" The path to fighting your disease requires an understanding of your body. "

- Sheng-Li Wang -

Patricie's Pinched Nerve

JANUARY 2009: I began to have a burning pain up and down my arm which was much worse during the night. The pain woke me up 2-3 times, at first, and then began to keep me up. There was no relief. My arm felt like it was on fire.

FEBRUARY 2009: The pain did not relent, especially during the night. Sometimes I cried because of how unrelenting it was. I went to my general physician and they said I had a “pinched nerve” and gave me some muscle relaxants which did little to help my pain. I also had an MRI which showed that I had cervical arthritis (neck). I began going to a massage therapist once a week.

MARCH 2009: The pain saga continued. I went to yoga (I was trying to keep my neck limber) and asked my instructor if he knew of an acupuncturist and he gave me Dr. Sheng-Li Wang’s name and address. I cam e into his office for my first appointment and I described my pain and he said “I know where it comes from and he touched two areas on my cervical spine”. I began the treatments three times a week. The first time he touched the “hot spots” around my neck area, I thought I was going to fall off the table. After the first treatment I slept better the first night. He also told me to stop the yoga and massage, which I did. After the first week of treatment I found my symptoms would begin to return just before the next treatment so I began to look forward to them because I knew there would be relief. My pain eased week after week.

APRIL: I continued my treatments which consisted of acupuncture and a gentle manipulation of the cervical area of my spine. My symptoms were almost gone by this point. I went to have an EMG and there was no longer any pinched nerve.

MAY: I think my treatments stopped for the pain, since I was pain free! I began treatment for chronic asthma, but that is a different story.

I went hiking in Austria in August for a week, for up to 5-6 hours a day and carried a 25 pound pack and slept on the floor of a Hutte and also on a slim mattress. No pain and no discomfort. I am now doing yoga again. I have the quality of my life and my sleep back, thanks to Dr. Sheng-Li Wang.

Patrice E. Macken, Oak Brook