Five years ago, due to a serious car accident, I sustained massive injuries including bleeding in the head, spinal nerves damage, shattering of my pelvis and fracture of my right ankle and foot. The direct consequence is excruciating chronic pain in my lower back as well as non-stop tingling in my right foot. I am on the highest dosage of pain-killers such as Percocet and Dilaudid , in addition to wearing Fentanyl patches. Almost every 10 days or so, in the past four years, a full-blown episode of insufferable pain, leading from my back to my injured foot would occur like clockwork, followed by continuous cramping in the thigh and leg and shooting pain in the heel or arch of my foot, due to my nerves firing non-stop. I would start popping pain-killers every 6 hours for 24 hours, in addition to pacing activities, applying hot and cold packs, and praying as a last resort. Relief only came when I fell asleep due to sheer fatigue from the pain, but the next day would be spent in bed, throwing up (the previous day’s medication). My health care providers were unable to provide me with any satisfactory solution to my shooting pain incidents. Then my physiotherapist told me to try Acupuncture at the clinic just across the street from my home. One day, while again suffering from non-stop shooting pain in my foot, I decided to try Acupuncture at the clinic. This may sound unbelievable but as soon as the needles went into my skin, my shooting pain stopped immediately! It was like somebody flicked off the switch to those firing nerves. From that moment on, I became a true believer in the healing power of Acupuncture.
I am so thankful to have Maria as my Acupuncturist because she is a conscientious health care provider, very knowledgeable and genuinely interested in finding a solution for my pain and other problems, be it sleeplessness or constipation. I know that she is always doing research in her own spare time and even going to seminars when possible. She not only gives me treatments but helps me understand my body, while stressing the importance of exercise on my muscles and nerves in order to prevent further atrophy. She is never patronizing but always shows respect for who I am. Ever since working with Maria, my full-blown pain episodes have decreased considerably and I am better able to manage my pain through acupuncture and regular exercise.
I truly appreciate Maria for giving me hope despite my permanent disability. I know that she will continue to do her best as an Acupuncturist. I am so glad that Maria is in the health care service because I believe that we desperately need someone like her who sincerely respects and cares about her patients as well as working with them graciously. That is something that money cannot buy.