Accupuncture
 

Just curious as to whether anyone here has had it done or has it done on a routine basis. How did it work for you? What is the upside? The downside? Tell me please a little bit about your experience.

My sister inlaw had it done for her migraines work fairly well

When it was a consideration for a back issue, I found accuPRESSURE did the trick. :shrug:

Was it done by a massage therapist?

It was done in an medical office/apartment without a name on the door by a guy with broke English in China town. (you just have to ask around the right people) :shrug:

Hey Lil,

I consider my acupuncturist my primary care provider these days. I have seen her for everything from hip pain (that's what got me there in the first place), tendonitis, allergies and sinus headaches, neck pain, and, most recently, a horrendous case of landsickness that dogged me after a 3-day cruise. I had been suffering mightily for 3 weeks before I finally broke down and went in. I was on the road to recovery before I left, and with a few more treatments, I was back to my old self. I highly recommend it, to everyone. I find it very relaxing, with a few treatment exceptions, and I often snooze on the table once the needles are in. My acupuncturist is versed in lots of Chinese medicine, so she's done other treatments as well. She gave me a tip on using krill oil for PMS symptoms, and it's helped immensely. Mr. Red is no longer afeared for his life once a month. I see my "real" doc when I need a scrip, and that's about it.

Upside is that it helps, my needle-fu practitioner actually LISTENS to me when I see her. (She even asks what kind of dreams I've been having lately!) I can usually see her within 2 days of my calling.

Downside, for me, is that she's not covered by my insurance. There are acupuncturists that are, I think, but I like mine, and so I gladly pay the $50 a visit out of pocket. She's helped me more than any other doc has over the years.

Back when I first started having chronic pain a few years back, I found myself getting the needle treatment, in a proper office from a an MD with accupuncture creds as well...he was sharing practice in an OB-GYN office, which always made me feel a little weird going in & coming out...the treatments weren't painful, but then neither were they terribly effective...of course, I had no better luck with any other conventional treatments either, the only thing that ever made me feel any better was Neurontin, prescibed by my neurologist, which did make me a little loopy, as anyone who encountered me in chat during that time could attest...

^^^
:nod:










:roflmao:

Red,
I was landsick for 7 days after a 5 day cruise. It was horrible. I was given the name of a couple. He practices accupuncture/pressure and she is a massage therapist. They work near my school. The restraints I have to do at times really put a hurt on me. They seem to aggravate some old injuries. And daily stress is really taking its toll. I'm looking for some options but my insurance only gives a discount (10%) with a few providers. I can see a chiropractor for $25 a pop so I am just feeling things out. I am very doctor-phobic and don't take meds unless I'm dying so I need some other options.

Scotz- I remember you then. So glad to have you back :x:

I had landsickness for a full month! It was miserable. And I was seasick the whole 3 days of the cruise, so bad I ended up in the infirmary the first night, and was doped to the gills the rest of the time. Can you say "first AND LAST cruise"??? :)

That stress will bring you down, Lil. You have to take care of yourself, or you can't take care of anyone else. If you can see both members of the couple, and get yourself into relatively good shape before school starts, I'd do it. Chronic pain is debilitating in more ways than physical. (((Hugs)))

You shouldn't have a problem finding the treatment you need, Lil. There is a school in Sarasota that graduates about 100 specialists each month. They should be all around you. Just peek out the window tonight. :)

Maybe time to try out some new restraints :cuffs:

Not to worry, Zoid. Bozzo brings his own. :D

Not yet.

pricking and pricks
 

(blushes)

Sorry Hon, I had to say that.

OK, to the subject of this thread...

My experience with accupuncture is second hand. Back in NOLA, I was involved with a woman who had been badly injured in an car wreck the year before I met her. She had bad chronic low back pain and neck pain. She sometimes had pain down the back of her left thigh.
Like you, she was VERY doctor phobic and hated taking any medicines. She started seeing an accupuncturist weekly, and I went with her several times for "moral support" (and ice cream after)
The treatments LOOK very painful, but she assured me "you get used to it" though she would squeeze my hand almost flat when the needles went in.
The main thing is that she would be hurting, often limping, when she went into the clinic, and could walk more or less normally when we left.
She said that the pain of the needles was nothing compared to her back and neck pain, and she always felt better after her treatments.

I hope this is at least a little helpful Lil.

WW

My wife had treatments for Fiber Mialgia and they helped her. She went to a chiroprator that specials in pain management for treatments.

Thanks. I appreciate everyone's sharing. Right now I am feeling good but I know that one wrong move in a take down and I'm in a world of hurt. My class dynamics have changed and just maybe I can work my magic and not have to get physical. I just want to be prepared if I decide it's time to give in and get help.

You're welcome :D

Upon further reflection, I'm pretty sure I was locked into a loop of pain caused by both real physical ailments, & severe depression (which was the result of some very real major setbacks - not just a case of the "blues")...as the TV ads say, "depession hurts...everywhere"...& I think the physical & emotional pains were feeding each other endlessly....with the result being I felt like I had been trapped in the dryer for a few months...

That said, I think that was why I had limited relief from the needles, & wouldn't want you to be discouraged from giving it a try if you think it might help...the pins are very fine & don't really hurt (much), & a skilled practicioner with good equipment should not cause much distress during treatment...esp. if you're already acustomed to poking yourself for the glucose meter anyway...

I was thinking about this for my Fibromyalgia. However, I am scared to death of needles. My veins always bruise badly whenever they do blood work or IVs. I understand that they would just be in the skin, but because of the Fibro my skin is hypersensitive.

Scarecrow~ How did your wife do with it? Does/did she have hypersensitive skin too?

Glad to hear youre feeling better Lilith. =)

babybunny

There will come a point where you'll find out if the discomfort of having the needles is greater than the discomfort of the condition.

I have found it largely painless. The ones in the ears, if your acupuncturist goes there, hurt going in, but then are fine, and they are always the most effective for me. Big toe's kind of tough. And avoid the "star flower" if you can--it's not a lot of fun. But otherwise, I end up napping during treatments, it's so relaxing.

I wonder how long it'll take her to ban you once she logs in again?