My first Accupuncture experience!

[Rena705]

Hi all...well I went to the Accupuncturist yesterday a.m. and I will say that it was very interesting. It turned out that one lady cancelled at the last minute so Dr. Aung asked my hubby if he would like a treatment as well and he agreed.

So I was taken into a curtained examining area and I was to be examined by 3 women...to Physical Therapists and a Dentist (Not Mine) that learning the art of Accupuncture with the hope that they will be able to use it on their clients.  They were very friendly and even though I did have some butterflies, they made me feel at ease very quickly.

The started out by getting a verbal history of my health problems and being that I have sooo many, we had to be reminded of the time constraint we had in order to do a treatment as well.  They wanted to know about when all the current problems started, what traditional treatment I have had and also a little about my life from birth on.  They seemed particularly interested because I am adopted and they questioned me several times as to whether I feel anger or animosity towards my birth mother...this really did not apply to me because I was adopted into a wonderful family who didn't sit down at one time to tell me I was adopted but just let me know from 6 weeks on...so I basically just always knew!

Then they began to do a physical "exam"...they started my looking in my mouth to determine if my mouth was (pardon me) phlegm filled or dry and they determined it was fairly wet...apparently not condusive to good health.  Then they looked at my ears, the shape the texture.  Then they looked at my hands and deduced that I have "square hands" with thumbs that tell them I am very rigid in my beliefs (very true) and I have nice nails.  tee hee

Then they decide that they are going to treat the pain in my right temple, the droopy left eye, the pain in my legs and my heels.  They put 8 needles in the top of my head (leg pain and heel pain), one needle each at the base of my thumbs (headache), one in each of the undersides of each forearm (those ones hurt), and one each in the elbow area.  They immediately noticed the redness around each needle and apparently this means I have good chi?  

Then Dr. Aung came in and it was amazing what he noticed right away.  He pointed to my eyes and stated the obvious about the droopy eyelid but he is the first doctor to notice that the pupil in that eye is larger than in the right eye!  I have tried to tell the neuro's and my gp but they just brush it off as nothing.  He then asked me to smile and he said look, her whole left side of her face is not in keeping with the right side...lower and the right cheek has rosasia and feel the heat off of the right side of her compared to the left side.  He stood back and said you have been in severe pain for a long time, sharp short bursts and long extended deep pain.  I said yes in my head and the long extended pain in my legs.  He said yes but you also have fire below your knees, extending into your feet and you need some help. He asks who referred me to him and I told him it was my dentist and he said, I want you to come and see me...You are a very interesting case with many hidden problems that you need help with.  He stands back and looks at me and then comes over and gives me a hug and says you come see me...how can you live with such pain for so long?  I said I didn't have much of a choice, my neurologist doesn't believe that my MS is active...he says, and I quote, "We will help you and we will find new Neurologist...you need new medicine, not just my medicine...you have your dentist make appointment with me, I want to see you very soon."

If you look up Dr. S. Aung on the Rate your MD site you can get a good idea as to what kind of a man he is.  You look at him and you can see he takes this Chinese medicine very seriously and that he is only looking to help where he can.  I was the only one there yesterday that he has asked to see personally out of about 22 people.  How can I say no?

I feel a little strange today but then we went to the Sportsmen's Show after seeing the accupuncturist and then we had that going away party for our friends.  We didn't get home until after midnight and I am pretty tired.  I did way too much walking yesterday and my legs are toast today but after the treatment I was walking through the hospital without my cane and I could feel that even my posture was straighter.  The pain in my head was gone and it has not been back yet but I did have a headache this a.m. when I got up.  I have had no electrical pain in my heels at all yet today.  

When the needles were removed, every single one...especially the ones in my scalp bled...a lot!  They said this is a good thing, good chi?  

I am going to go back to see the good Dr. when an appointment is made and I will keep you updated...I think that there may be something to this....

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[Guitar_grrrl]

I'm so happy you've had a good experience!  I've used acupuncture for everything from tendinitis, arthritis, and now, spasms.  I've not been diagnosed with MS formally, I'm in Limboland.  But the acupuncture does seem to make the spasms less intense.  The L'Hermittes and other paresthesias are still with me, though.  Keep up the good work!

Hugs

[PastorDan]

I sure wish I had an answer for you.  Have you tried any kind of topical creme or ointment kind of preparation, such as is sometimes used for sore muscles?

