Menu
.jpeg)
The Balance is a monthly series of patient success stories at Olo Acupuncture. In this our opening post, we talk with Laura a patient since early 2015 and Licensed Acupuncturist Erika Prinz Freed, L.Ac. about Laura's journey towards balance. Initially seeking treatment for neck and shoulder pain, through the course of her treatments Laura has discovered other benefits as well, including better digestion, weight-loss and a general sense of balance and wellbeing.
L: I initially booked my appointment to work on a neck and shoulder issue that persisted despite repeated massage and chiropractic adjustments. I found Olo on Yelp! and booked an appointment because it sounded like a calm, friendly place. When I first walked in and was introduced to my acupuncturist that day, Jane Terrana, she laughed and told me that we already knew each other--she went to college with my best friend and had been at her wedding and later at her baby shower! Before I even had my first appointment, Olo felt like home. Since then I’ve enjoyed working with all of the Olo practitioners, and now most often see Erika Freed, who has been amazing.
L: During the initial consultation, we talked through my neck and shoulder issues, which included pain--especially during high stress-- and often led to throwing out my neck and limited range of motion. We also discussed my lifelong nagging digestive problems: Food never felt like fuel, and there was never any telling how the food that came into my body was going to make me feel. I never had any energy. I felt bloated after almost every meal, had regular indigestion, and was completely irregular. I simply took it all for granted, feeling as though this was just how my body worked. But in talking through the potential reasons behind those problems, Jane felt a solution was possible.
E: Similarly to many patients, stress played an ongoing role in Laura’s issues. When stress was on high, she was more prone to having digestive issues and not having the energy to exercise.
L: I noticed results immediately. In my first session, a needle went into my trapezius, and I instantly sat up and gasped--almost to the point of laughter--as the muscle twitched and then relaxed. At the end of that session, I felt calmer than I could remember feeling in years, but also kind of like I was floating. I have not thrown out my neck once since starting acupuncture in February 2015. And while I still build tension in my neck, acupuncture has helped me understand where my baseline should be and what it feels like to be tension-free in that area. This allows me to make sure the I receive treatment before I get anywhere close to that level.
If I am having a crazy week and just feel a bit off, mentally or physically, an acupuncture session always helps me recenter and leaves feeling clearer headed and calm. For me, it has always been a meditative experience.
Regarding my digestion, acupuncture was one of many tools that helped me lose almost 50 pounds in about a year. I stopped having cravings at random and started paying much more attention to how my diet was impacting my body. As my digestion improved, so did my sleep and energy levels, and I used all of that extra energy to go to the gym regularly.
My goals grew over time as I saw how well my body responded to treatments. Acupuncture has become my go-to reset button. If I am having a crazy week and just feel a bit off, mentally or physically, an acupuncture session always helps me recenter and leaves feeling clearer headed and calm. For me, it has always been a meditative experience.
E: Through acupuncture, Laura started to feel more grounded and was able to better weather the ups and downs of a demanding job, personal challenges, and life in New York City. Laura is truly engaged in her path towards optimizing her health. She followed her initial course of treatment and came weekly for several months. Now that she’s feeling much better, the maintenance phase allows her to come into Olo when she notices symptoms popping up or she needs a boost.
L: There is a great energy in the air at Olo. People are always respectful and quiet, and the bustle of the room is perfectly balanced with all of the people at rest. It's very New York, and very comforting.
I am so grateful for the relationship Erika and I have built up over time. She has taken the time to get to know me and is someone that I always look forward to seeing. She is warm, genuine, focused, and always soothing. I keep recommending her to people and at this point, she has met my whole family!
"Our lives are all very full, and acupuncture is a chance for calm, stillness, wellness, and restoration. We all deserve that!"
If someone is trying acupuncture, I say this is the place to go. Olo is a friendly, relaxed environment full of absolute professionals, and they genuinely care about the services they provide. If someone is even a little curious about acupuncture, it's worth a try. I had no idea what to expect but had always wondered, and I am so happy now. Our lives are all very full, and acupuncture is a chance for calm, stillness, wellness, and restoration. We all deserve that!
E: Laura is always open and willing to follow recommendations, in terms of lifestyle and dietary changes. It feels like we are working together in partnership towards making progress, and nothing feels better than celebrating the positive changes that she has achieved.
