Aa
acupuncture causing nerve pain/damage?
Hello,
I've been getting acupuncture to treat my lower back pain. At my last treatment the doctor placed a needles at several locations on my legs and back.
The needle behind my right knee caused pain upon insertion and a lot of pain when he manipulated it. He took the needle out and replaced it and it appeared to be fine. Also the needle in my right ankle caused discomfort.
Shortly after the treatment I experianced pain at both sites and some odd sensations in my right foot and calf (warmth and numbness). The doctor (who is an MD as well as an acupuncturist)said it was nothing to be concerned about.
Has anyone had acupuncture cause nerve damage in such a way? The literature says it can cause "nerve damage" but no specifics are mentioned as to symptoms or location of needles.
Anyone experience something similar?
thanks
I've been getting acupuncture to treat my lower back pain. At my last treatment the doctor placed a needles at several locations on my legs and back.
The needle behind my right knee caused pain upon insertion and a lot of pain when he manipulated it. He took the needle out and replaced it and it appeared to be fine. Also the needle in my right ankle caused discomfort.
Shortly after the treatment I experianced pain at both sites and some odd sensations in my right foot and calf (warmth and numbness). The doctor (who is an MD as well as an acupuncturist)said it was nothing to be concerned about.
Has anyone had acupuncture cause nerve damage in such a way? The literature says it can cause "nerve damage" but no specifics are mentioned as to symptoms or location of needles.
Anyone experience something similar?
thanks
Hi, I know my post above you is very long, but I actually shared about how I attempted to recover from my muscle weakness after I had treatment on my lower back.
Perhaps, you would want to consult a neurologist or physiotherapist to help you with rehabilitation.
But I'm just a freelance dance practitioner, and I've been doing self-healing, mostly by using mental imagery, voluntary muscle contraction and body-talk.
I've regained, perhaps 80% of my muscle strength and some elasticity after a few months of practice - it previously felt athrophied and non-responsive. If you are interested, I wont mind sharing some techniques of what I do. Just hope it helps.
Perhaps, you would want to consult a neurologist or physiotherapist to help you with rehabilitation.
But I'm just a freelance dance practitioner, and I've been doing self-healing, mostly by using mental imagery, voluntary muscle contraction and body-talk.
I've regained, perhaps 80% of my muscle strength and some elasticity after a few months of practice - it previously felt athrophied and non-responsive. If you are interested, I wont mind sharing some techniques of what I do. Just hope it helps.
hello,
i have also experience the same situation of pain after acupuncture, except mine is my left arm. The acupunturist inserted the needle and it hurted but she told me the pain will go away just wait alittle. I thought she knew more so I left it alone, afterwards my left arm was really bothering me, I e-mailed her and she told me it will go away. It's been a several weeks and I realized my left arm has no strength to pick up or hold light weighted things. I know you posted this in 2009 but I was wondering if you found any solutions?
i have also experience the same situation of pain after acupuncture, except mine is my left arm. The acupunturist inserted the needle and it hurted but she told me the pain will go away just wait alittle. I thought she knew more so I left it alone, afterwards my left arm was really bothering me, I e-mailed her and she told me it will go away. It's been a several weeks and I realized my left arm has no strength to pick up or hold light weighted things. I know you posted this in 2009 but I was wondering if you found any solutions?
Wow, I wonder what kind of healer would intentionally want to harm you that way. A very devaint person indeed?
I thank God that I don't have problems with acupuncture as bad as the ones I read here. But I did have some issues after going through the electro-acupuncture.
I am a dancer. It was 2 years, ago, when I twisted my lower back doing a movement without sufficent warm up myself. I went for a centre which provided multiple treatments. It started with massages and warm infra-red lighting which didn't help me alleviate the stiffness on the right side of my lower back after a few treatments.
Then the therapist tried acupuncture. I did feel a little pain and tingling until a few days after, which the therapist had told me would be normal, since I've had needles being pricked into me. He was very careful with the placement of the needles and I felt some temporary relief.
