**EDIT with message from Lynn** End of the Semester and Important Acupuncture Findings/Information for RSD/CRPS

Here I am with another graduate school semester coming to a close. Four more courses and a field placement, and I will have a Master's of Social Work! I will be dragging out those courses, two a semester, because the second year field placement, over 300 hours, is to be completed over the Fall and Spring semesters.

As I finish up my finals, I can't help but give myself a big pat on the back for continuing to move toward my goals despite the disabling conditions RSD/CRPS presents with. Each day, despite the pain and discomfort, I choose to wake up and renew my attitude of gratitude and joy and quest for spiritual/personal development and healing. While certain days present a greater challenge than others, the love and support I receive from my family and the knowledge that my healing is just around the corner has created resilience and patience conducive to goal achievement and all around healing.

 

Today, my acupuncturist and I started treatments to specifically reset the sympathetic nervous system and bring the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems into balance and harmony. There are specific acupuncture points along the front and back of the body that do this. Remember, RSD/CRPS is a malfunctioning of the sympathetic nervous system, where it takes normal stimuli as disproportionately painful. As part of this therapy, I have spots on my ears that are "marked" with "little tan sticky things," and I am to press as hard as possible with the thumb and index finger, while massaging in a circular motion. This is to be done 4x a day for 30 seconds each time, and these acupuncture points "reset" the sympathetic nervous system. I am excited to see where this takes me, so stayed tuned! Basically, this is acupuncture's way of doing what a ketamine infusion aims to do, drug free and less invasive!

 

Also, here is a bit of information about acupuncture for those of us with pain conditions - if your sensitivity is very high like it is for those with RSD/CRPS (some cannot even stand light touch), ask your acupuncturist to always use the "small needles." Even on my most painful areas, the small needles do little damage. This should take away any fears or apprehensions you have about trying acupuncture with RSD/CRPS. Everyone is different, but I have used both small and large needles, and I can tell you that the small needles leave me very comfortable and do not cause any flaring. On the other hand, the big needles do cause flaring, so be careful!

 

Look forward to a follow-up post from Lynn and posts by me on the topics of the subconscious mind, loving your illness, self-acceptance, and recognizing the divine within you. If you have any specific order you would like me to address these topics in, just let me know!

 

Happy Healing!


**Message from Lynn in response to my experiences today:**

Maria,







I think this is an amazing example of what is supposed to happen when you energetically connect with a healer or spiritual counselor! The other day, I was TOLD by your guides and my guides to ask you when your next accupuncture appointment was going to be! I was instructed that I should energetically and spiritually connect with your mind, body and spirit so that I could work on you while she was doing the treatment! Now that you tell me she is working specifically on the RSD issues and your nervous systems, I am clear on why I should be there with you both!






When you work with someone, this is exactly the type of communication that should be happening with your healer or spiritual counselor. You should be so connected that the person who is guiding you is able to receive information even when you are not on the phone or sitting in a session. Not every healer or spiritual counselor will work on this kind of intuitive level, but if they do, this is the type of relationship that you want!






See you in your next accupuncture!!!






Lynn