LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A parent would likely try most anything to prevent their child from pain. Acupuncture may be the treatment that can finally put an end to their medical nightmares. His patients are children: teens, young adults, faces, and conditions that are a reflection of personal experience.
"She had abdominal migraines for about seven years, and western medicine was unable to treat it or fix the problem," Dr. Mark McDonald said.
Pediatric intensivist Mark McDonald trained in acupuncture after seeing the impact.
"Sure enough, in about 20 minutes, her pain was gone," Dr. McDonald said.
"I lose my vision, I can't see, I throw up, I get sick, and I don't understand how to explain it hurts so bad," Brittany Smith said.
At 16, Brittany Smith had suffered migraines since fifth grade. She would miss school two to three times a week, missing school work and missing out on being a teen.
"I didn't think they was ever going to find a cure for it, Brittany said.
Brittany is not alone.
"People would say 'You've been out of school so much, Why?'" Connor Talbot said.
For 10-year-old Connor Talbot, it was chronic stomach pain. It was over a year of traditional medicine before he found relief in carefully and purposefully placed needles.
"It causes opioid release in the spinal fluid, so just like taking a narcotic," Dr. McDonald said.
Only this, a natural pain relief along with he says a release of serotonin and norepinephrine for the most part, they don't feel the needles.
"They're inserted with a guide tube; it kind of fools the body. The patient may feel maybe one out of 10, and, if it hurts at all, we take it out," Dr. McDonald said.
His goal is making the hurt to stop, and it's working.
"I thought they were going to have medicine in it or something, but no, just the needles sticking you makes it stop," Brittany said.
"It's just amazing how just little tiny needles just does everything for me," Connor said.
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