Osteoarthritis: Lynn's story

The following is Lynn's story about her osteoarthritis in both knees and her success with chiropractic and acupuncture in treating it:

Dr. Witter has helped me tremendously. Before meeting Dr. Witter, I couldn’t bend my left knee. I couldn’t even roll over at night without it waking me up in pain. I limped when I walked. I hurt all the time.

Although I have osteoarthritis in both of my knees, my left knee is worse than my right but, due to various injuries, neither one has any cartilage left. I wish I could say the injuries were due to playing sports—something fun---but they weren’t. Even now with the excellent care of Dr. Witter and her staff, I have an electric scooter that I use when I am at the mall or shopping because pounding bone on bone for an extended period of time can be very painful.

I’ll never forget my first appointment with Dr. Witter. I cried in pain when she lifted my leg only two inches. She gave me my first chiropractic adjustment ever. Then she did acupuncture on me and gave me some exercises to do. I am religious about my exercises. I do them in exactly the way she taught me to, the exact number of times recommended. One thing I have learned is that more is not better with exercises. She also started me on chrondoitin, glucosomine, bromelain and horse chestnutt.

Within a week of that first appointment, I felt a difference. And within six weeks my leg could go up over my head! It was amazing! My orthopedist was so impressed, he refused to give me what was to be my first injection of artificial cartilage that I was scheduled for. He wanted her card and wanted to know exactly what she was doing. When I told him everything, including acupuncture, he said “I know acupuncture works. They’ve done it on dogs and dogs don’t know anything about the placebo affect.”

Our goal was for me to go dancing again. I just recently did this on my birthday and when I told Dr. Witter her face just lit up---she was so happy for me.

Susan again: Because of a former injury years ago, my husband has no cartilage on one of his knees. Within a few months of taking Sam-E, he could jog on that knee again. Soon, he could run.... and does, everyday now, four miles a day. This is a personal miracle in his life, and it may be for you as well.

Curtis had started Sam-E to help him access emotions, and this was an added fringe benefit. Off of the stuff, and he found, surprisingly, that he can access his emotions better, but he had to stop running because his knees hurt so much. Needless to say, he went back on Sam-E.

What does this mean to you? It means that if you have trouble accessing emotions and you don't have any cartilage, try Sam-E. Get a good brand. it also means, DON'T TAKE SAM E IF YOU ARE BIPOLAR!

Let me repeat that: DON'T TAKE SAM E IF YOU ARE BI POLAR OR EVEN HAVE BI POLAR TENDANCIES. One bipolar friend was taking Sam E, recommended by her wholistic chiropractor who had no idea my friend can so easily access so many emotions on both ends of the scale! When I saw her, she was a couple of weeks in taking Sam E and had overwhelming thoughts of suicide. She said she just couldn't imagine a reason to go on living. I had known her for a quarter of a century, and NEVER once had her problems so overwhelmed her.... and I had seen her suffer the loss of a husband as well as her mother and father. So, I immediately said, go off of your Sam E. She did. Within about 1-2 days, she was back to her old self again. She had been taking Sam E to improve her immune system. I told her, honey, there a lots of ways to improve your immune system! You don't have to take one that makes you suicidal to do so!

But let's get back to why I wrote this article: Sam E is great for building cartilage. If you have no serious mood swings, and you want to build cartilage, give it a try, perhaps in addition to chiropractic and acupuncture. If you have serious mood swings, then try chiropractic and acupuncture only. My point being, you have a lot of options. YEA!!!

ADD/ADHD Dr. Janice Poole and son William

At the time of this interview for my book, William was 20. From a previous blog, you might remember that Dr. Janice Poole is person who introduced me to Dr. Amens' book, HEALING ADD.

This is a quote from her interview: "The huge precipice for intervention with William, that struck me over and over again, was Dr. Amen's phase 'the goal is not to be off medication, the goal is to be funcitonal'. And he said that over and over in the book. I appreciate him driving that home. I have a little bit of an aversion to pharmacy (she is a chiropractor). But I love my child. And I want everybody, including my child, to have whatever is available to make them functional. And if pharmacy is what it takes, then you thank God for it."

William responded well to a low dose, time release Adderal. Dr. Poole, "We tried straterra. And he had all the side effects with it that you might have with it. We were off of it in two weeks. shortness of breathe, heart pounding, nausea, the whole thing. So we didn't last long on that."

