"The swelling is there and it'll gradually go away, but the pain, it helps relieve the pain I was having."

With just a few needles in her shoulder, Kelley Heidemann is getting some much needed relief. A few years ago she developed some painful swelling in her body as a result of a vein not letting fluid drain.

She tried prescriptions, which she still uses, even surgery, but nothing completely helped. That's when she turned to a combination of alternative treatments, including acupuncture, laser therapy, and herbal supplements.

"We do a lot of different techniques depending on what works for the person," says Dr. Jennifer Blahnik of the Midwest Acupuncture and Pain Treatment Center in Wausau.

Dr. Blahnik says she sees a lot of patients with chronic conditions, such as headaches, pain, or swelling. They may have tried traditional medicine to little or no avail or worry about potential side-effects.

"What happens in traditional or Western medicine, it's very good for acute problems or injuries. Here, for chronic problems, is what we treat a lot of, and they can be internal or pain related," says Dr. Blahnik.

Many of these alternative therapies have been around for hundreds, even thousands of years, but thanks to new research, Dr. Blahnik says the popularity of these treatments is skyrocketing.

"I would say in the last eight years, you've really seen it in the media a lot compared to when I first started," she says. "No one knew what it was, and what it was about. Now everybody knows."

So how can you decide if alternative therapy is right for you? Dr. Blahnik says do your research: talk to your doctor, go online, and ask friends or family who may do alternative therapies.

And be aware, it won't cure your pain overnight.

"The biggest thing is that it takes more time. It's not a quick fix, depending on how long you've had the problem," she says.

And you don't have to forego traditional medicine altogether. In fact, Dr. Blahnik is a big fan of combining both traditional and alternative treatments, if they're right for the patient.

"I like incorporation because we both have our strong points, and that's what we have to remember," she says.

Kelley says thanks to alternative therapies, her pain and swelling is a lot less severe. It's helping her regain energy and her life.

"I do have a lot more energy from the acupuncture, laser, herbs. I think that's been a big part of it," Kelley says. "I think it helps balance the rest of me with this issue my body is going through so I can fight it better."