However, as my back is still stiff during the 3rd sessions of acupunture, the therapist applied electric stimulation to the acupuncture. It has a much more intense effect on relaxing my muscles. However, I wasn't particularly keen on it, as I fear there may be side effects to my nerves - the location of the needles were very close to my spine. The first round went ok, but there seem to be still a little left, so I went back for a second round.
I expected just a mild and quick one, but he set the current on pretty strong, and left me alone for several minutes. I was starting to feel like it wasn't right, and I wanted to call out to him, but I didn't dare to move a muscle for fear of doing damage.
So finally, when he came back, I knew my muscles were overly loose on the right side, but I just hoped that it will go back to normal after some time.
Well, my back didn't really recover. Only when I went back to my orthopedic specialist, he gave me some anti-inflammatory medication as well as medicated plasters that it recovered in just a few days.
I can't believe I wasted all that money - as I generally trust TCM (herbal remedies) that had improved my quality of life tremendously, but acupuncture is new to me.
I wasn't aware of its lasting effects until late last year, when I successfully realigned my posture (I had a long standing problem of anterior pelvic tilt) that something didn't feel right. The whole realignment exercise had awakened some dormant muscles and a well aligned posture naturally requires greater core strength. But it became apparent that my back felt imbalanced. My left side is stronger than my right side.
At first, I may had attributed it to one-sided movement habits. But when I tried to voluntarily contract some muslces in my right side, it didn't respond accordingly. My muscles felt weak and almost non-responsive!
Over the next few months, my left side became stiffer and stiffer, and I even seem to be developing a scoliosis. I tried various exercises to strengthen my right back, but some muscles just don't fire and is significantly weaker - can even be seen and touched.
The cramp on my left became so uncomfortable that I had to focus on its relief first. My teacher had taught me to "ask my body" to heal itself, to relax and observe. After various visualisation techniques I've tried for myself, this was the most effective. By about June, the cramp was almost fully relieved. So I switched to working on my right side - reconnecting sensations and strengthening the muscles.
When I mentally scan my right back muscles, I was quite frightened to find that several muscles have shrunk in mass and some lacks sensation. It also remains in a state of being "permanently lengthened".
But I kept an optimistic mind and believe that my body can heal itself.
So I started work, I sometimes "ask my body" to do it, but I will also imagine my nerves connecting, mentally locate each muscle and feel it tingle, try to identify mirror muscles on the other side.
I even tried to mentally locate the positions of the inserted needless, and when I simulate nerve firing in my mind, those "needle holes" tingle, as if the holes are still there, un-repaired.
I tried various things like, mentally reversing the procedure/removing the "inserted" needles, voluntary contraction (which is possible now that I can feel the muscles), movement exercises, and sometimes with an exercise band, imagine restoring healthy bloodflow into my muscles and my muscles being re-inflated to a normal mass, and now I'm trying to imagine regeneration of the injured nerves.
It was a long and scary process, but I guess I've made alot of progress from where I started. My right side feel much stronger now and I can activate those dormant muscles, increase their elasticity and ability to contract, though there is still some work to do to restore it to the same strength as my left side.
Throughout my own healing process, there have been strange sensations like spasm, flowing currents and even strange dreams as my spine realigned and the body reactivates and repairs itself. I can still feel a little bit of the "needle-hole tingling" when my nerves fire. But I'd like to think that I am close to full recovery.
I hope that those of you whom had any such complications to not give up and do something about it. Most importantly, believe that your body can heal. As for acupunture, I guess I'll pass.
I thank God that I don't have problems with acupuncture as bad as the ones I read here. But I did have some issues after going through the electro-acupuncture.
I am a dancer. It was 2 years, ago, when I twisted my lower back doing a movement without sufficent warm up myself. I went for a centre which provided multiple treatments. It started with massages and warm infra-red lighting which didn't help me alleviate the stiffness on the right side of my lower back after a few treatments.