"William had two acupuncture treatments. He didn't try Chinese herbs. he just wasn't ready for that process, and it is a process."

Many of us have to try many different things that work for our health, including ADD. That is why I formed this blog. Find what works best for you. Keep looking, keep trying. Do not give up!

Dr. Amen doesn't cover acupuncture, Chinese herbs or Elisa food allergy tests...something I will cover later. What he does cover are so many other ways to be functional with ADD/ADHD, from pharmaceuticals to supplements, to herbs, to diet, to exercise, to meditation and biofeedback, to brain scans! If you, or someone you love, has ADD or ADHD, you will find this book invaluable. We did! http://www.brainplace.com/

Albert and Acupuncture

Don't you just LOVE this picture? I do. It is of Albert and Karen Saenz. Obviously, in love, LOL. And it is as lovely as the couple really is. I found it on the web, but it has got to be their engagement photo. I thought for sure I would find his realtor picture, but this popped up instead. Yes, the same Albert I have been talking about with the foot injury healed with one acupuncture treatment. I include it to make him more real to you. Here is his actual story:

I discovered the power of acupuncture because of a running injury. I had gone for an all over acupuncture body check a few months before. I am a realtor and the acupuncturist was a client of mine. So, I went, and didn't really feel any difference.

Shortly thereafter, I came up with this running injury. It was plantar fasciatis, the worst possible running injury you could get, other than breaking a bone. Plantar fasciatis takes the longest time to recover. It is the inflammation of the plantar fascia which is located on the bottom of your heel.

Soon, I started getting depressed because I couldn't run. So, I tried everything. I spent over $1000. I spent it on a chiropractor, physical therapy, running doctors, foot doctors, and sports massage. I tried everything. (Albert has insurance, these were co pays.) I was stretching like crazy, using hot/cold treatments, and massaging my foot daily.

After about six months of this, I was visiting my client, the acupuncturist, about a real estate transaction. I mentioned my foot injury. She said, "Oh, well, why don't you let me treat you?" I asked, "Well, how does that work?" I really didn't believe acupuncture could work for a foot injury, but I tried it anyway.

The treatment lasted about 30-40 minutes. The needles were placed specifically to address my foot injury. There was one needle that was right on the affected area of my foot. When she pulled this needle out, I felt the pain escape with it. It was really weird.

For the next two days, however, I was in such pain I called her every nasty name I could think of. And then the third, fourth, and fifth days, I felt more normal. By the end of the week, I had almost forgotten about the injury. About that time, she called me and she asked, "How's your foot?" And I said, "It's not hurting anymore." She said, "don't run on it, let it rest."

Of course, I ignored that advice. And I started running. The injury to my foot was gone. And it hasn't come back.

That was about five years ago. See, ya'll, acupuncture works! If you want to know more about Albert and Austin real estate, this is his blog: http://albertsaenz.wordpress.com/ ...you will find another lovely picture of the two of them together on the lake. Sometimes just finding out more about a person lets you know, this person is real and this (today it is acupuncture) really works for them. That is why I started this whole blog to begin with, to give you real people to relate to, including me, who have been there done that so that you don't have to. I don't want you sick or in pain if there is anything out there that can help you ;-)

And by the way, if you are interested in Austin real estate investment, NOBODY knows east Austin real estate better than Albert. I have been a realtor in Austin. I know Realtors, and I know real estate. NOBODY knows Austin east better than Albert. It is the new hot investment area. Albert and Karen live there and work there. If you want to know more about Karen and her art (excellent, see for yourself) hit her site too ;-) http://www.karensaenz.com/

Inspiration of the Day: (Again from the HAPPY PEOPLE book by David Niven, p.55)
Don't think "what if". Spending your time imagining what would have been if you could have changed some little thing, some little decision in your life, is counterproductive, and leaves you unhappy think about how you can improve for the future, but don't waste your present thinking about how you could have changed the past.

Obviously, Albert really wishes he had seen the acupuncturist FIRST, immediately after his foot injury. But I know Albert. He would NEVER waste time dwelling on that fact. He is just grateful he found acupuncture when he did and wants to make sure you have an acupuncturist you can call on for anything.

