From Our Patients

Muscle/Joint Pain

“I can’t say enough good things about my visit yesterday. My knee pain, which I’ve had for about 4 years, is gone and I feel just AMAZING! I live about an hour away and I felt warm all the way home. The next day my friends noticed a difference in my attitude and wanted to know what I did. Of course I told them and hopefully they will call to make an appointment. I still feel great. Thanks Jenn and thank you to Beverly and Tina. They are all great.”

 “WOW” My wife referred me to RiverWest Acupuncture as I complained that my shoulders were raised and I could not bring them into position or alignment.  As I described my goals to Lisa of RiverWest she observed that I had not only a hyper extended left shoulder, I was also somewhat twisted.  Yikes!!!  I sort of knew this but when shown in the mirror, I could really see it. During my first treatment I began to feel a sensation of my own comforting energy flowing through my body.  I said out loud.  “Wow”.  The treatment was successful with immediate relief from my shoulders as well as an overall relaxation better than any massage therapy I had experienced.  My daughter whom had neck pain, lower back and feet pain from standing all day at her work wanted to give it a go after I recounted my experience.  We went together for the next appointment.  I went in first to one room for treatment, her to another.  After another successful visit I waited for my daughter in the reception area.  When finished with her first treatment my daughter was walking towards me and said. “Wow”   The next morning she telephoned me and said.  “Before I go to work I wanted to let you know that when I woke up this morning I usually cry from the pain of my feet and neck, but this morning the pain is gone.  “Wow.”  RiverWest Acupuncture is a very good place!

“I have a neuroma in my foot that feels like I have a rock in my shoe. I’ve been living with this for 10 years. I had cortisone shots 3 different times, which helped at first but the last one didn’t. I was told by my doctor that surgery was the next option. My wife had been going to see Lisa for pain in her back which worked very well, so I thought I would give it a try. Wow! Wish I had come 10 years ago! After just 1 visit my foot felt 90% better. Not only did Lisa fix my neuroma but is working on improving many other things. I feel so much better, physically and mentally. The staff makes you feel very comfortable and relaxed. Lisa really knows what she is doing. I definitely would recommend Riverwest Acupuncture.”

“It’s a healing experience walking into the Riverwest Acupuncture clinic. The administrative staff are warm and knowledgeable, the atmosphere is calming and beautiful, and the acupuncturists, Lisa & Jen are skilled and intuitive.  Over the years they have helped my family with a variety of symptoms.  Most recently they immediately reduced swelling and pain I suffered from a running injury.  I heartily recommend you see them for any health concerns. They are effective healers, and lots of fun to be around.”

“Acupuncture, in conjunction with herbs and chiro have left me vertigo free for over a year.” 

“I initially went into RiverWest Acupuncture because of neck and head pain. As I left I felt better than I have in a very long time. I felt such an improvement in areas that I didn’t even know had been feeling bad. I had been so used to feeling crappy that I didn’t even realize that I had been until I left and felt a million times better! I will definitely keep going back on a regular basis.”

“I first came to Riverwest Acupuncture in 2003 with a very painful tendonitis in my right thumb – I am right handed and could not use the hand for bathing, shampooing hair, dressing, cooking, or driving, – without wanting to scream from the pain.  I had been to a hand specialist and an occupational therapist and gone through all the exercises, hot/cold treatments, splinting, N-SAID’s, etc., and when the MD finally recommended steroidal injections into the thumb joint I decided it was time to try something different and called Lisa for an appointment.   I was an emotional mess – I had just completed chemotherapy (not related to the thumb/hand) and not understanding how long those chemo drugs stay in one’s system I was fixated on the thumb pain as the cause of all my emotional and physical discomfort. Typically Lisa would have needled my left hand (opposite to the affected one) but I have lymphedema in that limb from the cancer surgery so she instructed me to remove my left shoe. I did but with loads of skepticism!  She placed one needle in the top of my foot and asked me to move my thumb and I replied “Oh, yeh, right!”  (I didn’t say I was a good patient!)  She asked, patiently again, and I moved it and found it totally pain free for the first time in months! I still find it hard to believe after all I’d been through to get such immediate and complete relief! So I figured, I may not understand how this works but I’ll accept that it does.  I also have serious osteoarthritis in both knees and ankles and have been told repeatedly that I need knee replacement surgeries. After 4-5 weekly sessions, I have gone to a once a month maintenance schedule – and I experience no pain in my knees and ankles most of the time and when I do it is manageable without stopping my activities or relying on pain medication.  The best part is I continue to ambulate upright, under my own leg power…allowing me to lead an active life which includes exercise at the gym for improved health and fitness. After years of suffering, it is my opinion that it is Lisa’s skill as an acupuncturist that has kept me out of a wheelchair!” 

