Bonita Vista Acupuncture

Mar 2023

Meeting Dr. Jillian has been LIFE CHANGING. This might be a long one, but bear with me, it’s worth it! I’m a 33yr old female who works in the medical field with a job that is very demanding and hard on my body, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Between my shoulder, back, and knees, I’ve been dealing with chronic pain off and on since the age of 19. By the time I was 32 the pain in my knees had become so severe and chronic that I couldn’t have honestly told you the last time I had a single day where I was pain free, and there had been times where I had wished my leg was just gone. At the age of 32 I was diagnosed with Advanced Primary Osteoarthritis in my left knee. I walked with a limp most days, was fully dependent on knee braces, stairs were my worst enemy, I could not function without daily pain medication, could not sleep or sit without pain, and there were days that I could not even walk. My day to day life had been affected drastically, I could no longer hide my pain, and most importantly my mental and emotional health was taking a huge hit. I have always been a strong and independent woman and no longer being able to hide my pain and the effects it had on my body was debilitating at times. After 6 months of continuously injecting things into my knee (cortisone injections and hyaluronic acid) in failed attempts to help the pain, I was shrugged off by my doctor, told I’ll probably need surgery and referred to a psychiatrist to “help me process my pain”. I felt defeated, hopeless, like I was going to have to quit my dream job, and how could I live the next 30+ years of my life in pain like this… I needed help. So, the google search began! That’s how I found Dr. Jillian’s practice. I called her clinic after hours, left a pleading voicemail asking for help, and was called back and scheduled for later that day. By the time I had arrived, I was shaking, had tears in my eyes, and I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. Dr. Jillian quickly assessed me and told me words I had been waiting years to hear, “I can help you.” I felt hope for the first time in years. I was skeptical, but I felt hope. I had my first treatment with Dr. Jillian that day, and the next morning, that dull chronic arthritic ache I had been dealing with for years was GONE. I could not believe it. I searched and waited for my pain to return, but it was really gone! I have been receiving treatment 2x a week for the past 4 weeks and I am not the same person I was a month ago. My knee no longer stops me. I have been able to cut back on my daily pain medication/anti-inflammatories. I’m pain free, sleeping better, and am more mentally clear/sharp. My mood is better, I’m moving around better, my skin is clearing up, and I’m feeling stronger and like myself again. I no longer have a fear that I’ll need to quit my job and I want to start hiking and exploring again! Stairs are still my enemy, but that will come with time. Dr. Jillian has been focusing her care on my osteoarthritis, but her treatments have benefited almost every aspect of my life. Dr. Jillian has made great dietary and lifestyle recommendations, and always takes time to explain the reasons why. You always feel heard and seen with her, which can be a rare thing to find with doctors these days. I still don’t understand how acupuncture works, but I am all for it and have no shame in telling people about it!

May 2022

Dr. I, in my experience, is a responsible , driven person. She’s perceptive, instinctual, and has an ability to relate person to person.