Then the therapist tried acupuncture. I did feel a little pain and tingling until a few days after, which the therapist had told me would be normal, since I've had needles being pricked into me. He was very careful with the placement of the needles and I felt some temporary relief.
However, as my back is still stiff during the 3rd sessions of acupunture, the therapist applied electric stimulation to the acupuncture. It has a much more intense effect on relaxing my muscles. However, I wasn't particularly keen on it, as I fear there may be side effects to my nerves - the location of the needles were very close to my spine. The first round went ok, but there seem to be still a little left, so I went back for a second round.
I expected just a mild and quick one, but he set the current on pretty strong, and left me alone for several minutes. I was starting to feel like it wasn't right, and I wanted to call out to him, but I didn't dare to move a muscle for fear of doing damage.
So finally, when he came back, I knew my muscles were overly loose on the right side, but I just hoped that it will go back to normal after some time.
Well, my back didn't really recover. Only when I went back to my orthopedic specialist, he gave me some anti-inflammatory medication as well as medicated plasters that it recovered in just a few days.
I can't believe I wasted all that money - as I generally trust TCM (herbal remedies) that had improved my quality of life tremendously, but acupuncture is new to me.
I wasn't aware of its lasting effects until late last year, when I successfully realigned my posture (I had a long standing problem of anterior pelvic tilt) that something didn't feel right. The whole realignment exercise had awakened some dormant muscles and a well aligned posture naturally requires greater core strength. But it became apparent that my back felt imbalanced. My left side is stronger than my right side.
At first, I may had attributed it to one-sided movement habits. But when I tried to voluntarily contract some muslces in my right side, it didn't respond accordingly. My muscles felt weak and almost non-responsive!
Over the next few months, my left side became stiffer and stiffer, and I even seem to be developing a scoliosis. I tried various exercises to strengthen my right back, but some muscles just don't fire and is significantly weaker - can even be seen and touched.
The cramp on my left became so uncomfortable that I had to focus on its relief first. My teacher had taught me to "ask my body" to heal itself, to relax and observe. After various visualisation techniques I've tried for myself, this was the most effective. By about June, the cramp was almost fully relieved. So I switched to working on my right side - reconnecting sensations and strengthening the muscles.
When I mentally scan my right back muscles, I was quite frightened to find that several muscles have shrunk in mass and some lacks sensation. It also remains in a state of being "permanently lengthened".
But I kept an optimistic mind and believe that my body can heal itself.
So I started work, I sometimes "ask my body" to do it, but I will also imagine my nerves connecting, mentally locate each muscle and feel it tingle, try to identify mirror muscles on the other side.
I even tried to mentally locate the positions of the inserted needless, and when I simulate nerve firing in my mind, those "needle holes" tingle, as if the holes are still there, un-repaired.
I tried various things like, mentally reversing the procedure/removing the "inserted" needles, voluntary contraction (which is possible now that I can feel the muscles), movement exercises, and sometimes with an exercise band, imagine restoring healthy bloodflow into my muscles and my muscles being re-inflated to a normal mass, and now I'm trying to imagine regeneration of the injured nerves.
It was a long and scary process, but I guess I've made alot of progress from where I started. My right side feel much stronger now and I can activate those dormant muscles, increase their elasticity and ability to contract, though there is still some work to do to restore it to the same strength as my left side.
Throughout my own healing process, there have been strange sensations like spasm, flowing currents and even strange dreams as my spine realigned and the body reactivates and repairs itself. I can still feel a little bit of the "needle-hole tingling" when my nerves fire. But I'd like to think that I am close to full recovery.
I hope that those of you whom had any such complications to not give up and do something about it. Most importantly, believe that your body can heal. As for acupunture, I guess I'll pass.
Dear Maria9uk,
Just to say, I know your account it truthful.
It is difficult to come forward and speak of being severely damaged by a treatment which is designed to benefit, but it is not simply possible, it is likely to damage in the hands of either a maltrained, or an intentionally malignant practitfioner.
