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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Comments on acupuncture please

73 replies

theladylovescupcakes · 17/08/2015 20:41

I'm struggling with hip pain on one side. Physio has given me exercises to do, but has suggested accupuncture. Is it all bunkum or does anyone have experience of it actually helping with the pain? TIA.

OP posts:

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BertrandRussell · 17/08/2015 20:43

Bunkum, sorry. Completely, unequivocally proved not to work for anything. But you will get a million posters coming on to say that it does work, just mysteriously not under test conditions.

RealHuman · 17/08/2015 20:44

It's possible (in fact very likely) for it to be all bunkum and for people to have experience of it actually helping.

MollyAir · 17/08/2015 20:45

It has helped me a lot, and my dc. Scientific studies have proved that it works for some conditions.

Of course MN will tell you otherwise.

CMOTDibbler · 17/08/2015 20:54

I am the worlds least woo person, I really am, but an nhs physio offered it to me for pain when nothing else (not even morphine) was helping and it did help for a couple of hours each time.

Since then, I've had it twice for tennis elbow/ supinator syndrome that hadn't responded to physio, ultrasound trt, and repeated steroid injections and its had a rapid effect.

So, in my experience, for pain related to nerve issues it has really worked.

MollyAir · 17/08/2015 20:54

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Acupuncture/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Sunbeam18 · 17/08/2015 22:19

There are NICE guidelines supporting the use of acupuncture for chronic pain

Sunbeam18 · 17/08/2015 22:21

Bertrand, see my post below. Be gone!

BertrandRussell · 17/08/2015 22:27

here meta analysis.

Twooter · 17/08/2015 22:29

It works well in suitable cases, but not for all people. There are scientific theories as to why it works - you don't have to believe in Qi and meridians.

MollyAir · 17/08/2015 22:30

Yeah, not biased at all. Oh, no.

frangipani13 · 17/08/2015 22:30

Why don't you give it a go and decide for yourself?

frangipani13 · 17/08/2015 22:30

Meant to add you have nothing to lose if nothing is helping with the pain.

CiderwithBuda · 17/08/2015 22:31

Works for me.

Have had it regularly from chiropracter for various issues.

Have also had it for PMT. And allergies. Obv there could be scepticism about results for those but for the PMT it definitley helped. The allergies/hay fever - worked well first time but went to a different person a few years later and it wasn't great.

BertrandRussell · 17/08/2015 22:56

"It works well in suitable cases, but not for all people. There are scientific theories as to why it works - you don't have to believe in Qi and meridians."

Tell me more about these scientific theories?

BertrandRussell · 17/08/2015 22:58

"Yeah, not biased at all. Oh, no."

Nope. Because proper scientific testing isn't. The interpretation can be biased- which is why some people carry on saying that it works. But the data is the data.

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2015 23:02

" you have nothing to lose if nothing is helping with the pain."

I'd say having multiple needles stuck all over me is a high price to pay for no benefit at all.

MollyAir · 17/08/2015 23:02

The site you linked to is completely biased. Why link to it?

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2015 23:03

Not to mention the money you pay for the privilege. Or do some people don't consider money for nothing a loss?

thehousewife · 17/08/2015 23:06

I had it, it helped.

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2015 23:07

Completely biased... Because it is called Science-Based Medicine and features articles written by doctors and scientists?

BertrandRussell · 17/08/2015 23:15

You must be a very quick reader, Molly,mid you've read, analysed and dismissed all 33 scholarly references..........

MollyAir · 17/08/2015 23:17

Bit of a genius, actually, Bertrand.

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BertrandRussell · 17/08/2015 23:21

Great. So explain the bias you are complaining about.

Minime85 · 18/08/2015 08:47

I agree with other poster who said try it for yourself and see. I've had it for nearly 9 years now mostly to treat and stabilise my IBS when it flares up and the anxiety I get associated with that. I always visit same person. She is based in an NHS doctors surgery. I don't believe it works on its own. I also use diet and lifestyle. However I know it has made my condition manageable. I know it is the only thing that helps it stabilise me in a really bad flare up when the GP can offer me no alternatives.

I also used acupressure in labour and it did help.

I'm not really interested in other people telling me it's rubbish. It works for me and that's what matters. Otherwise I'm confined to the house and unable to do normal things. What have you got to lose by trying it?

CoteDAzur · 18/08/2015 10:20

"I don't believe it works on its own."

That is the definition of something not actually working

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