“I have been a client of Riverwest Acupuncture for about 10 years now. That should tell you enough! Any challenge that you walk in with can and will be addressed with care, intention, and dedication. Lisa, Tina and Scott are gracious, caring people and there to help with any need you have. As a person who deals with chronic pain, I turned to acupuncture. So happy that I did and even happier that I have Lisa to thank for helping with the pain and any other issue that comes up with every day life.”

Headaches

“I have been suffering from chronic headaches and migraines for 21 years. I forced myself to live through them, because I felt I had no other choice in my life. My migraines would knock me out weekly and my headaches consumed about 90% of each day. I had cat scans, blood work, saw specialists and took unimaginable amounts of drugs, and it all failed or just numbed the pain for a few hours. I felt as I was getting older my headaches were getting worse.  Now, a mother of 2 beautiful but demanding boys, I had to find something. I was feeling guilty every time I had a migraine and had to lie down away from the kids. Feeling bad for constantly asking them to quite down because Mommy had a headache. Guilt stricken and tired, a friend recommended me to acupuncture.  During my first appointment Lisa Francolini was wonderful as she handed me tissue after tissue as I told her my story. With assurance Lisa told me I was going to be headache free. Being let down so many times in this area it was hard for me to imagine, but so comforting to hear.  Let’s skip to the happy ending: within 3 treatments I was headache free.  Yes, you heard me not one! After living with such an unbearable pain almost every day of my life, I have none. And let me tell you the best part, I am a healthier and happier Mom! Now, my only question is why didn’t I try this sooner?!” 

Depression

 Nov 2011…  Fall is a time of color and beauty ~ I love watching the variety of maples leaves changing to vivid reds, golds, purples and orange.  I enjoy kicking around leaves and walking in the fresh crisp air.  It is a delight to my eyes and heart…  At the same time, in the Fall, as daylight hours shorten, clouds set in and skies are blanketed in colors of grey ~ it also becomes a time of depression for me.  Fall produces an inner struggle where intellectually I know all is stable in my world, however emotionally it can leave me incapacitated ~ literally non-functional.  I have SAD ~ Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Last week when I thought all was well, I was hit blindsided by a wave of sadness.  Sitting on the couch, in the dark, tears falling for two and a half days, I finally recognized I needed help ~ this wasn’t going to go away on its own. Fortunately ~ I was already scheduled to attend RiverWest Acupuncture’s “Community Acupuncture” session (with my husband) the next day.  I hadn’t intended to go while in the midst of being in the throws of this ailment, but lets just say it was good timing.  My belief was I had three choices: 1. go to a same-day appointment with my regular practitioner and increase medications, 2. try the acupuncture, or 3. try and live with this awful feeling inside me.  The last choice was not an option, and the first choice, well – increased doses of medications or trying new meds have their own issues of side effects, needing time to work, and on-going costs.  That left the acupuncture.  So, I attended my Saturday acupuncture session and by the time I left, I noticed the uncontrollable crying stopped.  Still reserved about my overall health, I wasn’t going to kid myself that all was well within one session.  Yet as the day progressed, I felt better and better.  No, not completely whole, so I did attend another two sessions the following Mon and Tue.  After each session my smile came back and so too, my energy.  I realize I still need a few more sessions to help with the last side effects of this disease (tension headache), but I have no doubt I’ll be helped.  I also have no doubt that should this darkness slip back, I have a place to go where I can find relief. 

Auto Injuries

RiverWest Acupuncture, especially Lisa and Jen, have changed my life. I was in a horrible car accident on January 28th of this year and was badly injured. I had been receiving care from another practitioner and was healing, but I did not feel completely connected with her or that our energy was dynamic enough. When I walked in to RiverWest I was greeted warmly by Bev and Lisa even though I was calling on them as a sales call! Lisa could immediately see that I was hurting. The words “I need acupuncture” came out of my mouth and Lisa said “I know”. I made an appointment for the next day and have been going back every week since. I would recommend RiverWest Acupuncture to anyone that wants wonderful care both physically and mentally…I’m a client for life!

