Acupuncture. I’ve been skeptical about this procedure for years: sticking  needles in your body and miraculously feeling better.  What a joke.  But I’m not laughing anymore.

Three years ago, I hyper-extended my left knee on a grueling hike in the Pecos Mountains of New Mexico.  Since then, I have been unable to run or hike without pain.  During my first two days here at Fitness Ridge, the pain in my knee was pretty unbearable.  I was afraid that I would be limited in what I would be able to do for the rest of my time here.  I came here with a goal of giving 100% the entire time I’m here, but the more the pain increased in my knee, the less I could see this goal being accomplished.  So, last Tuesday night, I did something I never thought I would do: I saw an acupuncturist.  And without her, I wouldn’t have been able to strike this beastly pose high atop a mountain I climbed this morning!

Last Tuesday during the hike and in the gym, the pain was almost unbearable.  Acupuncture is the only treatment offered here, and several other guests here told me how much it helped them, so I decided to take the plunge.  And ever since my treatment last Tuesday night, I have felt no pain in my knee at all.  Nothing.  It’s quite amazing.  The procedure took about 45 minutes and included about 10 needles.  I only felt one of them go in, but it didn’t really hurt.  I was pretty sure this was going to be a waste of my time and money.  At the end of the painless procedure, the  acupuncturist put some tape around my knee and told me avoid downhill hikes and the treadmill for two days.  I was able to do hikes and gym work that avoided these things and was surprised when I felt no pain the next day.  But the true test came on Friday.  I removed the tape and went out on a hard hike.  Lots of inclines and steep drops.  I felt nothing!  After the hike, I headed to the gym and did some running on the treadmill.  Nothing!  No pain at all…and nothing ever since.  I’ve even begun training this week for a 5K race this Sunday evening in Albuquerque.  Through all of the running I’ve done so far this week…no pain – at all!

Acupuncture worked for me, and I thank God.  If not, I would have been sorely limited in what I would be able to do.  I don’t see it as anything more than the Lord using this technique to bring healing and relief to an area of my body that – up to this point – other forms of medicine and medical treatment could not.  If you’re still skeptical or spiritually concerned, here’s a good article for you to read. I don’t know if I’ll do it again, but so far, I’m 1 for 1 with acupuncture.  I may just allow my next big pain to first be needled before I head to my family doctor.

And by the way…I had a great conversation about the Lord with the acupuncturist the entire time the treatment was being done!