Dear readers, what can you tell me about acupuncture?
I went to my primary care physician today to get input about the arthritis in my hands. I have heard good things about hand surgery/joint replacement. I wanted an evaluation of my current condition and perhaps a referral to a specialist.
The doctor, who is filling in for my regular doctor, who I don't really know either because I'm in Group Health, which I like, but this doctor position at my clinic is a revolving door and I have not had the same doctor for more than a year or two in about ten years - whew, where was I...Oh, today's doctor was a lovely young man probably from India. He let it be known that he believed in surgery only as a very last resort. He'd rather put a patient on narcotic pain medication than surgery.
While my arthritis can be painful, I am much more concerned with it becoming debilitating. I have lots more stuff to do before I retire my hands, or any other part of me, and it is getting harder and harder to grip things and do fine movement, such as is needed in sewing. I am getting clumsy.
I won't return to that doctor, friendly as he was. I need more than his "opinion", which he admitted he was giving. In the mean time, he suggested I do cold/hot treatments and/or acupuncture.
Cold/hot treatment means sitting with my hands in ice water for ten minutes and then putting them in a warm wrap. The ice water part sounds bad, and the whole thing means standing/sitting around for 20 minutes unable to use my hands.
Back to my initial question - What do you know about acupuncture? A recent compilation of studies indicated that the benefit in pain relief might be due more to the placebo effect than to actual pain treatment. I am naturally suspicious of "alternative" treatments, and I'm not a good candidate for the placebo effect.
Have any of you been helped by acupuncture, and if so, for what kind of pain?
I have been going to an acupuncturist for five years and I'm still walking around thanks to him. He is the best! I have a curvature of the spine and the older I get, the more pain it causes. Acupuncture was recommended and I decided to give it a try. Less pain, easier movement and I'm still on my feet without crutches or a wheelchair. I can't recommend him/them more highly. I don't think you would regret giving them a try. If you are interested I can give you his name and phone number and website.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
How about getting the opinion of a rheumatologist?
ReplyDeleteI have seen an acupuncturist on Group Health's approved list. Several times. It's very relaxing. I don't think it's cured any of my ailments, but it hasn't hurt. I'd give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you can find non-surgical, non-narcotic relief. I will be interested in what your readers say about acupuncture.
ReplyDeleteIn Boulder I saw a Chinese acupuncturist for about a year to get me through menopause. It was very effective, although I also had to brew some awful herbs and drink them down. Yuck! Once I had hurt my knee and he treated it with needles and it was instantly better.
ReplyDeleteI am with Group Health now, too. I like my doctor, and he sure made me feel good yesterday, telling me I am doing everything right.
never tried acupuncture-you could move to a hot dry climate...lol!
ReplyDeleteI have not had acupuncture. The hot/cold treatment doesn't sound so bad to me, but I did chuckle at
ReplyDeletetrying to picture you doing it--
"and the whole thing means standing/sitting around for 20 minutes unable to use my hands."
I think we all know that is not going to happen.
Sorry to hear about your arthritis. I have never tried acupuncture, because I am rarely in pain and I don't have arthritis. I wonder if it would suit my hubby, as he has severe arthritis in his knees, hip, and hands.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about it personally, but I would think it is worth a try. I do trust alternative medicine.
ReplyDeleteGlad you saw your award ... thanks for your visits.
Kathy M.
I've never tried acupuncture, but have a close friend that swears by it for many conditions. My husband tried it for pain in his hip and got minimal relief if any. My doctor said that acupuncture has been around for 2,000 years. In 2,000 years all our medicines will be gone but acupuncture will still be here. She says she supports its use.
ReplyDeleteI have many hand problems. I've had carpel tunnel surgery, and I'm thankful I did. I don't have a lot of arthritis except in my thumb. My orthopedic doc has wanted to do surgery on it for at least 15 years. I keep saying "no." I'm not against surgery, but I don't go there until I have no choice. In the case of carpel tunnel, I was losing function and there was nerve damage. That is why I chose surgery.
I certainly would try acupuncture. You really have nothing to lose.
Hi Linda, I think you are on the right path by seeking a variety of opinions. That's certainly what I've learned is that there are a lot of them. And you have to find someone (or several someones) to work with who makes sense to you. I have used alternative healing methods (including acupuncture) and I would say they are more holistic, more subtle, less dramatic as in no magic, but still very useful. I learned that there are different kinds of acupuncture. For me Chinese acupuncture was painful and not very helpful, whereas Japanese was helpful, over time, for neck shoulder pain.
ReplyDeleteI would wonder about massage? And I just read about honey/cinnamon combo being effective with arthritis and I have a good friend who has helped her asthma and arthritis (in her hands/fingers) A LOT with changing her diet. She went through an elimination diet and is on an interesting anti-inflammation diet now (no gluten or dairy for her). Good luck. There's lots of research out there to read about.
I also have arthritis in my hands - especially the right one and in my left knee. All can be very painful at times. I have been experimenting with a marijuana salve that I made myself. It is amazing to me that it really does seem to help - I have quite a few medicinal herbs in my garden that I have powdered and added to emu oil and coconut oil that I use for the base. My daughter gave me a wonderful book "Herbal Medicine" that has been very helpful and inspiring. I found that there are 55 plants in or near my garden that are medicinal. Still studying, but for now, my knee is in remission after several days of green salve application.
ReplyDeleteI did the hot/cold treatment for my ankle and it helped
ReplyDeleteI read a book
I have never had acupuncture but a friend swears by it and I have seen how much better she feels
I tried acupuncture for facial paralysis caused by shingles. It was relaxing but I didn't think it helped and I quit after several months. The paralysis eventually improved in spite of a poor prognosis from my doctor so maybe it had a delayed effect.
ReplyDeleteI find ibuprofen and a long daily soak in the tub help my arthritis in my knees feet and hands so perhaps the hot and cold soak will help your hands or maybe just the hot is necessary.