acupuncture therapy for pain

blackjack

I would like to know if there is anyone who has done acupuncture as a treatment for pain. I would like to hear the positive or negative effects and if it is worth investigating this treatment option. I know that there are a lot of therapies like yoga, massages and Reiki but I have no information on acupuncture. Your feedback will be appreciated. 

Deirdre1

I did blackjack and I also did Reiki and PT  - I was open to ANYTHING that could work on pain as I have a chronic pain condition and when under treatment for bc I went off of all meds for pain (except after my bi-lateral mastectomy) so that I could get a better assessment of where things were.  During that year I did acupuncture once and sometimes twice a week I found it helpful for a day maybe two.  So directly after the session my pain levels would go up for about 24 hours and then go below my normal threshold for appox 24 - 48 hours, but unfortunately the level would go right back where it started after that.  I also did hypnosis and had about the same outcome (perhaps a day or 2 longer of pain relief with hypnosis)..  and the same was so with PT and excercise as well..  I love the idea of Reiki (and studied it in fact) but I have not found it helpful with pain - it certainly helps with relaxation and this in and of itself is helpful with coping with pain but does not directly (in my experience) help relieve pain..  I hope this helps - I think what this says is that a great deal of how we cope with "pain" is directly connected with what we do in our minds to address it but that those solutions only last for a very brief time and the pain bursts forward.  The mind can be a great help when coping with anything but it cannot relieve the pain itself  IMO.. I certainly hope you have a better outcome than I did and if you find anything helpful please let us all know!!!  Best, Deirdre

blackjack

Deirdre, Thank you so much for your input. I know that the mind is a powerful tool in how we regulate our own emotions, pain levels and healing. My issue is this pelvic congestion which acupuncture may or may not help. But I am going to research this and see if this is an opinion worth trying. I do not want future surgery as I have read that you develop more issues. God knows we have more than we can handle with bc. Thank you again and hope you are healing well too.

Hugs to you, BJ

Deirdre1

Oh you are welcome, my acupunturist is a DO as well as a Chinese med doc, so do your research and you might find a really talented indivudal... I'm wishing that for you!!!  Best, Deirdre  (hugs back)  (I know how you feel about having more surgery too - I am trying to avoid what ever I can, not always possible but worth a try anyway)  Good luck!!!!

blackjack

Can I ask where your DO name and where he/she is located ??

Deirdre1

Sure!  I sent you a private E-mail so as not to upset anyone here at BC.ORG's rules and regs.....  Take care