Experiences with acupuncture

[NameIsBryceQuinlan]

Keen to hear people's experiences with acupuncture, why did you seek it? What did it do (or not do), how often have you had it?

Did it for IVF. I hate needles. First lady I really hated - I was practically naked and cold and she used loads of needles and then expected me to lie there for 20odd minutes. I went three times and then decided I couldn't. Then I tried another lady who did a couple of needles at a time, kept me all snuggled and warm in a blanket, explained what she was doing... it felt like a treatment, it was lovely!

The needles themselves are varied- sometimes couldn't even feel them, most of the time just like a very minor electric shock, very occasionally a bit painful. She was always willing to take them out and try something else if i wanted. I also never got on with the points in my ear, I just didn't like it, and thst was totally fine.

Got pregnant first go and had my baby. Would definitely do it again before trying for no.2.

Are you considering having it? I really rated it but this reads like a post by a journalist.

Yes I'm booked in for tomorrow. I had it when I had really severe pelvic pain in pregnancy and felt nothing, but I'm interested to see if it can help my migraines. I've started on amitriptyline as a preventative. Trying to be open minded.

I also have fibro and chronic fatigue. Gosh would be amazing if it helped with that

Had acupuncture for the first time a month ago for stress and anxiety. Highly recommend, it did a lot for me.

It did nothing for me. I did it to boost fertility, I found the acupuncturist rude, offhand, disinterested and condescending which did not help. Later found out she was going through a divorce, even so very unprofessional.

I've had it for pain caused by muscle spasms and by nerve entrapment. It was amazing for the muscle spasms and helped a bit with the nerve pain. Ultimately I had to have a steroid injection in order to resolve the trapped nerve, but the acupuncture enabled me to reduce the amount of chemical pain relief I was dependent upon until then.

I had acupuncture after a TFMR followed by three mc. Got pregnant again straight after my first session, then had one a fortnight. The day after my due date, I saw him again, he treated me then said “Go home, and don’t go far”. Six hours later my waters broke. The result is currently being irritating and won’t go to bed 😏

I have similar positive results from him for my mum and my husband.

Happy to recommend my lovely acupuncturist if you’re near Leeds.

I have it for chronic fatigue and it makes a huge difference. I hope it works for you

Thanks for sharing everyone, lots of positive experiences

How many sessions did you need?

I had three sessions for foot pain, it didn’t work for me.

I had it after a car accident. The three sessions did wonders for my wrist pain

Had it to induce labour, didn't bring on labour but did possibly make labour decidedly textbook (after having ARM).

I had it for muscle knots in my shoulder. It worked really well.

I had it weekly for hyperemesis for about 5 months. It did help with the nausea.

GP originally did it himself as well as medication, then I booked for private treatment (acupuncturist was Chinese trained and I found her treatment more effective than the GP).

I tried lots of alternative treatments (in the hope something may help) and acupuncture was the only one that I felt did.
It is the only one I would go back to, but I do think the individual practitioner skill makes a big difference.

My late dad used to drag me up dark stairs in chinatown soho...years ago, in the 70's..he had it for back issues and i have it for immune boost...4 gates points....amazing...works really well, it's good for overall well being also, colds and flu, and i have a session every 6 weeks, some people need several sessions tho...I pay £25 at local chinese clinic which is cheap, I know people now charging over £60 a session which is expensive. You might need to try several before you find someone who uses the points you need....

Hi OP,

Professional acupuncturist here. As many, I decided to retrain as an acupuncturist after years of fantastic experiences as a patient.

Acupuncture for migraines works really well. Patients usually come to see me for the first time when their episodes become too frequent, and it takes about four or five sessions weekly to get them out of the acute stage. Then they move on to maintenance mode with monthly visits or they call me when they feel a migraine coming on and they want to stop it from progressing.

I would recommend looking at the qualifications of your potential acupuncturist and what (self) regulatory bodies they belong to. For example, I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council which requires degree level training. Since acupuncture is not statutory regulated in the UK, anyone can call themselves an acupuncturist and many do even with a weekend long training only!

It’s really helped me for Rosacea, back pain, low energy, foggy head.
My son for eczema and low energy.
my friend for a baby! She’d been trying 18 months, following her second appointment she fell pregnant.
obviously could of been luck or perhaps it did help her conceive.

I first had it from an NHS physio as a 'I'd try anything right now' treatment for severe nerve pain, and it would turn it down for a bit. Since then I've had it fairly regularly with a physio for tendonitis and muscle tightness and it has really worked for me

I've had acupuncture and would have it again. It's worth googling the research trials which have proven its effectiveness for treating some conditions.