A Trip to the New Chiropractor (Needles Included)

By SARAH GOLIBART
Cape Charles Wave

August 18, 2014

It’s not every day that you find yourself shirtless in a room with a man who recently moved from the Dominican Republic. Now, don’t jump to conclusions! I was receiving acupuncture treatment from Dr. Greg Stern, Cape Charles’ newest acupuncturist and chiropractor.

I tensed as he pushed the third needle into the muscle of my right shoulder. About seven more needles were waiting to puncture my back, hands, shoulders, and ears. Surprisingly, it didn’t really hurt. According to Dr. Stern, acupuncture isn’t supposed to cause pain, but instead promote healing and well-being.

“Dr. Greg,” as he’s called, was treating my shoulder for an injury I received almost two years ago in a bicycling accident. I fell while riding downhill and dislocated my shoulder. I partially tore my rotator cuff and immobilized my arm. Eight months of physical therapy has almost fully restored my arm’s motion, but left my deltoid useless and without sensation. The deltoid is a very crucial muscle involved in arm movement. Dr. Greg chose to focus on my shoulder injury for my acupuncture and chiropractic treatment.

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What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of natural healing used to restore normalcy to the body’s energy fields. Using very thin needles, acupuncture enhances blood circulation and stimulates the nervous system to release hormones that affect physical and emotional well-being.

Why acupuncture as opposed to conventional medicine?

Acupuncture is helpful as an adjunct to clinical treatments as a form of preventative care. Also, there are virtually no side affects.

What does it feel like?

I could feel a tingling heaviness when he hit what they call an “acupoint.” It wasn’t pain, but a sharp awareness of something entering my system.

Does it hurt?

Only mild pain.

What happened?

Lying face down on the table, all I could see was the office’s new carpet, white and bumpy like small caterpillars. Just like when staring at a ceiling or a tiled floor, the shapes of faces and objects appeared and disappeared as I relaxed. Dr. Greg treated my shoulder by placing needles in my shoulder, back, and spots in my ear that correlate with shoulder acupoints. He added electric stimulation to the points, causing my shoulder muscles to contract and pulsate while I relaxed. During this portion I was extremely relaxed — something that you wouldn’t expect from a person with a dozen needles poking into their body.

After the treatment I felt a sense of restoration to my entire body. I was at peace and my shoulder felt at one with my body, as opposed to a defective limb. Next, Dr. Greg added some chiropractic, adjusting my ribs and neck, telling me, “I really like this treatment on me — that ‘s why I’m doing it to you.” I felt that Dr. Greg really had my well being in mind when doing the treatment. He treated me like he would want to be treated.

Stern arrived in Cape Charles in February to make a home for himself and his family and begin his practice in the United States. Previously he lived in the Dominican Republic for 20 years, practicing medicine, acupuncture, and chiropractic. He has just been joined by his wife and two small children, and he looks forward to taking them to the beach and the park in town.

What drew Dr. Greg to the Eastern Shore? Like the sign says: he loves our nature.

Dr. Greg Stern’s Cape Charles Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center is located at 555-A Mason Avenue. Telephone 757-695-3840.