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Original poster

Acupuncture and sinusitis

18 replies

Dancer12345 · 12/04/2019 13:04

I’ve been suffering on and off with my sinuses for a few years now. Have had antibiotics at times which has helped but that’s when I’ve been ill with it. The rest of the time I’m always very congested and phlegmy (Sorry!). I’ve had sinus pain for a couple of weeks now and have been trying to not take painkillers too often.

I’ve read some things about acupuncture being used for sinusitis - has anyone tried this? Or does anyone have any other tips to help?

OP posts:

Original poster

Dancer12345 · 12/04/2019 21:14

Anyone?

OP posts:

FingersMcGinty · 12/04/2019 21:49

Acupuncture seems to be frowned upon on mumsnet but I've had it for depression, menopause and weight loss and it's helped with all of these things. It's like it activates the body to start healing itself. Try it a couple of times and see how you go. Good luck.

TheBullshitGoesOn · 12/04/2019 22:01

I had it for sinusitis. I was sceptical, but desperate after many months of suffering and a failure of ABs to even touch it.

I was astounded when it worked. I woke up the morning after the first treatment and almost all the pain had gone. It took about five sessions for it to go completely and stay away.

I have no idea whether it was genuinely the acupuncture or a placebo effect (although if placebo I would have expected the ABs to work as I expected them to be successful). But frankly I don't care. It was enough that the pain had finally gone.

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PoptartPoptart · 12/04/2019 22:53

Oooh I’m very interested in this as I really suffer with sinus issues. So much so that the GP got fed up of me and referred me to ENT to have a CT scan. The results came back normal, which is good I suppose, but it doesn’t help solve the problem!
The doctor has now said that it’s just something I have to live with
Can I ask how you go about finding a reputable place to do the acupuncture?

TheBullshitGoesOn · 12/04/2019 23:20

It was a while ago poptart, but I think I looked for a local licenced acupuncturist via the British Acupuncture Council (or similarly named organisation) website. I then emailed a few likely ones to find out what experience they had treating my particular problem. I also wanted a female practitioner, so that was a factor in who I picked to contact.

I have no idea whether that was the best approach, but it worked for me.

Palominoo · 13/04/2019 07:46

www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions/sinusitis.html

There is a practitioner search facility on that website

LowLifeOpinions · 13/04/2019 07:57

I went to see a cranio sacral osteopath for my sinuses and she sorted me out when many courses of antibiotics hadn't.

Original poster

Dancer12345 · 13/04/2019 08:21

Great to hear some positive stories! No idea what a cranio sacral osteopath does so off to Google!

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snitzelvoncrumb · 13/04/2019 08:31

It works, I needed surgery but had acupuncture instead.

alwaysonadiet1 · 13/04/2019 08:40

Try facial lymphatic drainage massage. It worked amazingly well for me.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/04/2019 08:42

Acupuncture is fantastic but I got rid of sinusitis after years by cutting out milk and especially cheese. I miss cheese but don't miss the sinus headaches!

Original poster

Dancer12345 · 13/04/2019 14:12

Will have a look into the massage.

I hardly ever drink milk and have really cut down on cheese, have it maybe once a month. I thought it was helping a bit but am still sinus-y.

OP posts:

SpoonBlender · 13/04/2019 14:55

I had my cheekbone sinuses opened up by a surgeon, the entrance hole on one was all messed up, the other was small. It's amazing. Wish I'd got it done 20 years ago.

Yinderling · 13/04/2019 16:05

I'm an acupuncturist, sinusitis is one of my favourite treatments as it has such a high success rate. Just make sure your acupuncturist is registered with the British acupuncture council and give them a ring to see if they have experience of treating sinusitis. If you want any more info just let me know:)

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/04/2019 16:09

I hardly ever drink milk and have really cut down on cheese, have it maybe once a month. I thought it was helping a bit but am still sinus-y

Me too but it's quite a lot once you start adding it up, and even cheese once a month is too much for me and that includes cheese on top of lasagne and hidden cheeses/ milk.

samlovesdilys · 13/04/2019 17:11

Pop tart, please don't accept you 'just have to live with it'...my gp and one ent specialist told me this and I am still pushing...had surgery, scans, allergy tests, endless ABs and sprays, rinses...nothing really worked... currently experimenting with amytriptyline dosages which seems to help but now will look into acupuncture...
It is amazing isn't it how because you don't necessary 'look' ill beyond inflammation it isn't considered serious...I just kept saying this seriously impacts both my working and family life and I am not prepared to 'just live with it'.

Original poster

Dancer12345 · 14/04/2019 19:22

SpoonBlender What did that involve?

Yinderling Oh that’s great to hear! How many sessions do people normally need? Is it something that you need to “top up” every so often? How long will it take to see the effects?

OP posts:

SpoonBlender · 15/04/2019 00:29

I'm not entirely sure - it was under general anaesthetic so I wasn't paying a lot of attention :D. I had my turbinates reduced 50%, some flappy bits in the nasal cavity trimmed, and the cheekbone sinus entrances opened up - all keyhole scalpel work through the nostrils. Took a week to stop bleeding but wasn't tooooo awful - and if it had been just the sinus entrances it would be a very minor surgery, much less than what I had.

This was after almost a year of sinusitis including three months on antibiotics and various other inhalers/washes/pills. Not much fun.

If you can get relief through less cheese (get an intolerance test, it takes a month of avoiding lactic things entirely to find out otherwise) or face massage or acupuncture go for that though! Worth a shot if you can afford it, and much quicker.

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