Acupuncture-any good?

[pebblemum]

I have been adviced to give it a go but dont want to waste money on it if it doesnt work.

Has anyone tried it?

I was a complete skeptic when I first tried it. As cynical as they come.

After having a knee ligament reconstructed, I had patellar tendonitis so bad it woke me up in pain at night and I was on co-codamol.

I tried accupuncture when a friend recommended it out of desperation.

It worked like a charm. Made a believer out of me!

Yes it works.
My mum had it for her Trigeminal Neuralgia.
My friend has it for her sciatica and works for a time.
So I say go ahead.

What a shame I've ony just seen this & have just been watching a prog about it on BBC2!

According to the programme on BBC2 tonight, there is some evidence to suggest that it does indeed work on "some types of pain".

I think when a Western doc tells you, 'Sorry, there's nothing we can do' or tries to make you think it's all in your head, see an accupuncture therapist pronto.

It works for my sinusitus - although has been less effective recently - and for my heartburn in my second pregnancy. However, you will need to commmit to quite a few sessions and quite probably to ongoing treatment. It depends rather on what you want it for, as well.

really works for some things

migraine, stress, back pain. helped me a lot with some digestive problems a while ago.

found the needle sensation a bit weird at first

lots of GPs doing it these days too

Ive been told to try it because I have what they call an over active gag reflex, I need treatment at the dentist but cant stop gagging when they put things in my mouth, strange eh? Apparantely itis supposed to help cure it.

I know it works for pain but Ibe never heard of it helping something thats phsycological.

Pebblemum I had it for neck pain and it worked a treat. The needles didn't really hurt and I only needed 3 sessions to completely sort it out.

However, I'm wondering if there's a simpler solution to your problem. My brother used to actually vomit when he had to go to the dentist so they would spray the back of his throat with an anaesthetic spray to numb it and take away the gag reflex. This was many years ago but I'm quite sure that's what they did - have you asked your dentist about this possibility?

It was my dentist who suggested the acupuncture. She said she could numb my mouth like that but as I may need dentures later in life I really need a long term cure otherwise there is no way I would be able to wear them.

I dont mind giving it a go as long as it works.

I wonder if anyone with a needle phobia would ever be able to have acupunture done?

I believe in it, I think you need to have a really good acupuncture practitioner or doctor, one that comes with recommendations and has been practicing for a while.

Thats another thing thats worrying me I dont exactly love needles. It hurts enough when you prick your finger while sewing without letting someone deliberately stick loads of the things in you!!!

gag reflex not psychological, it is a spinal reflex. Acupuncture could be a good first line treatment instead of medication. It interupts some nerve pathways to produce different effects, pain reliefetc

The needles didn't really hurt when I had it done - more of a tingle. Honestly!

I want to try acupuncture for my bad knee after watching the tv programme. Can anyone personally recommend someone in the Hertfordshire area as I haven't a clue where to find a good practitioner? Thanks

I'm a convert.I wouldn't have my dd's if it wasn't for having acupuncture treatment.It really doesn't hurt,& I used to come out of my sessions feeling relaxed & slightly 'high'.

I hope it works for you.

Its always something I have wondered about, but I seriously doubt I could have it done. I pass out at the sight of a needle, I can't even watch them on TV. I'm not sure how I managed to have 2 children!

Never tried acupuncture-but Shiatsu was fantastic