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My First Time Chinese Therapy Experience **November 17, 2020** It has been a week since I experienced terrible pain in my left arm. If you will check my profile, you will notice that I had only posted three articles last week. Usually, it's one article per day. And this is the reason why I can't make articles consistently. I am using my right hand only when tapping my phone, so it takes a longer time to finish one article.

I have no idea why it suddenly happens. The pain starts with numbness in my left hand to a severe burning sensation that give a significant impact on my work and difficulty in sleeping. I thought it will only last for hours. I had managed to sleep that night after massaging my left shoulder and arm. But the next day, the pain was still there although the burning sensation was already gone. I was like a person with hemiplegia that only the right part of my body was working. Every time I bend my arm for tapping my phone or doing anything, there was a tingling feeling like pins and needles pricking my arm. I am not a person who likes taking medicines like pain reliever, so I just massaged my left arm every night before going to sleep using virgin coconut oil. Days had passed, but the pain was still there. I feel worried about it since I know about some overseas workers who become paralyzed due to overfatigue. Since I cannot go out to see a doctor, I searched the symptoms on the internet and I have found this. I'm not sure if this is my real condition, but the symptoms are the same.

**Erythromelalgia** can start at any age. It is a rare condition that causes episodes of burning pain and redness in the feet, and sometimes the hands, arms, legs, ears, and face. People with erythromelalgia typically have episodes of pain lasting from a few minutes to several days. That was exactly what I felt during that day. There was redness on my left hand and a tingling and burning sensation that lasted for a couple of hours I have posted my condition on a Filipino Facebook group here, then many give their advice. One Filipina said that she's experiencing the same thing, and she wants to have acupuncture. I asked her about the price and location of the clinic.

So last Sunday, I decided to go to that acupuncture clinic. I was hesitant at first because I was afraid of the needles, it might be so painful. But the Filipina who recommended me the clinic said it's not hurting at all. My turn comes, the practitioner told me to remove my clothes and lay down on a small bed. I was nervous when I saw the needles on the side table since it was my first time and I wasn't comfortable lying in a prone position.

The first thing they did was they placed two electromagnetic therapeutic apparatus over my back. It releases heat that was said to relax my muscles and it lasted for 30 minutes.

**Electromagnetic therapeutic apparatus** `improves blood circulation, which relieves muscular pain, sore muscles, arthritis, bursitis, backache, tennis, elbow, and joint pains. It is also suitable for the assistant treatment of soft tissue loss, lumbar muscle strain, sciatica, periarthritis of shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis, children diarrhea, and other diseases adjuvant therapy.` After 30 minutes, they placed another apparatus which was bigger than the other two. It was set for 30 minutes as well. The feeling was actually good although it was hot, it seems like the tension in my muscles was relieved.

After that session, her comes the acupuncture. I took a deep breath and tried to relax. But it was actually useless, I can't breathe well wearing that annoying mask on my face. But still, I tried to calm my muscles and nerves while the practitioner was inserting the very tiny needles through my skin one by one at different strategic points of my back, shoulders, and arms. There was a tingling sensation but the pain was bearable. I wasn't able to take photos of the following sessions because I was hesitant to move.

**Acupuncture** `is a key element of traditional Chinese medicine and is most typically used to treat pain. Nowadays, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management. Traditional Chinese medicine says that acupuncture is a method to balance the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — and is believed to flow through pathways or meridians in our body. Acupuncture practitioners believe that our energy flow will re-balance by inserting tiny needles into specific points of our body.` https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763 I tried to move my right arm to fix my pillow and mask but it was a bit painful. I can feel the needles every time it touches my scapula. So I decided to stay still like a paralyzed patient lying on a hospital bed. Three hours, it was too long. I tried to sleep but I can't. The face mask was really annoying and lying in a prone position made it worst. I don't want the time to run fast because I don't want to go back home yet, but at that moment, I want the session to end so I can breathe well and flex my muscles. Finally, after three hours, the practitioner started to pull the tiny needles. It only took a few seconds as she did it too quickly and it was painless. I was relieved after she completely removed all the needles. But I can't get up yet. Another therapy was performed. The next method was called "Ventosa." But before that, the lady did a quick massage on my back with a towel soaked in alcohol.

**Ventosa** also called **Cupping Therapy** `originated in China, which involves placing hot cups on the skin to create suction. The suction may promote healing with blood flow`. The practitioner didn't use hot cups, instead, it was the same as the one in the photo ☝. They were placed on my skin and used a suction. It draws my skin and muscle upward into the cup. The therapy only took a few minutes. And after that quick cupping, my skin turned red as the blood vessels respond to the change in pressure.

The last part was a *hard massage*. The practitioner used a towel in massaging. I wasn't sure if that was the real method or because of the pandemic situation. Maybe she doesn't want to have contact with the customers that's why she used a towel. The massage was really painful, especially when touching the painful part of my back, shoulder, and arm. There were times that I want to scream but I was ashamed to do so. And so I just cursed the pain in my mind. They said that cursing can help decrease the sensation of pain. 😅 It was a long yet worthy Chinese therapy. I paid 200 HKD ($25.79 USD) for the whole sessions. I felt more comfortable after the therapy. Although there is still a pain in my left arm even until now, the Filipina said it will be gone after a few days. I really hope so, because this is annoying and I cannot work well. I can't even tap my phone well by just using my right hand. If this pain won't stop after this week, I guess I need to see a doctor. Work is important, but health matters as well! **Written by:** @Jane

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