Acupuncture again

Took my friend Kirsten with me this time on the long cab ride over the river and through many many Chinese streets. This after we had spent 6+ hours power shopping our way through Shanghai's Old City (or as one actor put it, "it's Chinatown's Chinatown!).

Kirsten has fallen in love with Chinese scrolls.

Kirsten has bought many many many Chinese scrolls.

Kirsten will need more walls in her apartment to show off her scrolls...

I, on the other hand, bought several things. But my main purchase of note was a pair of Chinese foot binding shoes... Embroidered, itty bitty doll shoes. A piece of Chinese history that will soon vanish never to be seen except in museums or pictures. They are frightening and beautiful.

But back to the needles. We arrive at the doctor's office and he's the only one there this time. He pokes and prods and says things like "pain?" while grinding his thumb into my wrist. Uh. yes. Much pain.

More needles and more waiting.

I had warned Kirsten about the digging and the manipulating and the almost sick/worst pain ever experience of my last appointment so she was prepared. "Do you want me to hold your hand?" I think I'm ok, but stand by.

And then he started digging in and it was HORRIBLE. Worse because I remembered the last time and knew what to expect. Plus it went on for much longer. He used a lot of Chinese medicine and i think he might have burst the swelling because he was massaging down my arm and comparing my two wrists as I tried not to cry.

Kirsten was sitting on the bench across from me, wide eyed, her hand jammed up by her mouth sympathetically feeling my pain. She eventually had her feet on the bench and was all rolled up in a ball. She had been considering asking for some treatment for her lower back but decided against it...

When he was done he told me to keep it elevated all night. Every time I put my hand down to do something he would yank my hand in the air and say "up!" So I walked out of the office Heiling Whoever, to keep my hand in the air (very convenient for hailing a cab) and then went to work where every time I forgot and put my hand down, Kirsten would grab it and say "up!"

He wants me to come back Sunday so he can look at it and wrap it up. And now, despite the bruising and the yellow medicine, I think it may actually feel better. I'll let you know Sunday.

And if anyone needs to see an acupuncturist in Shanghai, I have a card with Chinese characters on it that you can borrow.