An update: I've had five treatments and it definitely has made a difference. I haven't had to take any pain killers since starting and I feel as though I'm finally rounding the corner. It's pretty amazing. The acupunturist can find a sore spot on my back or hips, then insert some needles elsewhere (usually in arm or leg), and immediately the spot isn't sore anymore. The trick is holding onto that for more than a few days.

As it was explained to me (and this is my interpretation of what got said), the theory my acupuncturist works under is that when you're in chronic pain, your body limits blood flow to the injured area because it thinks something is really wrong (such as infection) and wants to "wall off" that area to protect the rest of your body. So at a time when a part of your body needs blood supply the most for healing, it gets the least. The needles "re-direct" the blood supply and organize your body to heal itself.

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No coasting in running and no crying in baseball