Have you ever had acupuncture?

[hippohector]

If so, would you recommend it?
I’ve suffered really badly with sinus pressure and headaches for years. I’ve had all the relevant tests and medicines from the GP which never really help.
Thinking of trying acupuncture as a last resort but it’s expensive! I’m happy to pay though if it will help.
Has anyone had any experience with acupuncture please?

Yes, during (successful) IVF and early pregnancy.

It was awesome. Made me so calm and I always slept so well afterwards.

Also, check if it's available on the NHS through something called "alternative qualified practitioner" or AQP.

I had it in the run up to my wedding, while TTC. It definitely lowered my stress levels. However, we actually conceived the month I stopped having it, so who knows!

Yes, as part of chiropractic help for a back injury. Not sure whether it or the other parts of the therapy were beneficial but something worked! Husband used same chiro for long-standing back injury which included acupuncture and was also much improved (having suffered for YEARS!).

I've had acupuncture a about 8 times over the years for hayfever. It was amazing, the first time I had it i could literally feel the hayfever clearing whilst I was led on the bed. It worked well for me.

I was very lucky. My GP does it under the NHS so I didn't have to pay for it.

Last couple of years my hayfever hasent been as bad as what it was so I don't take it every summer now but I wonder if the times I had acupuncture still have a effect.

I have it for migraines. It reduces the pain and helps me function (chronic migraines). It’s not perfect, and doesn’t work completely but definitely does help.

I also did it for infertility + Chinese herbs.

I don’t know if the IVF wouldn’t have worked without it, but I did find it very calming and relaxing.

I've had it to relieve muscle tension. It was amaxing. Felt a bit like someone pressing a pencil in but my knots feel bruised anyway. After the muscles felt so relaxed, I'd forgotten how soft they can be!

I might end up with some soon... my new sports masseuse sweetly asked if I'd had it before as she manipulated a particularly tender spot of my neck and casually mentioned that she has an upcoming course...

My fiancée is a physio and is qualified in acupuncture, I don’t really believe in it though tbh, she’s used it on me a few times and it’s done nothing. Only one time did it appear to help, but tbh it could have been a coincidence?

I have had it at my GP surgery we have 2 GPs qualified in it. I really helped my neck and shoulder pain

Placebo. They have done plenty of studies and indeed people say it has helped them. They say the same if the acupuncture was a sham one and needles were stuck in totally random places.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3651275/

I had it once during a migraine attack, as a friend of dh who was visiting is an acupuncturist. He put a needle in my leg and the pain in my head stopped. I was still wonky-brained for hours afterwards like usual, but the relief from the pain was just amazing.

Placebo. They have done plenty of studies and indeed people say it has helped them. They say the same if the acupuncture was a sham one and needles were stuck in totally random places.

Yeah... placebos are effective though, so I don't get the argument here. What's the problem if it does relieve the symptoms, even if it is just an effect of the brain?

There is some evidence that acupuncture can relieve pain. Personally I have had it when I was at the end of my tether with sleep problems, and within a few treatments I was starting to sleep normally again. I don't care if it was a placebo, the relief of getting a few hours' sleep every night was enormous, so it was worth every penny.

Yes, that's of course always the question, what's the harm. If someone said that come for a session, you can lie down and relax, and I will listen to your problems, reassure you, promise you will get better and also poke you totally randomly, but it is likely you will feel better - I guess not much harm. Telling people about some magical meridians and obstructions is a bit deceitful though.

Out of interest, how would you explain why a needle in my leg (that I was quite sceptical about but being polite) worked when painkillers, and a migraine-specific medication didn’t?