Walking on Pins and Needles

by Arlene K. Faulk

Tai Chi is not about trying harder; it’s about letting go, being in the moment, feeling balance, and the fluidity of energy.

When you’ve been voted as “most likely to succeed” as a senior in high school with a bright future ahead, you set challenging goals and move forward to fulfill expectations. And as far as Arlene Faulk—accomplished businesswoman, storyteller, and Tai Chi instructor—knew, multiple sclerosis wasn’t going to get in her way.

At the age of 22, in the middle of working the busiest shopping day of the year, Arlene loses all feeling in her body from the waist down. Her mobility returns but she’s given no diagnosis, and one question pervades her thoughts: What is happening to my body?

In this moving and illuminating memoir of one woman’s years-long struggle to understand and conceal her debilitating symptoms as she ascends the corporate ladder in a major airline comes a story of perseverance, rediscovery, and hope in light of multiple sclerosis. As she jumps into the unknown, Faulk finds comfort and healing through Chinese medicine and Tai Chi. Her inspiring story demonstrates how a chronic and debilitating health condition lacks the power to control our lives and stop us from moving in the direction of possibility.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2022

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won via goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own5.

I am way behind... for many personal reasons I won't get into at the moment.
-----

Very inspiring and touching story. ❤️

It was easy for me to connect with this one.
My physical health is in a better place (keep knocking on wood) but my lovely bones will always be what they are, even as they improve thanks to my exercising and weight loss.

I admired her and frustrated with her st the same time. I was frustrated she didn't want to take better care of herself but also understood why and definitely sympathized with her frustration with the medical system (I'm sure alot of us can).

I admired her for keeping on, even when she was at her lowest. Some of what she wrote warmed me and had me tearing up in places for various reasons.

She's given me things to think about definitely.

Would love to meet her and Nancy (if Nancy is still around).. have a feeling we'd get along :).

To paraphrase something I saw on the wall of physical therapy, Health is our most precious thing.... we take it for granted until life throws some curveballs our way and makes us re-think and take stock of things.

The message of Tai Chi is beautiful 😍.

You can feel how at peace she is... her energy and happiness bleeds through the pages.

Would recommend 👌.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arlene struggling with Multiple Sclerosis searches for a cure and lucks into finding a acupuncturist and specialist in Chinese medicine named Nancy. She slowly begins learning Tai Chi, regains her energy and starts listen to her body.

[Celia Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was diagnosed in 1996, before symptoms started. I am a pianist, suddenly unable to open my hands wide enough to get 8 keys. Nobody in my family had MS, nor my grandparents. Last year a cousin younger than me had MS, she is 40. I have primary progressive MS. I do not walk for the last 18 years, I was born in 1962. I have had 6 strokes and 1 heart attack.The Rebif (beta-1a) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. After roughly five unending years of trauma in the family my MS developed into progressive. There have been many changes in the last 3 to 4 years. Many falls, many fractured bones, and three moves all in five years. I have gone downhill. Considerably. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, I started on MS Herbal Treatment from Kycuyu Health Clinic, the herbal treatment immensely helped my Multiple Sclerosis condition, i had huge improvements. Go to kycuyuhealthclinic. com. My life is back. I Adhere anyone reading this to try natural approach.

[Kathy Kessenich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true inspiration!

Thank you Arlene for sharing your amazing story of personal perseverance and healing. I am inspired to try Tai Chi.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC! This one is probably 1.5 stars for me. This one reminded me of the last book I read about the connection of pain with the mind and how you need to make sure both are healthy. This woman had a similar struggle in that she went to many doctors and had to figure out a positive wellness journey for herself. This journey instead led her to Tai Chi. While it was good to see her journey get her to wellness get her to a good ending, the writing style was very choppy and seemed to have too much random information about various friends that would come and go and sometimes stay. There would be stories about her going out with people and spending time with friends, but I could not see what the story had to do with what was going on or even why it was important to know about her life in general; it seemed like filler. So, while Tai Chi and its effect on her MS was interesting, I did not really enjoy the narrative.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers who are going through chronic illness and pain will likely really relate to this story and may give some new perspectives. The author, Arlene Faulk, tells about her journey of diagnosis with MS and the long list of questions without answers that comes with this kind of illness. Her strong mental resilience and her determination to live life to the fullest is inspirational. Additionally, her connection to Tai Chi is also one that might be inspirational or a source of strength for readers struggling with similar issues. I enjoyed the book but at times had a hard time connecting with the author and her writing style. Memoirs are my favourite genre, so that helped, but it was still not the perfect fit for me. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this from Good reads giveaway.

The book had some interesting things about the struggle and different signs of MS.
I found it hard read and slow at times. I put it down a few times but did not want to
give up on it. Finally did finish the book

I do give the author praise for sticking in there and not jus saying I give up. Also she
did have some good friends and family that stood beside her and encouraged her. They
give her the strength to go on and to follow her dream.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

inspiring

MS is a disease you never want to hear you have. Arlene shares her struggles with the uncertainty and pain associated with the disease. She tells how hard she tried to ignore what her body was trying to tell her. It’s frustrating reading about her denial and refusal to be proactive. But it was all part of her journey and led her to Tai Chi and finally becoming one with her body. Her story can give hope to others who have lost theirs.

