After undergoing six months of chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer, Mike began to experience peripheral neuropathy, which is a common side effect of cancer treatment where nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain.
“A month after I finished chemotherapy, in my hands and feet, I had the feeling of pins and needles, coldness, and numbness,” said the 61-year-old. “When I finished chemo, I had lost 30 pounds. Then in June, I had drop foot, which is a condition where the foot is unable to lift off the ground, so I had to use a walker. I also fell at one point from the drop foot and got compression fractures. I had occupational therapy and physical therapy for seven weeks to try to help my pain and the drop foot, but it wasn’t helping. I just wanted to feel better.”
Mike’s oncologist, Jae Roberto Cho, MD, recommended acupuncture. While skeptical, the Bergen County native decided to give it a try since the service is offered by specialists at Valley Health System.
Acupuncture is a holistic technique that involves inserting thin needles into specific points of the body to stimulate and heal those areas. Valley Medical Group’s integrative medicine practice offers chiropractic care, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage.
“The first time I saw Christine Yun, LAc, I told her I was nervous about acupuncture and that I did not know much about it. She walked me through everything. She really took the time to explain how we can solve some of my problems and listened to what I had to say,” said Mike. “Within a couple of days of seeing Christine for the first time, my foot went back to normal.”
After a month of acupuncture treatment twice a week, Mike’s pins and needles sensation resolved. He no longer needs a walker and can drive again. He still experiences some coldness and numbness, but the feeling is reducing as he continues acupuncture.
“Christine always asks how I am doing, and while she makes a plan for my acupuncture session, she listens to what is going on and makes adjustments. She has also helped me with my back pain,” said Mike. “I was able to say that I beat cancer, but I wanted to be able to be more active, and Christine is helping me do that.”
“Before I started acupuncture, I was not a believer. Having control of my own body a couple of days after treatment was a huge thing for me,” he said. “I could have kept taking pain killers all the time, but acupuncture works and limited the use of them. Try to keep an open mind about it. Valley’s integrative medicine team is great, and they really do care about you and make sure you are comfortable with everything that is happening during your appointment.”
For more information about integrative medicine and acupuncture at Valley, please visit ValleyHealth.com/IntegrativeMedicine.