CEREBRAL PALSY AND ACUPUNCTURE.
(This page documents Robbie's acupuncture sessions and my foot massage and detox spa. Updated every two weeks.)
Robbie's not had any further acupuncture since the 19th of October as he's feeling very distressed and unsafe in his malfunctioning wheelchair. He's refusing to leave the house unless for an appointment with surgeons regarding removal of his lower legs. And then we have to take a taxi. Fortunately, his contracture pain is still bearable and generally non existing since the acupuncture and only takes pain killers rarely when his hip arthritis is playing up.
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19th October: Robbie had a forth session of acupuncture that is keeping his leg contractures at the tops of his legs at bay in a big way. Jack, the acupuncturist, is now also working on seeing if some of Robbie's spasticity in his arms can be released. Time, like with all things, will tell.
29th September: Robbie had a second session of acupuncture yesterday as he's been experiencing swinging 3-5 out of ten pain levels the past six or so days. Eased somewhat with pain killers. Today, the day after second session, he is free of pain relating to muscles and tendon contracture. The only pain he's presently experiencing is arthritic pain in his right hip and found relief with 400 mg of Ibuprofen.
It looks as though Robbie also suffers restless leg syndrome as his legs start to twitch at night and finds relief by taking two Kava tablets.
The only other pain is the dead weight of his lower legs pulling the tops of his legs. Foot plates do not provide relief as his feet are too sensitive to rest on any support. Supporting the feet also moves the ball and socket out of it's favourable position and results in pain.
22nd of September: 7 days after acupuncture mentioned below. Robbie started to have bad pain again today and needed pain killers. So will take him to the acupuncturist this coming Saturday for another session.
September 14th: Due to the unbearable pain Robbie's been experiencing for the past six weeks he had a session of acupuncture on Saturday afternoon, 14th September. His pain levels went from a seven out of ten to a 'point five' out of ten! So presently he's pretty much free of pain as long as he doesn't move. Before he was having pain and spasm even when still and needing pain killers and very expensive Kava in tablet form from a health store. I'll make another appointment for him for this coming Saturday or when he requests one. The acupuncturist only works Saturdays, apparently.
His hip's ball and sockets are not rubbing together as hard now due to the relaxing of the muscles since the acupuncture. Which also results in less pain with the arthritis.
Robbie has an appointment this week with the surgeon who performed the tendon releases and another colleague who has yet to meet Robbie. This was booked before thinking about the acupuncture. But Robbie needs to see him anyway regardless of the acupuncture and any success with containing the pain. Like Robbie keeps saying till he's blue in the face; no matter how much tendon release he has he still will not be mobile or be able to sleep in a bed as long as he has his very painful and useless legs. It's just not right. Others who don't have cerebral palsy have had useless limbs removed so they are mobile or freed from pain. Thirteen years living and sleeping in a wheelchair!! His back is starting to fuse but to a couple of doctors this is not an issue and have no regard for any recommendations from a world leading private orthopaedic surgeon we saw some months ago.
Didn't take any photos of acupuncture session but will next time. Below is the picture I showed the acupuncturist before the session. Explained the surgeries Robbie apparently had and what tendons and muscle might be presently causing his pain, emphasised in the image. The acupuncturist is Chinese and trained there both as a doctor and acupuncturist. I've always believed in a holistic approach. I can not take Robbie to China for treatment so this is the next best option.
Due to the easing of debilitating pain Robbie was able to attend Karaoke for the first time in months yesterday evening!!
NOW to a totally different issue...
November 3rd: Forth session of foot massage and detox spa.
Seconds after ion cleanser turned on.
Five minutes into treatment.
Twenty minutes.
Thirty minutes.
The lady next to me was also having a detox spa and her water after the half hour session was only slightly mucky looking. A bit like my five minute photo. It was nice to have a comparison.
It's two months since my first detox spa. My joints are less stiff and sore.
October 13th: Third detox session.
September 29th: Had my second session of foot massage and foot spa detox.
September 15th. 5 Minutes September 29th. 5 Minutes
The first image above is five minutes into my first session on 15th of September. The second image is five minutes into my session today, 29th of September. Note that the water is darker after the same time period and that the left side is darker around the left foot which continued for the whole half hour. I decided not to move my feet to see if the liquid remained darker on the left; which it did. Unlike my first session that was uniform in colour distribution and less cloudy by the end of the session. I had a much more intense foot massage with todays second session so perhaps one side of the meridian was flowing more for the detox.
September 15th: The day after Robbie's first acupuncture session I had a foot massage and for the first time tried the detox foot spar. Very interesting!!
So below are some photos and a couple of video clips of the process taken on the 15th of September.
0 minutes. 5 minutes
10 minutes. 15 minutes.
20 minutes. 30 minutes.
Sample of sediment settled quickly leaving crystal clear liquid above. This under scores the fact that heavy metals and so forth are extracted from the body. Booked in for another detox in a fortnight. My body needs all the help it can get. Expensive but I'm determined to live longer than some would like!!
Above: About 20 minutes into the ion detox spar.
Stirring up the resulting sediment.