[Sofia Guadagni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely relatable! I personally have gone through health challenges for years and I relate so much to her journey and hard times. She talks about the struggles of getting off the couch and not wanting to do day to day stuff because of fatique and pain. She accurately describes the life someone with a chronic illness would have in easy terms while also being empathetic to life around her.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking on Pins and Needles
A Memoir of Chronic Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis
by Arlene K. Faulk
Pub Date 22 Feb 2022
Greenleaf Book Group, River Grove Books
Biographies & Memoirs


I’ve graciously been granted a copy of Walking On Pins and Needles, A Memoir of Chronic Resilience through Greenleaf Book Group:



As a Senior in High-School Arlene Faulk was voted most likely to succeed, as a senior in high school with a bright future ahead, you set challenging goals and move forward to fulfill expectations. But at the age of twenty two in the middle of the busiest shopping day of the year, Arlene loses all feeling in her body from the waist down. Her mobility returns but she’s given no diagnosis, and one question pervades her thoughts: What is happening to my body? It would be years later when she gets her answer, Multiple Sclerosis.



Arlene Faulk is an accomplished business women storyteller, and Tai Chi instructor—knew, multiple sclerosis wasn’t going to get in her way. She was and is determined to live her life to the fullest..


Walking on Pins and Needles is one women’s moving memoir on how for years she struggles to understand and conceal her debilitating symptoms as she ascends the corporate ladder in a major airline comes a story of perseverance, rediscovery, and hope in light of multiple sclerosis. As she jumps into the unknown, Faulk finds comfort and healing through Chinese medicine and Tai Chi. Her inspiring story demonstrates how a chronic and debilitating health condition lacks the power to control our lives and stop us from moving in the direction of possibility.



I give Walking on Pins and Needles five out of five stars.


A definite recommend read in my opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

encouraging and hopeful story of a woman who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 30's. This is her memoir of her life before and during the early years. And then her story of healing through Chinese medicine and regular practice of TAi Chi. I read this book because of the interest in how Tai Chi helped her. This is a great healing story that I hope to share some in my Tai Chi classes.

[Nancy Mcclenathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography is about the life of Arlene, who was a very successful business woman, when she suddenly started developing symptoms of MS. Eventually diagnosed and becoming so debilitated she has to cease working. Arlene is so fatigued and unbalanced that she lays on the couch all day; that is until she connects with Tai Chi. Tai Chi becomes her lifesaver, as she starts to recover from her MS symptoms. By the end of the book, Arlene is teaching Tai Chi classes and able to travel.

Thank you for this digital copy of the book. I learned so much about MS and Tai Ci.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. Its the authors story of a life on one oath abruptly forced onto another path by illness. The details of the authors journey are important for everyone who has ever faced a life changing diagnosis. Helpful and encouraging.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a memoir of the author's life, specifically about her journey with MS and how she healed with body/energywork and Tai Chi.

It was interesting to read her detailed description of the things she felt and to read about MS in a time where steroids were the only Western treatment option. However, the book did get a little long winded for me.

[Joy Rosales · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway. I felt that this book was well written but I disagreed with it ideologically. However, I’m glad Arlene got to a good place with her health and mindset and found something that worked for her.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great motivational and inspiring story. I was so enthralled and I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for sharing

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoir - Arlene's lifelong, courageous attempt to balance her driven self with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis from the age of 22. Highly recommended.

[MELISSA CORTEZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was intense interesting story. It was not what I thought it would be, but it grabbed my attention quick

[Susan Burlew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Highly recommend!

[Barbara H. Cathey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story which has led me to study tai chi with Arlene.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite the journey. I liked this book. This was a Goodreads giveaway winner.

[Elaine Reinhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.written so well and so honestly. Thank you goodreads for winning this book.

[Alexis Lupo]

Was well put together but I found it hard to finish l got bored with it.

[Tory Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 3 days! It was so compelling.
"Walking on Pins and Needles: A Memoir of Chronic Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis" covers over 50 years of dealing with a chronic disease. We get to cheer her successes and hold our breath with every new challenge.
Arlene's writing style included short sentences in italics that clued us what she was thinking as she bravely pressed on. I could really identify with that. I try to make light of my setbacks, but I keep my misgivings to myself!

[Ren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been trying to get through this book for a bit now and I'm just not connecting with the author. Her writing style is just not a good fit for me. After reading the first 20%, she was still in the denial phase, trying to ignore very serious symptoms. I took a break to read another memoir and found myself with no urge to go back to finish this one so it's time to move along.

Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group, River Grove Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Darcy Mohr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir would have been four stars had it been edited better. I would recommend it to anyone who likes stories about people who found homeopathic cures for major health issues.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this book