I have been similarly impaired, dis-abled, by a TCM practitioner who was at the time the Head Teacher at The British School of Acupuncture, when the school was based around Russell Sq. His name was Dr Lau, and as a result of his deliberate intent to injur, I still have pain on two places on my back, close to the vertebral colum: L5-S1, where I have subsequently developed a prolapsed disc ( coincidence?), and on the back of the heart, agail left side, by column.
Those to points, which had me arch up, backwards, and scream with incredible pain, as rammed neddles into place, while uttering with utmost desdain: "you must be an artist.. Too emotional!"
Those two points still hurt, even without touching. They are uncomfortable. And along with the treatment came incredible personality change... I will not go into it, since my purpose here, is to validate and support your courage to courageously come forward to meet a potentially vast contentious barrage against you.
It is no secret that Asian healing arts are effective as designed to bring back to life, or even simulate death for extended periods of time, to ensure to reviving and , or survival of martial artists, Samurai, and ancient leaders.
The Asian healing arts have many, extraordinary capabilities, as they stem from exquisite learning. However, what may be less easily admitted is teir potential to mame, and indeed, kill.
It is no secret that the greatest healers are also the greatest killers. They possess the knowledge to do either. And, by specific intent, because in full command of such ability, or by sheer blunder, owed to sheer incompetence, Traditional Medicine practices have the potential to harm.
In your support, with thanks,
Suzette
Just to say, I know your account it truthful.
It is difficult to come forward and speak of being severely damaged by a treatment which is designed to benefit, but it is not simply possible, it is likely to damage in the hands of either a maltrained, or an intentionally malignant practitfioner.
I have been similarly impaired, dis-abled, by a TCM practitioner who was at the time the Head Teacher at The British School of Acupuncture, when the school was based around Russell Sq. His name was Dr Lau, and as a result of his deliberate intent to injur, I still have pain on two places on my back, close to the vertebral colum: L5-S1, where I have subsequently developed a prolapsed disc ( coincidence?), and on the back of the heart, agail left side, by column.
Those to points, which had me arch up, backwards, and scream with incredible pain, as rammed neddles into place, while uttering with utmost desdain: "you must be an artist.. Too emotional!"
Those two points still hurt, even without touching. They are uncomfortable. And along with the treatment came incredible personality change... I will not go into it, since my purpose here, is to validate and support your courage to courageously come forward to meet a potentially vast contentious barrage against you.
It is no secret that Asian healing arts are effective as designed to bring back to life, or even simulate death for extended periods of time, to ensure to reviving and , or survival of martial artists, Samurai, and ancient leaders.
The Asian healing arts have many, extraordinary capabilities, as they stem from exquisite learning. However, what may be less easily admitted is teir potential to mame, and indeed, kill.
It is no secret that the greatest healers are also the greatest killers. They possess the knowledge to do either. And, by specific intent, because in full command of such ability, or by sheer blunder, owed to sheer incompetence, Traditional Medicine practices have the potential to harm.
In your support, with thanks,
Suzette
I know how you feel. Since having acpuncture treatment with this women doctor my life has been hell.
I have been suffering from vertigo for 10 years. In June 2002 I went to see chinese women doctor in Newcastle for acupuncture due to neck and back problems. After having the treatment I started to experience severe dizziness (constant rocking sensation). At first I thought it was the neck that was causing the dizziness, so I continued to go back for more acupuncture, the more treatment I had the more worse the rocking got. I also kept throwing up and my legs started to shake when I was standing still. I don’t want to put anyone of from trying acupuncture as I know that it has helped some people. I’m having acupuncture treatment now with a different doctor and I’m fine when I have it with him. I have been diagnosed with a rare brain condition called orthostatic tremor by a neurologist at the RVI hospital in Newcastle. Since having the dizzy spells my life has been put on hold.
You are reading content posted in the Complementary Medicine Community
Many couples are turning to acupuncture to treat infertility. But does it work? We take a closer look.
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Learn ow this ancient healing Indian medicine can work for you
Before your drop a dime at the pharmacy, find out if these popular cold and flu home remedies are a wonder or a waste
