Acupuncture side effect (nerve damage?)

[Gupi]

Hello

I had acupuncture a week ago for treatment for a right side neck problem.  Since then, I have experienced new symptoms in my left arm.  The acupuncturist put a needle in the lower back of my neck very close to the top of the spine (if not in it) and it really hurt.  I understand that acupuntre is not supposed to hurt this much and even other needles she put in did not hurt as much as this one.  I told her, i even went 'ouch' and she said leave it for a minute and if its still hurting she'd take it out.  After a minute or so, i couldn't feel it much and i though i'd just leave it.  

After the session, i had pain where it had gone in.  The next day i woke up with a very pins and needles affected left hand.  Since then my symptoms have got worse.  My left forearm feels heavy and i get pins and needles in my left hand and left foot too.  I get pain in my arm and nera the neck.  My left index finger also shakes alot when i curl it inwards.  It used to do this but not as much as after the acupuncture.

Basically i am convinced that needle has done something to my nerve as i'm experience typical nerve symptoms.  I just want to know what i can do about it.  I saw the acupuncturist again a week later (yesterday) and even spoke to the manager of the department (it is the NHS) and they kept telling me acupuncture cannot do this.  I told them otherwise but they just disagreed.  I need some hep now but i don't know who to approach or how to go about it. I'm going abroad this sunday so i can't even see my doctor.  Is it possible i may have sustained nerve damage due to that needle?  If so, what can i do about it?

Thank you for reading, i know it was a bit long but i will very much appreciate any advice.

Gupi

[jitteryjade]

I have planter faciitis on my right foot and I decided to give accunpunture a try.. I had 2 sessions twice a week for about 1 month and I was feeling quite confident about it and happy with the results until after 1 session I noticed quite bad swelling around my ankle on the left side of my right foot, I showed my partner and he even agreed that it looked swollen. My foot definately wasn't swollen before the session as I would have most certainly noticed it as it was quite noticeable. I went back the following week and asked the accupuncturist about it and he denied that it would have been caused by accupuncture, he said that it was most likely something else, it just seemed very strange to me that it wasn't swollen before that session and after it was.. I showed my family doctor that has known me my whole life and he even said that it looked like an accupuncture needle caused the swelling... It has been at least 2 months and it is still swollen and I also experience weird sensations from time to time in my foot.. I feel quite annoyed as my parents and I have spent over $1000 on accunpuncture treatments to try and fix my foot but I honestly think its done more harm than good, instead of fixing my foot it has made it worse and the apperance of it has changed and im worried that the swelling my never go away..

[moon2011]

I have a same problem, it's been 5 months still hurting

[leitheij]

Hello,

I wondered if your pain ever went away.  I had acupuncture yesterday.  It was very gentle.. no pain. I didn't feel any pain afterwards.  Today my right arm is hurting and tingling.  Just wondering if this is temporary.

[sanmdy]

I had the same problem-I went to acupuncturist last week. She needled both arms without alcohol swabs and each time i said ouch b.c it hurt tremendously. She left them in for 30 min. I asked her to take it out and she did and insisted it needs to go back in. I came out of office in tears and pain in arms tingling etc. i couldnnt push or pull doors. It hurts to type , do dishes even open abottle of water. I am on motrin, and apparently have radial nerve damage on both arms. i havent checked my legs out yet but they tingle too and have intermittent pain. I hope this is not permanent but should not be doing anything to aggravate further such as typing which hurts. keep me posted on what you end up doing- i hope you get better soon!

[lamplight]

Hi - I just want to comment that I feel for you and your situation.  I have a similar situation, and I keep getting the run around too.  People who do acupuncture seem to deny that it can do any harm, and yet the reality is blaringly obvious that this is not the case since people such as myself, you and others have had bad things happen to them.  Just as with any other kind of healing instrument, of course there is potential to do harm.  It just seems like egotism that anyone would think otherwise.  I think it is rare, but I do think it happens especially if one is sensitive.  I just hope people like you and me keep talking about it so that things can change.  People can't just keep denying reality forever.  The truth will prevail.