A foray into "Alternative Medicine"

Hello!

As some of you know, Jamie and I are planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail next year. In preparation for that we have both been exercising and trying to be a bit more healthy. Collectively, we've lost 50 pounds. We're pretty proud. Through the process of exercising however, Shannon has been having some low level hip joint soreness. Not wanting to create any long term damage and just make sure that everything is OK, she went to our local joint doctor. This lady has, on many occasions, helped us through sprained ankles, knee pain, back and shoulder pain-a variety of things. We went to her for this hip issue. She took some x-rays and told Shannon, "oh! this is very serious! you need surgery!" She then offered up these two random therapies that haven't really been seriously explored or tested. Neither of which would cause any serious harm but both of which would cause MORE pain and one included a shot INTO my joint. (cost would be around $80 each time and she wanted me to go weekly for a little more than a month) .

Having gone to her for very minor soreness (and I mean like a '1' on that little doctor chart of pain), Shannon was taken aback and really upset by what the doctor said. SO, we decided to try the general hospital in our area, Asan Medical. She went to the international clinic and talked to the General Practitioner. She said she'd have a radiologist look at my X-rays (after I re-took them at Asan) and sent me to the rehabilitative specialist. The next day, I went to the rehabilitation specialist who said the radiologist said there is some calcification and tearing in the joint but neither he nor the radiologist can tell if it's serious, so he sent me up the line to the Orthopedic Surgeon. Currently I'm waiting on my appointment with the surgeon (scheduled on January 26th).

After losing faith that anyone knows what they're talking about and deciding to see the surgeon but ignore whatever advice he gives me I talked to a friend who had some great success managing low back pain at an Alternative Medicine Clinic.

He suggested Jaseng Clinic in Apgujeong (a ritzy area about an hour away from us). I said, OK. Really, what do I have to lose.

The clinic is huge. It consists of four buildings of clinics, various research facilities and, luckily for me-the only foreigner practicing alternative medicine in Korea, Dr. Royer. I have my third appointment this coming Wednesday. I go for a Chuna Treatment (similar to but different from regular chiropractic) and acupuncture. Costs me $38 each time. Dr Royer also wanted to give me a "herbal injection" but as I'm already at the limits of my belief and I'm here to avoid injections I opted out of that. Here's my experience so far: It hasn't hurt and it hasn't hindered. I will say that I told him of some low back pain after walking for any length of time. He "treated" me for that and after my 3 hour walk home I had no pain. Coincidence? You decide.

Anyway, I'll continue to visit him until I leave Korea. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

P.S. We're still planning to hike the Appalachian Trail.