does Acupuncture work - Alternative Medicine Message Board

geye · 08-29-2007, 06:35 PM

I've been looking into acupuncture for a couple of things anxeity and hormonal imbalances . im just not sure if it will work . .None of my friends or anyone I know how has tried acupuncture.But a doctor recommenced it .

jacal5 · 08-29-2007, 07:55 PM

I tried it for chronic pain from repetitve strain injury in my arm. After the first treatment I felt like a new person, I was able to rasie my arm above my head for the first time in three years without pain. A few hours later the pain came back into my arm. I continued treatment for six weeks and never was pain free like I was after the first treatment so I stopped going.

Even if the acupuncture improved my condition, I still would have discontinued
treatment because the pain from the needles going in was horrendous. Before my visits I would take prescription pain killers or stop in a deli for beer, I would take anything to numb the pain from the needles! The head of a physical therapy facility where I go for treatment had the same experience as me, he said the needles were very painful, and his nerve pain was only temporarily relieved.

I would never subject myself to that torture again, ever. You are better off with just anxiety (I'm not making light of your problem, I'm an anxious person also and have suffered with it for many years), than anxiety with a depressingly painful treatment like acupuncture.

I don't know how successful acupuncture is for your conditions.

Good luck!

Barrygood · 08-29-2007, 11:07 PM

Acupuncture works only for certain conditions.
As to the success of the treatment, that depends on the severity, type of problem and the time frame involved as well as the quality and knowledge/experience of the Acupuncturist.
Regarding the issue of pain upon insertion, That will depend on where the needles are placed and the "sharpness"(size) of the needle point. Make sure that the Acupuncturist uses "Disposible Needles."
After the needle is inserted into the correct acupuncture point, the pain from the insertion will go away.

sunshine123 · 08-31-2007, 12:25 AM

Acupuncture helps my TMJ a lot as well as other health issues. Sometimes, the needle will hurt going in, but that only lasts for a nanosecond and then I feel relief. I'd tell anyone to give it a try and see if it works for you.

PrincessSweetNS · 08-31-2007, 10:03 AM

Acupuncture helped my backaches, IBS, shoulder pain, headaches, infertility (hormonal imbalance) and even aided me to lose weight!! If you have a good, qualified practitioner who knows what they're doing, then it really doesn't hurt. You might just feel a pinch, but it goes away in a second. Nervousness and tension CAN attribute to the pain, though, just as with anyhting, if you're nervou, you'll tense up and feel pain. So just relax, and take a deep breath. If it's not right fo ryou, think abotu acupressure, it's the same thing, only without the needles....but I like acupuncture more.

Let us knwo what you decide.