Dear Dr. Gisele Leon-Ritch:
I wanted to share the good news I got from my primary physician regarding my Rheumatoid Arthritis status. As you know, on February 2008 a growing pain on my right knee took me to urgent care, where they checked me and took x-rays and told me that there was nothing wrong with my knee. However, the pain kept increasing and other parts of my body started to swell up and hurt. Finally in May 2008, my doctor did a blood test and found out that the numbers for arthritis were out of range. He referred me to a Rheumatologist for further examination. The test results from that doctor confirmed what my other doctor has suspected and I was diagnosed with RA. the doctor’s treatment plan was so aggressive that the side-effects sheet was 2 pages long. I would have to take the drugs for the rest of my life and certainly that did not fit into my life’s plans. Thus, I decided to look for an alternative cure for this disease.
A friend recommended a Naturopath [natural doctor] who had a successful reputation in treating diseases by using natural supplements. However, after 8 months of trial and error, another friend suggested acupuncture. When I came to you in March with severe joint swelling and pain, I had lost my mobility which was leading to frustration and desperation. I could not sleep, my shoulders and hands ached all night and I would awake so tired and in pain that I could not function the next day. I started weekly treatments of acupuncture, sometimes twice a week. I was not easy dealing with the pain and the treatment at the same time, but after a week or two I started feeling better than I had been in a year. Along with the acupuncture, you gave me supplements to compliment the treatment and reduce the heat in my joints. In a lapse of 3-4 months, I felt about 50% better and switched to bi-weekly visits. Then, it was every three weeks, shortly after once-a-month and now I go whenever I need a treatment.
In January 2010, I went for a physical and blood work to my primary physician and a week later I went back for the results and he told me that all of the arthritis markers had come back negative. He told me to keep doing what I was doing and was very happy to see my improvement.
I want to thank you for your support, service, and words of encouragement. I know it was tough at times, but you made it possible to bear and get well. I am so glad that I never took the drugs from the doctor and instead, I sought out alternative medicine for my cure. I know some people are skeptical about alternative medicine, but with faith in God and an excellent doctor like you, everything is possible. Also my family’s support played an essential role in my recovery during and after the treatments. Please share this information with whomever you think would benefit from my testimonial.
PS: I am very happy to type this letter with the speed I had pre arthritis and can report that my hands and fingers are feeling well and with 4 months of my second pregnancy I feel like a new woman.!