Acupuncture?

I swear by acupuncture. I have suffered from neck/shoulder pain for years. I go roughly 1/month for 'maintenance' as the physiotherapist calls it, which helps keep the pain/discomfort at bay.

Acupuncture is often helpful, but my tennis elbow wasn't helped by it. I had a steroid injection into the offending joint which cleared it immediately. I have had no trouble since, and contrary to popular legend, the injection itself didn't hurt at all.

I always think that if you've tried all the conventional therapies and they haven't worked, why not give the alternative things a try? If it doesn't succeed then hopefully no harm done.

lovebooks I had an accident on holiday abroad - I stepped off a kerb, my ankle went over and I landed on it. I heard and felt an almighty clonk! The local hospital immobilised the ankle with strapping, but, according to the specialist whom I saw on my return, he told me that, if he had seen me immediately after the accident, he would have put my leg in a cast up to my thigh! I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. I'd somehow managed to seriously damage all the ligaments/tendons in the ankle.

The physio in the UK tried conventional treatments, which did nothing to reduce the swelling or the pain, but when he used acupuncture, both reduced within 30 minutes. I couldn't believe it! The needles were placed in three points - below the ankle bone on either side and one near the joint of where the big toe and second toe join (IYSWIM).

I had acupuncture a few years ago for very bad sciatica, it was amazing,
I was in agony with it so much i was in tears everytime i tried to move,
Our local hospital did it on the NHS but the sessions are so short, so i went privately even though i couldnt really afford to, but was in so much pain i thought i would give it a try, after the first treatment there was a big improvement, but only needed one more
I would definitely give it a try

I have not had it myself, but DH had it for a frozen shoulder and it was very effective.

I lost my sense of smell and taste a year ago due to a bout of flu. An ENT specialist told me that as it hadn't come back in two months, that was it - it never would. I trawled the Internet and read that acupuncture helped more people than conventional medicine, and after months of treatment it is slowly returning. There are those who might say it would have come back anyway, but whatever the reason, I am so glad. The Acupuncture specialist explained the whole set up and how the olfactory nerve needs to heal and then be 'prodded' into working again with the copper needles. I would recommend it!

I have awful stress-related pain along the muscles from the back of my neck, along my shoulder and down my arm (started as RSI when I was working, and now siezes up every so often when I'm stressed).
I've had chiropractic treatment, deep tissue massage etc, but recently had two sessions of acapuncture - & am now pain-free for the first time for years..! I shall go every month for a top-up, as it's worth every penny..!!

I had chronic back pain from a ruptured disc. Couldn't lay, sit or walk without excruciating pain. No improvement after 4 months of strong painkillers, traction and physio. GP talking about surgery which I didn't want. Tried acupuncture as a last resort and it worked like a miracle cure for pain. Had it every day for a week, then once a week for a month. At the end I was pain free and able to return to work. Give it a go.

I have it to help my pain levels as I have osteo and fibro and it has helped. I had tennis elbow and the pain was excruciating a she literally cured that in one go. My practitioner is also trained in Chinese medicine so looks at the whole person it just the specific thing that is wrong with you. He was actually more knowledgeable about my main condition than any of the Gps I have seen or a Pain specialist which on the first visit reassured me he knew what he was about. Certainly worth giving it a try. I did have treatment for 8 sessions in the NHS and that actually made the pain worse. My friend is having it in her wrist and she found to more helpful than anymif the steroid injections she had received before and she was an absolute sceptic and only agreed as she was so desperate for some pain relief. Good luck.x

Absolutely brilliant !!

Acupuncture often works if you want it to work. It can also coincide with things just getting better naturally, particularly when used as a 'last resort' (think about it!). This can easily be confused with evidence of efficacy.

acupuncture often works if you want it to work

Well, I wanted the other treatments to work, but they didn't!!

Why does it work when it's not the last resort?

Randomised controlled trials have found it to be effective. (I've been doing my homework!) It certainly doesn't seem to be just a placebo.

Jane only in specific circumstances not across the board

They don't claim it does work across the board.

I've had acupuncture twice. One course in my feet ( very painful) and once or twice in my hand.
It didn't work either time.

I had a course of acupuncture for a stiff and sore neck. One day I also had a bad headache but didn't think to mention it to the acupuncturist. Nevertheless, as I got back into my car, I suddenly realised that the headache had gone. Yes, it does work a lot of the time.

the practicioner is very important.
i started acupuncture 40 years ago for back and neck injuries/it was heaven.
dr was a founder of the chinese school of medicine in usa.
he used traditional acupuncture,chiropractic and reflexology along with herbal treatments.
was doing great for 15 years(saw him about once a weeek to get "adjusted")
had to move to a so called progressive place HA.
first attempt was a korean practicioner.
he ended up causing me permanant pain for 6 years,
second attempt was a modern version.
they use electrodes and "zap" you.
didnt do a thing for me.
i am not saying #2 and 3 were not good just not what i needed.
so now i am ancient and in constant pain.
regularly contact #1 looking for one of the graduates who use his form of medicine in this area.none here closest is 300 miles away.
it can be amazing.especially for tendonitis and back problems.
also for problems caused by internal disease ....
improve s immune system.

I had it for RSI at a Chinese medicine place. I could hardly hold a cup of tea without pain , and after a couple of sessions it was much improved. It's now pain free.

Go for it if you can afford it. Luckily It works for me.

I had acupuncture for nerve damage following a fall and a fractured pelvis. This left me with LOTS of pain. It was amazing and I slept for the first time in weeks. Go for it ???????

IMO whether acupuncture works or not depends on the individual's physiology. Some years ago my mother and I both consulted the same NHS acupuncturist for neck pain. The treatment helped her, but not me. I found it very painful, with only marginal relief, and each treatment left me in a really bad mood (Like PMS only much worse) so I only went about 4 times.

IMO whether acupuncture works or not depends on the individual's physiology. Some years ago my mother and I both consulted the same NHS acupuncturist for neck pain. The treatment helped her, but not me. I found it very painful, with only marginal relief, and each treatment left me in a really bad mood (Like PMS only much worse) so I only went about 4 times.

IMO whether acupuncture works or not depends on the individual's physiology. Some years ago my mother and I both consulted the same NHS acupuncturist for neck pain. The treatment helped her, but not me. I found it very painful, with only marginal relief, and each treatment left me in a really bad mood (Like PMS only much worse) so I only went about 4 times.