This is going to sound nutty, but its a legitimate question. When I lance my forearm to take a bg test, could I be triggering an accupunture point that might effect the way I feel?

I have been reading lots about accupuncture lately and have been considering trying it for a variety of health reasons. My understanding is that the body has trigger points everywhere and they are all connected to different nerve endings and body functions.

The reason I ask is because I have noticed that when I don't test my bg for 1 or 2 days, many of my neuropathy symptoms go away completely. Then when I test again, my symptoms return. It left me wondering if there might be a connection with the lancing of my forearm - perhaps I am hitting some trigger points that are connected to my nerve function. I suppose this could be a coincidence, but I thought I would ask :)

Try lancing yourself somewhere else...if you still get your neuropathy afterwards then it's probably a coincidence.

It is my understanding that accumpuncture goes a little father into the body then a lancet does. I believe that the lancet ony goes in past the first few layers of skin to the capalaries. I could be wrong though

That's an interesting question! It may not be completely impossible, but I'm not sure how likely it is, either.

I'm currently undergoing acupuncture therapy, and my therapist always asks me if I feel a certain tingling sensation (there's a Chinese technical term for it, but I don't know how to spell it) when he puts a needle in. If I say no, he knows he hasn't hit the right spot and has to try again. Sometimes he misses it only by maybe a millimeter or two, so apparently it can be difficult to get it right the first time.

Also, although sometimes he leaves a needle in for only two or three few minutes, it usually takes much longer before it takes effect properly, so I'm not sure what a second or two of pain would do.

That said, since any kind of pain is communicated via nerves, maybe it's the pain as such that causes your symptoms to flare up again, and not so much the exact location?

Please let us know if you find out more!

All the best! :)

I guess I was thinking more about the fact that I repeatedly poke my arm with a lancet several times per day, often in the same place. I wasn't really thinking that a single pinprick would cause a problem.

BTW Crowgirl - is accupuncture working for you?

Yes, acupuncture works great for me, although I'm doing it mainly for my allergy symptoms. Not every therapist is really good at it, though. I had 10 sessions with a different therapist last year, but they didn't do half as much for me.

Hi all,
I have just had my first accupuncture experience and wondered if any of you experienced cramping of your hands? Or do you any of you know why this happens?

Ok now this is an interestion idea. I have practiced a few different forms of marshal arts one of witch includs presher point fighting. So here is my take on your situation. It is possible for the impact of your lancet to cause a presher point to react. There are spots on your arm that will make them numb. try to lance your self on top of the musle that will help avoid your more vunerable points. (Opinions of mine only, this is just one possible answer.)