Acupuncture or reflexology?

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Hi everyone, looking to see people's opinions on acupuncture and reflexology for chronic neck and head pain, also have occasional wide spread pains in lower back, legs, and knees too. Does anyone have any good or bad experience with these treatments for pain, or maybe it's best to combine the two?
Combined with this, I'm looking to start yoga (but don't really know where to start! Haha) can anyone recommend any good online programmes, mainly focusing on pain and bowel issues if possible!)

Thanks!

Ive had both and for helping with pain I would go with acupuncture.

I would also look on youtube for foam roller exercises. I would highly recommend getting a soft foam roller, they are a bit more pricey but ideal for this. Its amazing how much difference they can make.

I have had head and neck pain for years, get regular injections to help and the thing thats help the most next to this is a foam roller. This video was particularly helpful

Tom Morrison, a mobility coach, had serious back issues but rebuilt his strength & movement. He has lots of good little videos on TikTok covering every joint and pain imaginable.
I do do yoga but doing some of TM mobility movements 3-4 times a week has helped hugely with my flexibility and pain levels but mine is upper back, neck and hips.
https://tommorrison.uk/blog/4-tools-to-fight-back-pain-flare-ups

I have had both yoga and reflexology in the past, but not for pain, I loved them both and found them very relaxing. So relaxing I used to fall asleep whilst having them.

I do a lot of yoga with Kassandra, she does have a back one you could try out to see if it’s any good for you.

Acupuncture, has more of an evidence base.
Reflexology is a load of twaddle...I mean it's very relaxing and pleasant with a good therapist. But it's 100% placebo.

Have you seen a physio? It's fine to go down the alternative route if conventional medicine hasn't helped or found a cause, but having reread your op, I'd be tempted to check there is nothing underlying the cause of pain. Obviously if you've done this and drawn a blank then acupuncture.

I have learned both Swedish massage and reflexology.

I tried hard to believe that reflexology is based on science. But it’s not. Having your feet massaged can be very relaxing though and you can’t undervalue the effect of touch. But having a foot rub won’t cure a bad back.

I believe there is more science attached to acupuncture and I have had some treatment in the past for sciatica provided by the NHS.

The acupuncture didn’t do much to my sciatica pain at the time, but it did clear up shortly after, so maybe ……

I do believe massage generally can help in a lot of ways. Again there is an element of the healing touch. If I have aches and pain I now generally rub/massage the area and use cold gel packs.

I have also looked a Trigger Point Therapy and tried this after the acupuncture on myself. The sciatica went away, but whether it was that, the acupuncture or just time, I cannot say.

It is very hard coping with chronic pain. Yoga should be good as it’s a way of keeping supple and I believe tight muscles can lead to pain. It you are already in pain, then you should start off very gently.

I have some decent pain killers from my GP that help. I am assuming you have already seen your GP and have had anything serious and obvious ruled out.

I don’t know what age you are but the menopause can be a cause for painful joints, as the lack of oestrogen affects your joints as well.

Is there any physical cause for the pain? If everything's been investigated and there's no reason then consider remedial hypnosis. I'm currently working with someone (ironically she's a clinical hypnotherapist!) and have had very good results. Sometimes it's just a matter of letting the mind know it can stop sending the pain signals.

I am a professional acupuncturist. Acupuncture is really good for chronic pain and sometimes outperforms NSAIDs. Find a well qualified (3 years degree level minimum) acupuncturist though, there are tons of cowboys out there.