Anyone ever tried acupuncture?

[Samantha Red]

If you have, can you please tell me what it was for and if it worked?

Many thanks

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/23/2007 3:21:19 AM
Author:Samantha Red
If you have, can you please tell me what it was for and if it worked?

Many thanks

I had it 10 years ago to help me quit smoking - it didn''t stop me, but I think if I had been in a better mindset, then it would have helped. I have since quit on my own.

The doctor put like little drawing pins in my ears with a tiny band aid over them, when you felt a craving you were supposed to press the pins to help take away the craving.

 

[surfgirl]

I''ve used accupunture quite successfully for several issues. It''s helped me alot when I get this neck/shoulder spasm and my neck locks up and cant move. Excrutiatingly painful but accupunture over two weeks usually helps me alot. I have used it many years ago for migraines. I''ve also used it for excessive menstrual bleeding and it also helped alot - one treatment helped for a couple of years but eventually I had to resort to other medical procedures to rectify the issue. I think if you believe it will help, it can. Oh, I''ve also used it to cure plantar faciaitis in my foot, which was very painful and nothing would make it go away until I did a course of accupuncture. One thing to note about it though...When I used a Chinese doctor many years ago, it was quite a painful experience and when they twirled the needles to stimulate the accupunture points it was painful. I went to a Western practitioner many years later and was wincing as he was getting ready to put in the needles and he asked me why I was making faces and I told him that it usually hurt and he told me he already had put in several needles and I didn''t feel them going in. He then explained that Chinese people like to feel their medicine is "working" so it''s a more aggrressive approach. But he felt that in Western society we''re so pressured and stressed that our medicine should be calming so he felt that Western practioners are more gentle. I''d always go with a Western practitioner now. Accupressure is good too, if the needles scare you...but honestly, I barely feel the needles anymore.

 

[ellaila]

Hi,

I tried acupuncture for vertigo, and although it didn''t really make the vertigo any better (which I don''t really blame the acupunturist for, as we didn''t know the cause for the vertigo, so it was pretty difficult to treat since she didn''t know where to put the needles to work best), I loved the experience of it all. Actually my first experience was horrible -- don''t just go to someone you find online who''s nearby! Definitely ask around for recommendations b/c a good acupuncturist is key to a good experience. But once I got someone I liked, I really loved going -- I felt calmer, much less tired overall. In a few spots, you do feel the needles, but it''s over quickly. And once they''re in, just keep your eyes closed and enjoy the warmth of the heat lamp ... ahhhh! Very relaxing. Who''d think you could fall asleep with needles all through your body?! But you definitely can!

My biggest problem with it was that it got very expensive very quickly, and since it wasn''t treating what I went there to treat, I just couldn''t justify spending that much money on it. Some insurances cover it, so definitely check into yours!

 

[akw94]

I used acupuncture for my lower back problem. I do feel it helped that but then the pain moved from my lower back to my lower leg. Once it moved there, not much seemed to help. I do think it was helping a bit until he tried a more aggressive approach. Then, it made it much worse and I stopped going. I then tried physical therapy and a chiropractor and just plain old exercise (once the pain was bearable). I don't know what worked but I figure it was a combination of all things. I would definitely recommend at least trying acupuncture, just ask them to take it easy on you! Some people can handle the more aggressive methods but I am very sensitive to pain and I didn't enjoy it.

Good luck!

 

[phoenixgirl]

My sister used it for infertility and for turning her baby. She believes that it was useful.

My husband''s brother uses it for pain management. He''s had excruciating abdominal pain that has never been diagnosed for the last couple of years. Acupuncture has been helpful to him as well.

 

[diamondfan]

I loved it but did not stick with it. It is supposed to work really well, but you need someone really skilled and I am not sure how to determine that.

 

[isaku5]

I was having a lot of pain about 6 years after my hip replacement. I returned to the orthopedic surgeon who had operated on it for me, and after he looked at the xrays, he concluded that everything was fine surgically and dismissed me

I then went to my GP who suggested a young Western acupuncturist that he highly recommended. I made the app''t but was scared to death about being poked with needles. My fear was totally unfounded as I felt only about two of the 20 extremely fine needles he put in. I should add that he is definitely a hottie

and great to chat with - smart, funny and a great listener. What''s not to like about that?

I started with once/ week appt''s, but gradually decreased the frequency as I had considerably less pain. Now, just over one year later, I have a treatment once/ month (maintenance). The result is amazing as far as I''m concerned. There are so many conditions that acupuncture is helpful for that I''m definitely a convert

 

[Skippy123]

I tried it and the cupping. I didn''t find it to help. I have friends who love it but I didn''t.

 

[Pandora II]

I use it a lot and find it amazingly helpful.

It totally cured a shoulder injury I had had for 3 years with 2 sessions.

I have had a lot of surgery on my lower back and get a lot of muscle spasm which makes the pain worse - accupuncture really helps that the spasm away and relax the muscles down.

It's not painless and if a needle gets in a sensitive spot it is agony, but they just take that one out and put it in a slightly different bit - but so worth it for the results!

Find out if your GP does it and then it's free on the NHS. My Dad used to do it daily for his patients and reckoned he had a 70% success rate which is better than what you would expect for a new drug! I was his first guinea-pig (kitchen table and him with the books open - oh the trust I had!

)

He had fantastic results with couples who were having problems conceiving - all had been trying for at least 9 months and 19 out of 20 were pregnant within 2 months of him giving them accupunture. My mother was a little taken aback by all the "Dear Doctor, thank you for getting me pregnant" cards he kept getting.

Sometimes it's not very helpful - I would say if you have no results at all after 3 sessions it probably isn't going to work - and it's much better on things like muscularskeletal problems and pain.

ETA: Definitely try and find someone good - I've had accupuncture from 5 different people and only 2 were any good at all - both of them were also doctors. Make sure they are properly registered too - in the UK it's possible for any charlatan to set up shop as a chiropractor or accupuncturist with no training or anything so check their qualifications - also check that they are sterilising properly and that their needles are brand new in sealed packets every time.

 

[rainbowtrout]

My best girlfriend uses it for her chronic idiopathic ankle pain. It works wonders for her. Helps her sinuses as well.