Life as usual

As I walked into my least favourite place on earth, the burns unit, I tried not to think about what was on the agenda. I knew I was having steroid injections into my scars and I knew it was going to hurt. But I wasn't sure about anything else. I had questions...

The consultant, an imposing man with a mop of Einstein hair swept in, ready to jab me with the two needles he brandished. He didn't have many answers for me, only that I would have this done every 6 weeks until it was effective and that numbing gel didn't work so I should try mindfulness and breathing to combat the pain. So, armed with this vague knowledge I turned my head away and gripped my Mum's hand.

During the procedure I wasn't sure how many times the needle impaled me but upon counting the residual holes I'd had 12 steroid injections in an area of scarring about 2 inches by 1 inch. He wanted to do more and the injection hovered perilously close to some other scars but I had to stop! It's going down on my list of painful experiences; it felt something akin to having drawing pins slowly wiggled into your flesh. The needles have to be quite sturdy to get through the thickened scar tissue and the consultant has to be firm and heavy handed to get it done.

"Do I have to do anything particular now?" I asked the consultant.
"Not at all," he said. 'Get on with life as usual. I'll see you in six weeks."

Acupuncture

Yesterday I had Acupuncture in the 'four gates points,' that is, between my thumb and forefinger and between my big toe and next toe on both the right and left side.

The 'four gates' are said to be good pressure points to relieve stress and anxiety. Although I don't feel unusually stressed or anxious, I'm sporting a blistery rash that came up on my face last week (burned side) and my Physio said this could be a sign my body is under tension.

Acupuncture works in a similar vein to Reflexology by helping clear the channels of energy in the body by the insertion of tiny needles into certain 'pressure points.' The energy is believed to flow along 12 main meridians, or channels. These are symmetrical on each side of the body, each pair being related to a specific organ. Although it's not known how it actually works, Scientific experiments have shown that it can help alleviate pain in some sufferers and is a relaxing procedure. There are suggestions that it works through a placebo effect. If this is indeed the case, I'm not sure it really matters. Surely the fact that it has some positive benefits should be the focus.

The experience was indeed quite relaxing; this could be because the lights were low and I was covered in a warm blanket, lying down. The needles were initially quite sharp once inserted; I have quite bony feet! Once they were in, I couldn't feel them at all. Usually people feel a dull, not unpleasant ache where the needles are but I couldn't feel a thing!

After the treatment I did feel tired. I also felt very warm which is unusual for me as I am one of the cold-blooded variety. I was so warm my injuries were tinged very pink! (This went down overnight.) Apparently Acupuncture is very good for your circulation so this would make sense. I slept very well. It was definitely a pleasant response rather than unpleasant and I did feel very relaxed. A placebo response? Who cares!

AND RELAX....!



The Acupuncture Society

British Acupuncture Council

British Medical Acupuncture Society

Essex Physiotherapy Clinic