You Still Haven’t Tried Acupuncture?
It was big news last week that actor Matt Damon was photographed at his Bourne Ultimatum movie premiere in Berlin, Germany, with acupuncture needles in his ear. (He was being treated for neck and back spasms.)
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been getting acupuncture treatments for various ailments for many years. It’s funny how this ancient Chinese mode of treatment that’s been around since 2696 B.C. is still viewed as suspect by the Western world.
I still remember the day my HMO began to allow some acupuncture to be paid for under an ‘alternative’ treatment fund. How daring!
I must admit that when I first tried acupuncture, lo, so many years ago, I was nervous and skeptical. Let me tell you the amazing story of my first treatment. I had gone in for some ailment that I do not recall today. But at the end of the treatment, I decided to briefly mention a chronic thing that I’d given up on ever curing. For about seven years I’d had a bad pain in the coccyx bone area. I was taking tons of ibuprophen for it, sitting on a rubber ‘doughnut’ and a doctor had even recommended surgery. I described the problem to my acupuncturist. She casually did some needle thing for it, I paid her $50 and left the office. The pain vanished and NEVER recurred. This took place over 10 years ago! I often think, what if I’d taken the physician’s advice to have surgery?
I am often frustrated by friends and family who do not use acupuncture. Do you use acupuncture? What has it done for you? If you do not, why not?
August 29th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I’ve used it. When my back was bothering me years ago I tried it. The acupunturist helped much more than the chiropractor ever did. Once I went with a massive cold and she said she’d unblock my sinuses. I figured, yeah, whatever, if sudafed isn’t working….
An hour after I left there, my sinuses were clear for 24 hours. I never doubted again.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Yes, for a “fifties” shoulder when I was in Korea. The hospitals there have several acupuncture doctors that other doctors refer you to if appropriate. Doctors in Korea are either “Western”-like ours or “Eastern”-acupuncture and holistic remedies. People use both depending on their problem.
Cost for 30 minute treatment and 30 minutes of electrical stimulus after with no health insurance-$16, with-$6. You can’t beat that. The results were it was better but not totally. I have friends who swear by it.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I tried it a couple times. I’m claustrophobic and he stuck me full of needles and left the room, closed the door. Ick!
It made me feel weird but can’t say it stopped the pain of RA. Should try again. I’ve had more surgeries than you can shake a stick at.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Interesting that you should mention this now, as I had my first-ever acupuncture visit on Monday, for chronic lower-back pain. I feel for inwestcliffe – the same thing happened to me and I found it a little creepy feeling. I think some soft background music would help, but I’m going to a school and getting an inexpensive rate, so I guess I can’t expect the niceities.
As to whether it is helping, it’s too soon to say. The acupuncture treatment was followed by a somewhat painful deep tissue massage, which actually left me feeling pretty sore for the following day or so. I am hoping this is one of those “need to feel worse before it feels better” things, but I really don’t know. It helps to hear these stories of successful treatment. I guess I’ll hang in there for the 5-6 treatments they said I’d need before I see improvements. But I’m a bit sceptical right now.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
I can say that it’s worked for both of us and really helped the Buffledog prior to his elbow surgery!
August 29th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I’ve never used acupuncture. I don’t think I’ve ever needed it. Unless they use it to treat an occasional headache? Probably better than asprin?
August 29th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Yea, more people should try it already. Not only are the celebrities getting it, but also more and more insurance companies are paying for it.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
My friend actually has a very similar problem…and is trying to get treatment through the VA. I think I might suggest this to her, though, I don’t know if she’d go for it or not.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Thanks for sharing the stories of your experiences with acupuncture. I forgot that dogs can benefit from it, too, Seamus.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:24 am
I’ve never had it, though I would certainly be willing to try it if I had some malady that didn’t respond to “normal” treatment. Anyone have any experience with it in connection with migraines? MY WIFE gets those and maybe it would be worth looking into?
August 30th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Suldog: I know (not from personal experience) that acupuncture is used to treat migraines.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Many years ago (probably more than 10) I began suffering from TMJ. At the time I didn’t know what was wrong with me, only that I was in excruciating pain–couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t touch my teet together. I tried large doses of ibuprofin, hot packs, cold packs, anything I could think of. Finally, in desperation I decided to try acupuncture, which I had never done before. After three treatments the pain was gone, never to return. In the intervening years I got married and my husband has been getting acupuncture every week without fail–first for anxiety attacks (he hasn’t had one since he began acupuncture treatment) and a variety of other things. I absolutely believe that acupuncture can resolve a wide variety of ailments and that it can be used successfully alone or in conjunction with traditional medical treatment. In fact, our acupuncturist regularly consults with my husband’s physician and he with her.
September 8th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I had my first accopunture treatment last week, and it hurt alot more than i thought and bled from one of punctures. Also i have felt awful for last couple days with back pain and tummy pain i never had to start with, hoping its not the accupuncture as i only hear people rave about it. Has anyone else had a bad experience?
September 15th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I had my first acupuncture session today fo tinnitus and anxiety. IM hoping its the feel crappy before you feel better because my ears are ringing a little louder than normal and my nerves are not doing well.
January 3rd, 2010 at 12:19 am
Acupuncture helped me a lot in relaxation. It takes away some of my muscle cramps due to physical stress.