I have a new love.

No, it’s not masochism.

It’s acupuncture!

I’ve talked before of my chronic pain. It had gotten to the point where I couldn’t really cook dinner anymore because 10 minutes of standing made me want to cry, due to my scoliosis and dural ectasia. Whenever I menstruated (sorry for those of you who are afraid of that word!), my fibromyalgia would flair for days. During these times I would just have to sit on the couch and have nothing touch me, sometimes for hours.

Not exactly conducive to parenting a toddler, you know?

So, in October, I made an appointment for a pain clinic. It took several months after that, but I was able to start a twice-weekly physical therapy regimen and that, combined with The Situation, took the edge off.

Then, a couple weeks ago, I started acupuncture. I am a new woman. I know that sounds dramatic, but it IS!

I hate needles. Hate them. But, I’ve always just known that acupuncture would work and talked myself into being ok with needles for this one purpose. After the initial consultation with the doctor/acupuncturist, she agreed with me. She told me to expect results in about six sessions. Each session is 30 minutes long. I lay on my left side; she places needles in various places depending on where I’m having pain (usually one in the head, two in the ear, a few on my neck, back, elbows, ankles, and top of my feet).

After ONE session, I was fibromyalgia flair up FREE for my menstrual cycle. I do not remember the last time that happened. It’s been years.

I’m not without my sore days, my stiff days, but the relentless pain is gone. I can cook. I can take my son to the park and walk around there for an hour. Some days, we go on MULTIPLE WALKS. How now, brown cow?!

You know what we’re doing today? Going to the hospital to meet two teens for a few hours. Then we’re going to go home, maybe Menininho will take a quick nap, and go on a walk with our friends, play at the park for a bit. And tomorrow? A walk at the mall with our playgroup, another walk to the park in the afternoon. I could go on.

Point is, I can DO these things. Because of the needles.