I have dealt with two conditions that have changed my life dramatically over the past year. The first was a tumor located on the trigeminal nerve on the right side of my brain. Although the doctors were able to remove the tumor in January, I still suffer from a condition known as trigeminal neuralgia. This condition causes a constant burning, aching pain on the right side of my face. It also makes it feel at times like I’m sucking on a nine volt battery with electrical shocks going through my cheek, jaw, nose, and tongue.
To make matters worse, one week post-op, I developed Bell’s Palsy. The entire right side of my face was then paralyzed and drooping; my right eye would not close; and my hope for a full recovery diminished.
The doctors told me to be patient and things should improve. I listened to their urgings, but after five months, I was beyond frustrated. The doctors then gave me the option of trying physical therapy. I began doing physical therapy.
At a snail’s pace (but thankful) I began seeing improvement. Three months later, I had a partial smile; I could close my right eye; and I could open my mouth wide enough to get a forkful of food into it. However; every time I looked in the mirror, I wanted to cry. All I saw was a person with two sides of a face that did not match and a huge hole in her heart. To make things worse, I was still experiencing pain 3/4 of each day.
I decided I had to try something else. I wasn’t ready to give up. I couldn’t accept that this was the best life had to offer. It’s then that I turned to acupuncture.
I began doing research. After reading many bios; checking out tons of websites; and reading the credentials of many acupuncturist in Davenport, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, I chose Kai Yun. And that’s a choice I have not regretted one single minute. In fact, I am so thankful for Kai Yun’s expertise, knowledge, listening skills, and kindness.
Within the first few minutes of my very first appointment, Kai Yun placed a needle in each arm and began rotating them… and I slowly began turning my head from side to side. I hadn’t been able to move my head laterally and touch my chin to my shoulders in 8 months..(something I had been working on with physical therapy for 3 months). I was in awe and truly felt HOPE for the first time in a long time.
The morning after my first acupuncture session I woke up pain free. Prior to that, I dreaded getting out of bed in the morning. That’s because the first moment I would sit up, the pain would return full force. The pain didn’t stay away for the entire day, but it was a first step.
Kai Yun has been working with me for the past month and a half. Since that time, I have regained the ability to smile and my pain has went from a level eight 3/4 of the day to a level three 1/4 of the day. I still have an occasional bad day filled with lots of pain, but they are becoming rarer and farther apart.
I still have partial facial paralysis on the right side of my face, but yesterday I had an exciting moment. It was after treatment, that I looked in the mirror and could move my nose like a rabbit. To someone reading this, you may be thinking no big deal. But to me, it was better than Christmas. I hadn’t been able to move my nose and upper lip freely for 9 months. You should have heard the cheers and laughter at my supper table when I showed off my “new” talent.
My life continues to improve, and I look forward to each visit with Kai Yun. I am and forever will be grateful to this remarkable and compassionate doctor. I would recommend her to anyone. She truly is amazing!
–Karen
