to manage the pain. He said he would definitely not recommend a chiropractor because of the type of injury. More damage could result. He went on to suggest investigating Acupuncture because he had heard of good results from other patients. I live in Lexington and by good fortune we found Ancient Path. Yi-Jen did a thorough consult and I began treatments immediately. Almost from the beginning I had relief. At the start I was going twice a week. After each session I would progress. The pain was under control. I was taking less and less medication. I started to do things that had caused great pain before such as gardening, vacuuming……just walking had been painful and now it was so much less so. Then Fang-Tsuey became my primary care. She also used the needles and heat but she also tried cupping. As painful as that was in the beginning it worked even faster. I am a visual person and I used to say that when I was in the worst pain I always envisioned having the pain drawn out of me somehow or having something inserted that would allow the pain to escape. With acupuncture that’s what I feel happens. The needles open the channels to allow the pain to leave and the cupping and blood letting draws the bad out and provides enormous relief. Now, there are days when I do too much…usually because I feel so good…and I may get sore but I sit and it goes away. If it’s bad enough I will come in for a treatment. I now come every two weeks and sometimes even three weeks for one session. This maintains all the good work they have done and I also look forward to the comfort and peace I receive. Over the past years Fang-Tsuey has treated me for severe headaches, arthritis in my knees, colds, stress from my job and all the related stress when three years ago my husband was seriously ill. I have recommended them to numbers of people for various problems and every single one has come back with glowing reports of how much better they feel. Many have been helped and many continue to come for maintenance. The neurosurgeon and my primary care doctor have both asked for their information when they saw the wonderful results. My sincere feeling is that if you are open to the treatments and patient the results will come. I particularly have faith in Fang-Tsuey and Yi-Jen because they are always learning and most of all because they really care about their patients. It is hard to imagine looking forward to having someone stick needles in your fingers or forehead, etc. but knowing how good you will feel afterwards makes it all worth it. To me sessions are like visiting a friend. I always leave with a sense of well being and peace. Thank you both for giving me my life back.