Allergies

“I have been going to Lisa for quite some time now. I have terrible seasonal allergies which begin in April and end in September, making the summer somewhat of a health challenge for me. In years past I have gone to specialists who put me on a cocktail of several prescription medications just to treat my symptoms. Though the medications did offer some relief, I continued to experience symptoms. I told Lisa I had allergies but I think even she was surprised when she realized just how bad my allergies are, but as always, she was up to the challenge.  I began treatments in early April and have been seeing Lisa weekly to bi- weekly ever since. The big test came several weeks ago when we attended a barbeque at Kelley Point Park. When we drove into the parking lot the cottonwood was so thick, it looked as though it were snowing.  I figured I would be able to stay at the park for an hour at best and would have to leave due to severe allergic reactions (trees happen to be my worst allergens). To my astonishment, as well as the astonishment of all my friends at the party, I was able to stay all day and into the evening. I was absolutely elated and couldn’t wait to tell Lisa that after all these years, I am finally ‘cured’! I had no idea it was possible to feel this good! Treating my allergies has also significantly improved my overall health and well being. To be able to enjoy the summer months is such an amazing gift and one I am forever grateful for. Thank you Lisa, for what you do and all the lives you touch!” 

“I had my first allergic reaction to shellfish on my 34^th birthday. My birthday lunch of shrimp landed me in bed with a migraine for five days (along with other nasty reactions I won’t go into!) After trying shellfish one more time (just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke) I was forced to swear off all my favorite crustaceans – shrimp, crab, lobster and scallops. Three years ago a friend told me that he had the same allergy, but had received acupuncture and was now able to enjoy shellfish once again. I was skeptical but put acupuncture on my list of things to check out. While accompanying my sister to one of her acupuncture appointments to Riverwest Acupuncture last January Lisa said she could help me with my allergy. After a short discussion of the process I began my treatment. Six treatments later I was ready to try my first taste of shellfish in 25 years. Nothing has ever tasted as good as that first shrimp (except maybe a double chocolate molten fudge cake with vanilla ice cream.)  I am happy to report that I have been enjoying the yummy taste of shellfish for three months, symptom free! My only regret is I didn’t know years ago how acupuncture will help your body work as it should. Thank you to Lisa and the wonderful staff of Riverwest Acupuncture.” 

Menopause

“A couple of years ago I turned 50, started peri-menopause and after 34 years of being chained to smoking, I decided to quit. These changes in my life started a lot unexpected challenges. I was an enigma to my husband, became irritable, doubted myself when making decisions, cried for no reason, saw myself gaining weight even when I was watching my food intake and working out on a regular basis, and I had inexplicable panic attacks. I went to see my family physician who prescribed me some medication which after two weeks rendered me like a zombie. Needless to say I stopped all medications and went to see Lisa for some acupuncture treatment. I had gone to see Lisa the previous year for a different treatment. Although dubious at first, I feel that the hours I spend with her help me more each time. Lisa is not only a great healer, but also a confidante, a great listener, an understanding person, and a great friend. With her, I understand that I have a lot to offer in my personal and professional lives. It is a long journey but I am extremely grateful to count Lisa among my support lines.” 

Insomnia

I have been going to Riverwest Acupuncture for about six months and both Jen and Lisa are fantastic. I have been treated for insomnia which has been a problem for close to 12 years. I have had to take Bendaryl 50 mg each night but with Jen’s help, have been able to cut my dose in half thus far. By December I hope to be drug free! Both Lisa and Jen have treated me with acupuncture and Chinese herbs for musculoskeletal issues, acute respiratory infections, seasonal allergies, and PMS. I love being treated for a problem without having to deal with the effects of prescribed medications!  The entire clinic is warm and welcoming and the staff makes every effort to accommodate their patients’ various schedules. I believe the treatments and herbs are appropriately priced; in fact, my insurance does not cover acupuncture but I pay out of pocket for awesome therapy! I recommend Riverwest Acupuncture without any reservations!

Cancer Support

I have been a patient of Lisa Francolini for over 15 years.  She has helped me in numerous ways to achieve a healthy body and mind.  Recently, I was diagnosed with cancer.  She and Jenn and staff were very supportive while I was in treatment.  Those at the front desk, who you see first, play such an important role in making the patient feel comfortable.  Tina and Bev and staff fulfill that role.  I saw Lisa and Jenn once before each chemo and once after.  I believe these back to back acupuncture treatments helped me immensely get through these trying times both emotionally and physically.