I know there are many, many treatments for chronic pain… for the purpose of this thread let’s focus on acupuncture. I’ve tried it before, but I was not super consistent with it. I have chronic back pain from a fracture and multiple subsequent surgeries. Sometimes it gets damn near debilitating. I’ve been thinking lately about looking for another acupuncturist. What are y’all’s experiences?
"Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen...
Posts: 7100 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: July 18, 2005
I have a relatively scientific oriented background. And generally like to understand how things work scientifically. For specific ailments, I’ve just come to accept that acupuncture works without understanding how. I still have some skepticism but have enough experience to consider that there is a definite causal relationship beyond coincidence between treatment and benefit.
That being said, I still consider it more art than science and results depend significantly on the practitioner and where they were taught.
Other considerations include: Chinese vs Japanese styles. Where trained. Where certified. Internship / apprenticeship. Level of western medical knowledge.
Ymmv significantly.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
Posts: 13172 | Location: In the gilded cage | Registered: December 09, 2007
^^^ your thoughts on it sound similar to mine. I’m skeptical but feel there is something to it. Sessions are close to $100 each here locally. I’m certainly willing to give it another solid try.
"Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen...
Posts: 7100 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: July 18, 2005
The MIL visited one regularly for years. This is a woman who rewashes plastic bags to save money. If she wasn't getting some benefit from it she would have stopped long ago.
Posts: 2095 | Location: Just outside of Zion and Bryce Canyon NP's | Registered: March 18, 2012
I have chronic lower back pain from an injury sustained in Iraq. Circa 2010 I could barely walk without a cane @30 years old, my wife talked me into visiting a chiropractor/acupuncture specialist. It took almost a year of weekly visits, but I was able to get major relief and regained my ability to walk upright again. Please understand that I was doing both at that time. Now, I'm down to maintenance acupuncture about every 6-8 weeks with an occasional visit to a chiropractor.
For me, I feel that acupuncture is an integral part of my continued recovery. I do have ongoing issues, but I am not taking any kind of pain medication and I think that is due to the acupuncture.
___________________________ No thanks, I've already got a penguin.
Posts: 2866 | Location: Lake Anna, VA | Registered: May 07, 2012
Our daughter tore something in her shoulder when she crashed her dirt bike. It required surgery and reattachment of the torn thingie. After 3 months of PT, she still had a lot of pain and limited mobility. She has now undergone 2 acupuncture treatments and was bragging yesterday, how well it was feeling. She can even hook her bra in back now. She's 39.
I'm sorry if I hurt you feelings when I called you stupid - I thought you already knew - Unknown ................................... When you have no future, you live in the past. " Sycamore Row" by John Grisham
dry-fly, I used a company approved acupuncturist for stroke related chronic neurological pain and gave it a fair amount of visits. I believed in it because it helped with past related lower disc pain in my back. This was just a hope on my part for the extreme neurological pain in one eye. Unfortunately in this situation it couldn't help. I was eventually relegated by a neuro-opthamologist to a pain management clinic at Baptist Hosp and 2yrs of various opioids, which I eventually had to quit cold turkey to keep my sanity..I detested the side effects.
I wish you the absolute best for relief from the chronic pain. I understand all too well that road. The acupuncture worked in the past for my back pain but unfortunately the chronic neurological pain is a different animal in my situation.
I'll check back later on your visit, my best to you.
Regards, Will G.
Posts: 9660 | Location: 140 mi to Margaritaville, FL | Registered: January 02, 2008
Originally posted by just1tym: dry-fly, I used a company approved acupuncturist for stroke related chronic neurological pain and gave it a fair amount of visits. I believed in it because it helped with past related lower disc pain in my back. This was just a hope on my part for the extreme neurological pain in one eye. Unfortunately in this situation it couldn't help. I was eventually relegated by a neuro-opthamologist to a pain management clinic at Baptist Hosp and 2yrs of various opioids, which I eventually had to quit cold turkey to keep my sanity..I detested the side effects.
I wish you the absolute best for relief from the chronic pain. I understand all too well that road. The acupuncture worked in the past for my back pain but unfortunately the chronic neurological pain is a different animal in my situation.
I'll check back later on your visit, my best to you.
Thank you sir for the kind words, it is much appreciated!
"Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen...
Posts: 7100 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: July 18, 2005
Well I had my first treatment today at around 4pm. My pain level was significantly better right after and it seemed to last until near 6pm. There was a marked improvement, that I’m quite sure of… it just didn’t last long. Now one initial treatment is obviously not going to fix years of chronic back pain, it’s a start. He recommended coming twice a week for 3-4 weeks to give it a good shot and then re evaluate. Keeping my fingers crossed.
"Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen...
Posts: 7100 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: July 18, 2005
I wish acupuncture was covered by insurance like chiropractic therapy. I have herniated discs and did acupuncture one time. At $80 a pop its a hard pill to swallow since I did not have any more results that at the chiropractor. I would like to give it a chance but not at $300 dollars a week.
Posts: 5479 | Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Registered: February 27, 2001
Originally posted by gpbst3: I wish acupuncture was covered by insurance like chiropractic therapy. I have herniated discs and did acupuncture one time. At $80 a pop its a hard pill to swallow since I did not have any more results that at the chiropractor. I would like to give it a chance but not at $300 dollars a week.
I hear you, it ain’t cheap.
"Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway." Steve McQueen...
Posts: 7100 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: July 18, 2005
Not just chronic pain. My wife contracted shingles and was in agony. She was scheduled to take a big 18th birthday trip with a niece and the other aunts. Someone suggested acupuncture and two visits dissipated the pain enough so she could take the trip.
Harshest Dream, Reality
Posts: 3673 | Location: W. Central NH | Registered: October 05, 2008