[ps103]

I posted a question the other day regarding neurological pain (like spasms) on the left side of my neck but so far no response. When I first mentioned this pain to my neurologist she said it was a very common pain with MS patients but I still went everywhere to see if it was something else.  Because NO pain pills like ibuprofen, etc. helps at all of course because its neurological.
Then I went to a Reumatoid arthritis specialist who gave me a cortizone shot in neck; no difference/ then I had my dentist even check it out;
and then I even tried an acpuncturist 4 times (I can point to the exact spot where it hurts right at the bone behind my ear) it just hurt while doing the procedure- he said I should stop. So I guess my neurologist was right because nothing helps. She put me on Cymbalta NOT for depression but said it would help the neurological pain.  Does ANYONE OUT there have this kind of pain?  ANY SUGGESTIONS?  I would appreciate it if anyone has an idea about this. Thanks           ps103

[Lulu54]

Ess,
I am looking specifically for help with the bladder/bowel issues - I know my right leg damage probably can't be reversed and I can live with that.  but this bladder nonsense ... I would be so happy if it would make a difference.

Anyone else out there with experience?

[essdipity]

PS  The mouth and neck symptoms ultimately resolved on their own, never to return (I hope!).

ess

[essdipity]

I guess I missed this thread last year.

About 6 months before my diagnosis, and not knowing what was wrong, I took the advice of my dentist and made an appointment with an acupuncturist. This was in view of my ongoing mouth and neck pain.

The acupuncturist was also a dentist, and on the faculty of the U. of MD School of Dentistry. He was very pleasant and very informative, explaining some of how western medicine is learning from the ancient Chinese, and figuring out the scientifc principles that underlie acupuncture.

Long story longer, after 5 or 6 sessions and no changes, I stopped going. It didn't help me at all, unfortunately. The acupuncturist told me that the effects are usually cumulative, so it's important to give the method a chance. However, 5 or 6 are usually enough to tell.

I would  certainly recommend that this at least be tried. It won't hurt anyone, that's for sure, and possibly it could help.

I'd like to hear from others in the MS world as to whether acupuncture was/is beneficial.

ess

[Lulu54]

I am going for my first accupuncture on Friday and really appreciate all these comments I found in the archives. I'm wondering if you have kept up with the treatments and if so, what type of experiences did you have?

my best,
Lulu

[Super_sally888]

Wow!  What an experience!  THat is such wonderful news.

My accupuncturist is good, but not anywhere near that good.  I had a visiting expert see me and he was obviously much more knowledgeable, but apparently he was an atrocious teacher.

I am sure he can help you!  Not cure, but at least help you.

I am having accupuncture today.  Am going to ask Sr. (she's a chinese catholic nun) if she thinks my problems are physical or psychological...

Sally

[Rena705]

Hey Christine...he was a wonderful and moreso than what it says on RateyourMD!  He is so calming and loving and sweet and caring and it's weird but you just want to melt into his aura...that's the only way I can describe it!  I will let you know when I get an appointment with him ok?

Thanks for your support Sarah!  I have to say that if there are good and bad experiences, I am fortunate to have had a good one and I hope that it will continue.  It was funny because the girls had about 14-16 needles in me my dentist just happened along and he looked at me and said, uh, ladies, I think you better stop with the needles cause Rena is looking a little woozy!  I just felt like I could have lay down and went to sleep and I guess I should have afterwards and I know better for next time that's for sure.  I will let you know how it goes and thank you again for your support Sarah!

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[Freespirit24]

Wow sounds good................I believe in Accupuncture but getting one that is really good is hard , This Doctor sounds excellent so I would also give it a go if I were you.

I had Accupuncture in the past and only once was it good and that was the first time............He was brilliant. After that I could never get a good one and it hurt so bad I would cry. The first guy the needles never hurt at al.

I will be waiting to hear how you get on.

Hugs

sarah

[Nerve_Wrecked]

Oh Rena, I am SOOOO pleased for you!

This sounds like such an amazing appointment and amazing doctor. He seems to want to help you so much, you deserve this. After all you've been through, you DEFINATELY deserve this.

I am so excited it went so well, and that your pain is so much reduced. I remember that "weird" feeling after accupuncture, and I also remember a huge energy burst immediately following.

YAY Rena, how incredibly exciting. New hope is always good!

Hugs,
Christine