Acupuncture and time it takes to feel better!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

 

I have had low back pain and neck pain from a fall in 1999. I'm

currently going to a Pain Management doctor who is doing acupuncture.

He is wonderful. I feel no pain when the needles are in. But, when he

removes them my pain comes right back. The pain isn't any less either.

Does anyone know about how many sessions of acupuncture you have to

go through before you feel a difference in pain or have no pain at

all? Acupuncture is my last resort. I have tried everything and

everything else failed. Is there anything I can do afterwards to make

myself feel better? Like taking a long hot bath or excercise?

Anything you can share is greatly appreciated!!

 

 

Thanks very much!!

 

 

Cris

[Guest guest]

> Thu, 21 Nov 2002 23:16:26 -0000

> " krissiepoo33 " <krissiepoo33

>

> [...] Is there anything I can do afterwards to make

>myself feel better? Like taking a long hot bath or excercise?

 

Have you tried Qigong?

 

I just started Zhan Zhuang (a predominantly non-moving form) three weeks ago.

The beauty of it is that you can even do it lying down when it just Hurts Too

Damn Much to Move.

 

Admittedly my pain isn't physical, although it has been debilitating. I'm

dealing with over 40 years of moderate to severe depression (several

different biorhythm related kinds - seasonal, hormonal, you name it - on top

of a generally " down " feeling that's plagued me for long stretches of time

ever since I can remember) with ADD (mainly inattentive, although I can get a

bit cranked up on occasion, especially if I'm nervous about something) and a

recently diagnosed hypothyroid condition that I suspect has gone on for years

on a subclinical level (years of " normal " T4 and TSH even though I could

*feel* myself running slower and slower).

 

After three weeks of " standing like a tree " I've been able to cut the dosages

of a couple of my meds in half. My blood pressure medicine was the first to

go, and after only three days; it was starting to make me lightheaded! Most

days I do OK without my " smart pills " (as I call the stimulant I take for my

ADD) too - if I feel a bit fogbrained, I take a quick " Qi break. "

 

BTW, my primary doctor is a fortyish " conventional Western " M.D. who's fairly

knowledgeable and very supportive of " unconventional " therapies; after almost

15 years he trusts me to " listen to my body, " so he gives me quite a bit of

leeway to adjust my own meds as needed. On my end, I make sure I have enough

information to know which dosages I can or can't mess with, and I run

proposed changes by him if I'm not sure. I also run such things by a good

friend who's a pharmacist; my doctor knows about that too and doesn't have a

problem with it.

 

It's an unusually good working relationship; maybe that's a major reason why

I haven't had the big problems with Western meds that a lot of people have.

 

Anyway, I wish I'd known about Qigong all those years when I didn't want to

get out of bed!

 

Your acupuncturist should be able to give you more information.

 

 

Sparks

newly curious about acupuncture; got here by way of Traditional

Feng Shui and the concept of Qi, which led me to check out

Taijiquan and Qigong, and now here I am............

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/22/02 9:21:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,

krissiepoo33 writes:

 

> Like taking a long hot bath or excercise?

>

 

I generally recommend hot baths with a 3-4# box of Epson Salts in each bath.

Also there are two Chinese Lineaments which I find very helpful. 1) White

Flower Oil and 2) Po Sum On liniment. They are available from Lin's Sister

Chinese Pharmacy in NYC. 212-962-5417. They speak English and will mail them

out UPS.

 

There are techniques in acupuncture known as Plum Blossom and Cupping which

can release ligaments and muscles on a level deeper than needling. If the

pain management MD has a full course of treatment he should know about them.

There can be some discomfort with the treatment and achyness after but

followed by a hot Epsom salts bath and liniment it should be minimal and def.

will pass. I have often been able to release long standing problems if the

core of the problem is spasm in the connective tissue and muscles. What state

are you in?? Does your acupuncturist have full 3year training or the short

form doctors are allowed to have??

 

Hope this helps!

 

Bobbi Aqua, Lic. Ac.