As I have often said, and what this whole blog is about, you need a holistic pharmacist (remember, it was Albert who referred me to Peoples Pharmacy), a holistic medical doctor, a holistic chiropractor and a holistic acupuncturist. (and yes, you can be like me and have your medical doctor and your chiropractor also be your acupuncturists).

Recipe of the Day

EASY SUMMER GRAPEFRUIT SALAD

One Jar Pink Grapefruit
One cup raisins
One cup pecans, whole or coarsely chopped

Dump it all in a bowl, mix together. Cover and place in the fridge. Let sit for eight hours. Gotta get those little raisins all plumped up. Serve.

It lasts for a while in the fridge, but is eaten quickly. You can do this the night before to have with breakfast or brunch. You can do the in the morning before rushing off for your day, and serve with dinner at night.











Joke of the Day (and supposedly a true story)


Dear Ann,


I think I can top the person who wrote complaining about the idiocy of the phone company. Talk about garbage in, garbage out!When AT&T split with Bell, we had three phones in our house. The equipment belonged to Ma Bell and the service belonged to AT&T. After we returned all the phone equipment to Ma Bell, we received a bill for $0.00. A few weeks later, we received a check for $5 and a note thanking us. Several months later, we received another computerized bill for $0.00. We called again, got nowhere, so we sent another check for $0.00. A few weeks later we received another $5 refund with the same thank you.This went on every three months for two years. Now we are down to once a year and have given up trying to straighten this out. We just cash the $5 and forget about it.-- Linda K. R. in California

Acupuncture practiced by Medical Doctors

These doctors are Dr. Mahesh and Nalini Dave, both medical doctors who also practice acupuncture. And they get great results. All you need do to believe that, is do what I did. Step one foot inside their door, and pinned to the bulletin board on the left are all these wonderful, handwritten (although anonymous) testimonials from former patients. Talk about comforting. and I wasn't even coming for acupuncture! I already had Dr. Dorene Witter for that. I was coming for my heart.

How did I find Dr. Nalini Dave? I started calling all the doctors on my insurance list. I called each medical doctor's office to see if he or she practiced holistic medicine. WOW, was I surprised to find Nalini Dave. What a blessing. She became my local internist, as a back up to Dr. Witter and Dr. Manso. An awesome, awesome woman. You will never in your life find a better internist.

Dr. Mahesh Dave, her husband, is a psychiatrist, practicing adult and child psychiatry, addiction medicine, and forensic psychiatry. And he uses acupuncture! To treat mental illness. I've read the testimonials. No it's not the only thing he uses. But yes, if you want a psychiatrist who also practices alternative, natural, holistic medicine, including acupuncture, if I can find one here in Bryan/College Station, DUH, darlings, I just know you can find one too!

It took me two hours of calling doctors on my insurance doctor list, but wow, was it ever worth it. What is two hours of your time to find your best friend to take you through the rest of your life? Priceless!!!!

Hang in there! I know you are going to find the best holistic doctors for you, I just know it! If I did it, you can do it too!

Acupuncture, again

Read this:

"The Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners consists of nine members appointed by the Governor for six-year staggered terms not requiring Senate confirmation. The presiding officer of the Board is also appointed by the Governor. The board consists of the following: four acupuncturists with at least five years in the practice of acupuncture in Texas and are not licensed in this state as physicians; two physicians who are licensed in Texas and are experienced in the practice of acupuncture; three members of the public who are not licensed or trained in a health care profession."

I found this when I kept clicking at http://www.texasonline.com/. If you are wondering about how your acupuncturist is overseen, God bless the Internet, access your state, or country's licensing information. You can find out everything about the actual board members. You can also type in your particular doctors' name and find any complaints against him or her, and if their license is current and up to date.

I know you are scared. You are really sick, and you have been looking for answers and almost given up. Don't give up. Don't give up. If I can get well, with all my many illnesses, this should serve to inspire you to continue on, looking for answers. Acupuncture may not be the whole answer, or it may. You won't know unless you try. Let me repeat that Dr. Dorene Witter said when she has a patient who is really sick, especially if they have limited funds for all the testing, she gets the best results, the quickest, with acupuncture."

The results may not last, or they may, like Albert Saenz with his running injury. One treatment, after months of trying other avenues of healing, and within a week, he was pain free and running again!

Contact your insurance company for coverage information, as well as acupuncturists covered under the plan.

If you have no insurance, HEADS UP, acupuncture may well be the best option to begin with! Think about it.