Middle Path Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
Lisa Bernazani, M.Ac., Lic. Ac., Chinese Herbal Medicine
Serving the Metro-Boston Area Since 1998
Your Health is the Foundation of Your Life™
Frozen Shoulder
For 10 years I lived with chronic shoulder and wrist pain in my right arm. I consulted several [western] doctors, had surgery on my wrist, underwent months of physical therapy and consumed an average of 1200mg of ibuprofen - a day - for most of those 10 years. Many years ago I trained myself to be primarily left handed to avoid using my right arm and wrist. I estimate I had about 40% of a normal range of motion in my right shoulder without sharp pain. This was my condition when - finally - I saw Lisa for the first time.
Lisa evaluated me carefully and quickly diagnosed me with "frozen shoulder" . She proceeded to explain, however, that the condition had little to do with my shoulder! Instead, she detailed how a prior cardiac surgery - performed when I was 16 years old - had drastically altered the blood and energy circulation in my chest and upper body which had caused both of those areas to become uneven causing my shoulder pain. Sure enough, I could *see* what she was talking about. My right should was lower than my left and drooping, and even my chest was uneven right-to-left. Even if you do not believe in the concept of energy flowing around your body, I - as an I engineer - suggest that you can't deny the importance of your parts being properly aligned!
After the very first session of acupuncture - an hour of time - I felt a significant reduction in shoulder pain. I was able to move my right arm farther without pain! I was by no means cured, but it was amazing! That night I took only a fraction of my normal medication and slept though the night. After the SECOND session with Lisa, I stopped taking medication entirely! During each subsequent visit my range of motion has improved and those physical signs of asymmetry in my body have improved.
As I write this testimony, I have almost no shoulder (or wrist) pain and a complete range of motion in both. My course of treatment was a total of 12 visits. I have no doubt all traces of the condition will be gone soon. I sleep better and just feel better. If you have chronic pain conditions you _must_ investigate new treatment options! Your body - with help from a skilled practitioner like Lisa - has the ability to actually repair some damages you think are permanent. Give your body that chance..
-- Troy J., Engineer, 2010