Acupunture at The Vets

Thursday 22nd February 2007

We arrive at the Vets for Bracken's acupuncture. The Vet calls us in and we sit Bracken on the table. He asks the relevant questions about the accident, how it happened, where she was hit etc. He also asks how she got on at the hydrotherapy the previous night. I explain to him that Tom thinks the damage is not in the leg, but in the neck.

The Vet brings out his equipment for screening eyes and looks into Bracken's eyes, "Yes he Say's", "I can confirm the damage seems to be in the neck".
He then goes on to explain if the radial nerve is damaged in the neck area it will result in a difference in the dilation of the pupils and Bracken's right pupil was slightly smaller than the left.
Then the Vet gets out a pair of forceps and starts to nip Bracken's leg, first the toe's......nothing, then the limb below the elbow......nothing, then her shoulder area......ooh! Bracken gives the Vet a dirty look, by god she felt that I said, your not wrong there said the Vet.

I'm glad this was done before the session as it goes to prove that this improvement is down to Tom's physio in the hydrotherapy pool and the Vet agrees.

He then proceeds with the acupuncture treatment. He places 2 needles in Bracken's neck and shoulder, 1 above her elbow, 2 in her fore limb below the elbow and 1 in between her toes. These I am told area the meridian areas. I ask how the needles work as all this is new to me. He explains that there are several differing opinions, some say the needle vibrates, some think it's due to the transfer of energy from the person inserting the needles, all in all, no one can be absolutely certain.

The needles are left in place for 10 minutes.

After the first session of acupuncture I make our appointment for the second session the following Tuesday, the treatment is in 3 sessions.

Bracken seems to be in some discomfort, she yelps a couple of times at the Vet's and at least 3 times on the way home in the car, this concerns me so I call Tom at ARC the minute I get home.

Tom advises again that this can happen as acupuncture sometimes aggravates any pain she may have, its all to do with the energy passing through the body. We are back tomorrow night for a 2nd hydrotherapy session, Tom says that will help reduce the discomfort and pain.