acupuncture

I was just reading that acupuncture is not recommended for MS.  Anyone here who is doing acupuncture or have any other feedback on this?

this is the website...http://tiny.cc/22tuw

meg

[steph74]

I've had a few treatments recently for trigeminal and occipital neuralgia that had been getting steadily worse.  I don't have a controlled experiment, so I don't know if things would have changed in the absence of it, but I have been able to cut back on my medication for TN, which is great.

I wish they'd do some controlled studies and figure out, if it works, and why it works!  :)  I hate doing this and not knowing, but it seems harmless enough and it might work.  My completely speculative suspicion is that it probably has less to do with *where* they place the needles than something about the way the body perceives the needles, that causes a reduction in pain sensation.

I definitely was relaxed after the treatment but didn't immediately feel better.  The acupuncturist said usually improvement starts about 24 hours after.  I wasn't really paying attention, but about a day and a half afterward, I did notice I had been feeling a little better.  I don't think I'm particularly susceptible to suggestion (generally the opposite!) but what she's said has generally been the case so far.

Stephanie

P.S. Grrr...  I just had to look up a word because I kept trying to spell "susceptible" as "suseptical!"  I wish my brain would get with the program.  I feel like I'm doing that a lot lately, saying a word wrong...

[Quixotic1]

Hmmmm.......I have repeatedly read just the opposite.  It can help relieve pain and help reduce spasticity.  That article, BTW, over 3 years old and it basically is not a comment that acupuncture is not bad, it just cannot be "recommended" due to no objective evidence that it works.  That's the conventional Party Line when faced with the question of whether or not to recommend something.

I believe that now we do have some evidence-based info that acupuncture is NOT harmful and is often helpful in the person's quality of life.

Quix

[JemmAus]

I only have one second-hand story about accupuncture. One of the teachers at my son's school, her friend has/had MS. I say "had" because  she saw a top-notch accupuncturist in Sydney a while back. At the time she was wheelchair-bound and not good at all.

After a few treatments, she is "normal".

I don't know why, I don't know if it wa from the accupuncture, or if she had been in a relapse and came out of it or what, but from what the teacher said, she had been bad with her MS for a long , long time, and is now as normal as she was prior to getting it.......

worth looking into I think.

[supermum_ms]

Jemm, you didn't just tell a miraculous MS story of a friend who had/has a friend who was wheelchair bound but after some none conventional treatment she's cough - cured? lol everyone and their dog has one of those friends..............take it with a grain of salt, sweety!

Cheers......JJ

[JemmAus]

I am......as I said, it was second hand.......I meant accupuncture itself was worth looking into, not my daft story! HA!

[steph74]

I've had a few treatments recently for trigeminal and occipital neuralgia that had been getting steadily worse.  I don't have a controlled experiment, so I don't know if things would have changed in the absence of it, but I have been able to cut back on my medication for TN, which is great.

I wish they'd do some controlled studies and figure out, if it works, and why it works!  :)  I hate doing this and not knowing, but it seems harmless enough and it might work.  My completely speculative suspicion is that it probably has less to do with *where* they place the needles than something about the way the body perceives the needles, that causes a reduction in pain sensation.

I definitely was relaxed after the treatment but didn't immediately feel better.  The acupuncturist said usually improvement starts about 24 hours after.  I wasn't really paying attention, but about a day and a half afterward, I did notice I had been feeling a little better.  I don't think I'm particularly susceptible to suggestion (generally the opposite!) but what she's said has generally been the case so far.

Stephanie

P.S. Grrr...  I just had to look up a word because I kept trying to spell "susceptible" as "suseptical!"  I wish my brain would get with the program.  I feel like I'm doing that a lot lately, saying a word wrong...

[MonkeyMom4]

I did acupuncture for my TN pain, mostly b/c I was pregnant and not a lot of safe choices.

It was AMAZING! It helped calm the nerves down quite a bit. It of course wasn't a CURE, but for 30 bucks and no drugs I will do it again and again.

[meg321]

Thanks.. a lot for your responses. I am glad to hear all of this, i was going to be trying to do some acupuncture soon.. I have only had it once to quit smoking and it really calmed me down, i was impressed.

I didnt quit smoking but I did later..

hugs, meg

[Lulu54]

I have done accupuncture many times and would do it regularly if it didn't cost me so much.  I have found it to be very relaxing, which in itself is therapeutic.  But it also has given me relief from pain, and general discomfort.  

I had accupuncture for MS hug symptoms and it gave immediate release to the rib muscles/ligaments that cause that discomfort.    I have also been treated for spasticity, which felt better immediately and was pretty ,much resolved the next day.

I have also been treated for the digestive/bladder/constipation woes that hit me.  

Next time I think I will ask him to do the accupuncture facelift !  I hear it can do wonders for wrinkles, too. LOL

Lucky for me this accupuncturist is in the same office with my massage therapist and when I see him for one specific problem he will end up taking care of several areas.  My last session was almost 2 hours so I definitely see it as a good investment.

Lulu

[Ufrustrated2]

gee, i hope it is helpful!!

i'm so looking hard to find a good one here to seek help with the T & C/head sections and spastic knots.

yoga is helping some but not near what i would like.

[michelleislay]

i've been doing acupuncture once a week for about 6 weeks now.  I have noticed that my symptoms of numbness which in the past have lasted about 6 weeks before resolving--seem to have resolved quicker since beginning this form of treatment.  
again, no way of knowing  to what degree the acupuncture is involved...my practitioner feels the same, but notes that the body is already trying to heal itself and it can be nothing but useful to assist it in anyway possible and that acupuncture can do just this...assist.
good luck!
michelle

[meg321]

accupuncture facelift, wow, i need that too..lol


I have been thinking, which of my problems would I want worked on....?

meg

[Guitar_grrrl]

I've been seeing an acupuncturist for years for mostly sports medicine, arthritis, etc. with great results.  When my spasticity got worse, I started seeing her for that, and now, my routine is to see her about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks before my next Tysabri infusion.  I usually crash at about that time, and Acupuncture (as well as helping spasticity) helps with boosting energy.  I can't say it's a HUGE help, but hey, I'll take what I can get!

[Quixotic1]

I want the acupuncture mindlift.

[Quixotic1]

or maybe the acupuncture brainlift.

[rendean]

acupuncture brain lift...where do I sign up?

[electrodud]

Only Special acupuncturists can treat MS patients.
If they don't have experience in treating MS patients don't use them.

I go to a wonderful acupuncturist that understands my MS and I get 2 treatments a week and it really helps.

It helps with my foot drop and weakness in my right side. After each treatment my muscles feel stronger and I have less spasms and cramps. it also give me energy so I can exercise more which is what keeps me going.

I do not take any medications for my MS (primary progressive)

I am using a holistic approach in dealing with imy MS since I was dianosed 4 years aho.
I do take large amounts of herbs and do alot of whole juicing everyday of mostly veggies and some fruits. Also apple cider vinegar with raw honey 2-3 times a day