Acupuncture +&- (pain, doctor, insurance, muscles)

[dreameyes]

I've heard a lot of good things about acupuncture but never anything bad. Does anyone have any negative experiences with it?? I'd also like to hear good ones. I'm thinking it might be a good thing for me but am a little concerned about how much pain there is or if anything could go wrong??
Thanks.

[Jannie]

You need to find a reputable acupuncturist. The needles will hurt when inserted into the area that has pain. The needles will not hurt if there is no pain. After the treatment you will feel very relaxed. Been doing acupuncture every two weeks for over a year.

[dreameyes]

Thanks Jannie. How long is each treatment? Is the pain only when the needles are inserted? Anyone else have experiences with acupuncture?

[Jannie]

Originally Posted by dreameyes

Thanks Jannie. How long is each treatment? Is the pain only when the needles are inserted? Anyone else have experiences with acupuncture?

Well, I went today to my acupuncturist because I hurt my back over the weekend. The needles hurt when inserted into the area that has pain. The needles are very thin but they are not sharp like a pin. The treatment can last about half hour to forty minutes. I also have electric stimulation of the muscles and cups. Cups can be painful but you do feel so much better after.

[MoMark]

My neighbor Larry is 64 years old, a grizzly bear of a man, literally can lift tree limbs that would take two or three other men to lift. He's totally typical Midwestern Baptist who wears his uniform of coveralls daily and goes to church religiously on Sundays and even drives a church bus as a volunteer to help get the kids to their games, etc.
Today he and I were talking and he said..."Look, I got my ears stapled". I said "What? you got your ears what?" while looking closely at his ears. Then he told me where to look, it's that middle area inside that a lot of kids pierce nowadays with tiny hoops. He had a staple fully embedded in that spot in each ear.
I asked him why? He said he trusts his doctor and that doctor said it would curb his appetite from that pressure point and his goal is to lose 50 lbs. He weighs 270lbs. right now.
It's related to acupuncture principles and I'm shocked this conservative man is doing it... but..I'm anxious to see if it works!

[Hoosier]

Originally Posted by MoMark

He had a staple fully embedded in that spot in each ear.
I asked him why? He said he trusts his doctor and that doctor said it would curb his appetite from that pressure point and his goal is to lose 50 lbs. He weighs 270lbs. right now.
It's related to acupuncture principles and I'm shocked this conservative man is doing it... but..I'm anxious to see if it works!

I'd love to find out if that works too! Does anyone know if acupuncture works for loss of feeling in the hands? I lost feeling in my right hand last November and have been working through PT to get the feeling back. My PT told me about acupuncture. I'm not afraid of needles, just unsure of the method, and if it's worth my co-pay. Any thoughts?

[Moose Jockey USA]

I spent a year having pt and acupuncture done to help me with injuries sustained in an MVA.
The needles used are smaller than pores, and I have only once felt any amount of pain associated with them being in my spine.
The pain was actually a direct result of my stupidity.
I was too relaxed while lying there with 25+/- pins on my spine for the ten minutes and drifted off. I woke up and instinctively put my t shirt on, but couldn't figure out why it wasn't fitting right and poking so far off my back.
That's when I noticed the pins falling by my feet and realized what i'd done. Unfortunately, this was at the moment my extremly shocked and stunned Physiotherapist walked back into the room. It was pretty embarrassing.
The pain was cause when I stepped on one of the pins that had fallen out.

Not once in any of my physio sessions did I fell any pain as a result of the needles/pins. I did, however, find that they helped alleviate tension and i had fewer spasms in my neck and back following treatments.

It's, IMO, painless and the benefits were certainly there for me. I only regret having been as skeptical as I was for so long. could have saved myself at least some discomfort had I started earlier :/

[dreameyes]

Thanks for the encouraging words Moose Jockey! I think I'm definately going to try it. Do you know if acupuncture is covered under insurance or not??

[Hoosier]

I believe some insurances cover it. I know that I only have to pay my co-pay.

[Moose Jockey USA]

I'm afraid I don't know about the insurance, as my acupuncture was covered by the vehicular insurance of the douche bag who rear-ended our car.