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Original poster

Have you ever had acupuncture ?

96 replies

Annabey · 16/01/2023 19:24

What did you have it for and did it work ?

OP posts:
pizzaHeart · 17/01/2023 08:35

I also had it twice for sciatica in combination with exercises. It worked.

Chibbers · 17/01/2023 08:41

Yes. A few years ago I ended up with a badly mangled foot and ankle through an accident.
The physio couldn't get the ankle to move without me yelling with pain, so used acupuncture. He managed to rotate it and what not pain free. I was amazed.

squashyhat · 17/01/2023 08:42

I had it many years ago when I was first diagnosed with RA. It helped although I think it was more the attention and peace of the appointments. The woman treating me moved on and I then saw a man who was very disparaging about my swollen hands. I never went back.

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Andrelaxzzz · 17/01/2023 08:46

FishFlaked · 17/01/2023 08:30

Andrelax Does it work for long Covid/inflammation type conditions?

It can be. Some people find it works wonders but for some it alleviates some symptoms but for others it seems to do nothing.
I had ME prior to training and it didn't massively help. (What did was stopping eating wheat and not pushing myself at all for 3 months).

Whatever you do do NOT plough on through. It's the very worst thing to do post viral.

StuntNun · 17/01/2023 08:57

Yes, acupuncture and TENS connected to the needles for the facet joints in my back so I don't know whether it was the acupuncture or the TENS or the combination that sorted my back out.

minipie · 17/01/2023 08:59

Had it when TTC. Didn’t work (thyroid meds did).
As a pp says, would prefer a good massage any day.

Brendabigbaps · 17/01/2023 09:01

Late pregnancy for spd (helped) and severe nausea (didn’t help)

isitme111 · 17/01/2023 09:04

@Andrelaxzzz - Hi, might it help for general menopause symtoms ?

FishFlaked · 17/01/2023 09:06

Thank you Andrelax

Hedjwitch · 17/01/2023 09:09

Yes. I had a crippling spinal headache after a CS and couldnt raise my head from lying horizontal. Painkillers did nothing. I had acupuncture then fell asleep. I was gutted when I woke up that the headache was still there but then as soon as I took painkillers they worked,so I'm sure it "unblocked" something to enable that.

Followtheyellowsicktoad · 17/01/2023 09:10

abyssofwoah · 16/01/2023 19:37

Yes, in an attempt to bring on labour. It didn’t work. I mean the baby came eventually, but no thanks to the acupuncture.

This was my experience too. In fairness I was trying to avoid a second caesarean, which I did, and doing something rather than twiddling my thumbs was a good idea. Also my enormous baby slithered out really easily.

Im not sure if the acupuncture helped but in those circumstances I’d do it again.

fuzzwuss · 17/01/2023 09:10

I had it for tennis elbow. Immediately made it around 70% better, but further sessions had no effect. Was worth it though.

CriticalAlert · 17/01/2023 11:46

Yes. I had it to stop smoking - 3 sessions. Very very relaxing , I fell asleep. My whole body was in a state of balance for months afterwards. And it worked!!

imnottoofussed · 17/01/2023 19:37

I've been considering this for stress and anxiety has anyone had success with acupuncture for this?

VioletCharlotte · 17/01/2023 19:50

Yes, I've had it a few times when l've had physio. I didn't feel any immediate relief, but the pain I was experiencing got better over the next couple of days.

jellybe · 17/01/2023 19:53

I did.
I had crippling PGP with my 3rd and the physiotherapist performed acupuncture (along side 'normal' treatment). It didn't get ride of the pain completely but gave me some relief for a few days then I'd have some again when I saw the physio next.

Windy1234 · 17/01/2023 20:02

Andrelaxzzz · 17/01/2023 08:16

I'm an acupuncturist so obviously have had lots. The reason I trained was because it worked so well on my frozen shoulder and I found it so relaxing.
I try and give people as honest an indication on the effectiveness of treatment on a particular condition as possible before they start. However it is not an exact science. Things I would recommend it for almost every time (although if course not 100% works):
Fibromyalgia, shoulder and neck pain, tennis elbow, knee pain, painful periods, sinusitis, migraines, carpal tunnel, Achilles pain, plantar fascitis.
If having IVF so worth it (especially either side of implantation).
Stress, anxiety, insomnia.
Nausea (chemo/morning sickness) alleviating colitis and IBS.

Run a mile from any practitioner claiming it can "cure" cancer, long term tinnitus, hearing loss, sight, genetic conditions etc. Or if they say it is guaranteed. Also if they try and sell Chinese herbs at vast expense. I run a low cost clinic, where we treat a few people at the same time so bring the price down to £15.

Unfortunately many physios have only had a few days of training and almost always when someone says they had acupuncture and hated it was off a physio. Get to a fully qualified acupuncturist if you can (3 years BSc for me). And make sure they are registered with a professional body (British acupuncture association for example).
If anyone wants to know if a specific conditions works well with acupuncture just ask :)

@Andrelaxzzz can it help for hair loss/hair growth promotion?

Andrelaxzzz · 17/01/2023 20:27

Windy1234 · 17/01/2023 20:02

@Andrelaxzzz can it help for hair loss/hair growth promotion?

Show quote history

Hi Windy, personally I have seen no benefits for it and never heard of it being used for hairloss. They could be a good case for it helping if the hair loss is down to stress related alopecia however other than that I would not recommend it

Andrelaxzzz · 17/01/2023 20:28

imnottoofussed · 17/01/2023 19:37

I've been considering this for stress and anxiety has anyone had success with acupuncture for this?

I would recommend acupuncture for both of these. There has been some quite good research showing that it reduces cortisol response in the medium term so therefore good for reducing stress and anxiety.

Abra1t · 17/01/2023 20:30

paddler78 · 16/01/2023 19:29

Yes many years ago for insomnia and it worked wonders so much so when it flared up again a few years later I had more which again helped significantly

Had it for hot flushes and insomnia in menopause. Helped a little bit HRT was much better and I wish I hadn’t spent all the money. The acupuncturist was lovely though and she did relax me.

SirChenjins · 17/01/2023 20:30

I had it for terrible acne at a long established herbal medicine place in Edinburgh. Did FA for it and was really unpleasant - I felt every needle going in and I got electric shocks at each site. I had to tell her to take them out.

Andrelaxzzz · 17/01/2023 20:30

isitme111 · 17/01/2023 09:04

@Andrelaxzzz - Hi, might it help for general menopause symtoms ?

It can be really good for some menopause symptoms in particular insomnia, hot flushes, mood swings of doom and making periods less heavy. I'm using it at the moment for this. I'm also an advocate of HRT but find the two work really well together as the HRT was helping but not 100%

isitme111 · 17/01/2023 20:50

Thanks Andre I may give it a go

kalookaloo · 17/01/2023 21:09

Yes. Didn't enjoy it but after almost a decade ttc I finally fell pregnant straight after it.

AdelaideRo · 17/01/2023 21:12

Yes. For back pain from a physio. I was super sceptical.

And then it worked like magic.

I then got more from a colleague at work when the pain came back one weekend when I was on call. Stopped me going off sick.