Acupuncture / Dry needling experiences/queries.

[pink]

My physio gave me a leaflet last week about acupunture, asking me to think about it - they can do it at the hospital on the nhs. Very tempted to say yes and it may help and reduce the tramadol / paracetamol and if it makes it worse i can always stop.

[Frankles]

I definitely think that it's worth a try, If you don't get on with it then you can stop. I have so much relief with acupuncture, it's bliss! I'm elated today as my GP is back from his holiday which means he can sort out my shoulder with lots and lots of needles

[paw]

I have not had acupuncture myself but I used to work for a doctor that did it. He was a Physiatrist (sports medicine and rehabilitation) doctor who was born in Korea. He had his medical schooling there then moved to the USA. Since he had authentic teaching for acupuncture (sorry, I would not trust just anyone with minimal training to do this) he was as qualified as anyone could be. He had a group of chronic pain patients who had been coming to him for years. They would see the physical therapist and have treatments like hot packs and then the doctor would do the acupuncture.

His patients loved it. Now I would consider acupuncture but he has moved to another area. I would not go to someone unless I felt they were properly taught and experienced with acupuncture. It is not an issue of fear of needles because I tolerate them quite well when I have to get poked. Someday....

I hope it helps if you do decide to try it Pink.

[pink]

Had 2 sessions now and can see why people like it so much. The day and night I have it my pain increases quite a bit for reduced substantially for the next few days. Tempted to ask her if can save a session (if only allocated so many on the NHS) for the day before I go to Edinburgh for few 3 days with other half to ake to train journey, coupled with sightseeing etc more bearable and in less pain.

[Pickle]

Had my first session last week with my physio. She put needles in my neck (well that's what she says, felt like they were in my head!!!), shoulder, hand, leg and foot.

The ones she put in my hand were so uncomfortable, i hated them. They reminded me of when i had nerve conduction studies done and they stuck needles in me then, and i fainted...I really don't want that to happen with acupuncture. Does anyone else feel queasy with it?

Also, i woke up the next morning and my shoulder/neck were in absolute agony, so sore and actually felt like there were needles stabbing into me, but not on the areas here she did it. Does that make sense? And is it normal?

I am looking forward to going back this week for more (even though she said she'll be using more needles ) but i'm just apprehensive about the pain/side effects. She also said she'll put some in for stress and fatigue, has anybody else had this and have you found it effective?

Hugs to all

[pink]

Mine used to put them in the most problematic area and also in the fleshy bits between thumbs and fingers. Apparetyl that is the gateway to your body so can touch everywhere. Personally I loved acupuncture. Hated the needles going in and out and the general worse feelin for that day or next day but once that had died down and whilst the needles were in it was loads better. Now no longer see my physio I don't get it and boy can I tell! Luckily I have an ace doc who's referring me to someone else so that this can carry on on the nhs and to prevent me having to go back to the tramadol on a regular basis. Probably can't take that now, however, as on amitrypline (prob spet tht worng)

[Frankles]

If you get stabby pains from the needles tell the therapist - once the needle is in and has been left alone you should barely be able to feel it. My GP always takes the needles out that catch nerves and give stabby pains and puts them in a slightly different place. I always ache the day after acupuncture and can feel very tired and a bit queasy, for me that is normal but if you do feel ill you should always tell the therapist. They might put in fewer needles which may reduce the side-effects.

As for tramadol and amitrip - I take them together on GP advice though I don't take tramadol regularly, obviously your own doctor will decide what's best for you.

[parent]

Has any one under 18 had this treatment my local rheumy suggested it as treatment for my daughter but we could not access it at her hosiptal sent back to GP, anyhow was at UCHL the other day enquired about it there and was told they don't do it on people under 18?

My Daughter did try reflexology and she was definately worse for days after and there was no improvement once things settled down, as she also has fibro i was wondering if she is more sensitive? any thoughts?

Teresa

[janey]

Rosie tried acupuncture a couple of years ago, no real difference physically but we both felt that she began to cope with it all a bit better (and that has continued). I found a local bloke who was highly recommended but obviously had to pay for it. She has never been offered this on the NHS even when she was an inpatient at UCLH. It is something that we are reconsidering to help ease her migraines. Hope your daughter finds it useful.

[parent]

How do you choose a therapist, what do you look for when looking for a therapist? should they belong to a professional body?

Thanks
Teresa

[SAMMY]

Hi sweets. I have posted about acupuncture before. I am lucky to know a professionally trained one and she gave me a lot of free sessions cos she knew I was in pain and couldn't afford to pay. It wasn't until I had an acupuncturist on the NHS did I realise how lucky I had been with my friend. Acupuncture should treat the person as a whole and not just one symptom. When done properly it really should be a slow recovery, possibly feeling a bit worse at first. The complete opposite with my experience of NHS. Pure agony! I was white for days. Maybe not their fault but I felt their learning didn't accommodate the whole. They only have six sessions to do their thing! Anyone who knows about this type of therapy knows you can't be sorted in that time. At my doctors surgery, we are lucky enough to have private acupuncturists helping us poor NHS patients. The only problem is they are so booked up you can't get an appointment often enough! Always remember though. It works for some of us and not others. I was told by my friend that I reacted extremely well to it and she was always surprised at my progress. SAMMY

[Rachel1985]

Hi,

I've previously had a 6 week course of acupuncuture through the NHS pain clinic I attend, which didn't really do much to be honest - it quite often felt uncomfortable, and although it had some short term benefits, it didnt' last must past a few hours on the day of the treatments.

I've recently decided to try it again though, this time privately, and like someone else has said on here, it is completely different. The approach at the hospital appears to be a very western approach, often involving trigger points. Whereas, the traditional eastern acupuncture appears far more holistic - detailed questions are asked about everything from sleep patterns, alcohol use, diet, medical history and so on. Also they examine your tongue, and various pulse points for the different energy meridians, I also had my diaphragm examined. I appear to have low kidney qi, and spleen qi, which correlated with the symptoms I was experiencing. 6 needles were used, rather than about 15 at the hospital, and he also used the stuff that they burn on the top of the needles to generate heat, no idea what this is called

Anyway it's very different, and maybe worth trying again. I chose someone registered with the British Acupuncture Council, and spent some time researching local practitioners, and had some free consultations before deciding on a person.

[SAMMY]

Hi sweet. The stuff you're talking about is called Moxa. My friend used it on me cos I said after a couple of sessions I felt like I had been sitting in a deep freezer. She used the cones and lit them on me before inserting the needles. I don't know how it works but it stopped me feeling cold. Look up moxibustion, very interesting. SAMMY

[Rachel1985]

Hey, yeah that's the stuff, I think the heat is meant to help unblock some of the qi or something. He also used this thick pen like stick of Moxa, and held it about 1 cm from the inserted point of the needles, and kept it there for as long as I could bear, and then repeated it a few times. Is really interesting. Hope it works!

[SAMMY]

Hey sweet. My condition was greatly improved but there is no cure. That would means changing our genetic make-up. I rate acupuncture as a drug free way of living and I also felt a lot calmer in myself. The only way I can describe the calm is 'how I felt before I was ill'. As it is an unaffordable option for me at the moment I am now looking at Chinese herbs and acupressure as a self healing option. think there is another thread on that subject but I really welcome anyone with any experience on this. SAMMY