Acupuncure, anyone? Love to hear experiences

1Athena1

I am going for a consult tomorrow. I now have mets, but the doctor I m seeing is an expert on cancer. Still, I am looking for some help. What questions shouold I ask? We know that mets can move so is it realist tic to expect and end to pain in at least some areas? Any red flags?

Thanks in advance.

As a lioness I would still love to be able to snag a zebra, so if questioned about this in a court of law I will officially deny my mets status. If I die before my purjery sentence is up, I will blame it on prison food.

Anonymous

I'd like to hear from others too.  I'm considering checking out accupunture as well.

Sorry to hear about the mets, Athena. Damn crap shoot. May you live many years as a mighty lioness.

Anonymous

Oh...and I would be curious what your accupuncture doc says about lymphedemia. i.e. is it okay to stick the needles in an arm that had lymph nodes removed.

BayouBabe

I am in a clinical trial that involves accupuncture. I have been advised to not get accupuncture needles placed on my arm or trunk on the side that I had nodes removed. Bit disappointed, as much of my surgery related pain is on that side. However, I have what could be the early stages of lymphedema (3% swelling) and do not want to push my luck.

listee

I was going to acupuncture regularly for treatment for pain and relaxation. I found it took a few sessions before I noticed any differences but I did get some relief. As well as I think it helped with my kidney function as my dr was amazed how well they had recovered - note: prior to finding my BC recurrence and mets, I was having a lot of back pain and taking too much ibuprofen that shut down my kidneys. They have since recovered.

kmpod

I've suffered tremendous joint pain (among many other things) thanks to almost 2 years of Arimidex. I feel that I want to give it my best shot and stay on it, but my QOL has been in the toilet. At times I've been virtually disabled- a walker was looking pretty good.

I've now had 3 acupuncture treatments for the joint pain and the difference is truly amazing. My gait is normal. I'd say about 75-80% of the pain is gone. People tell me that my facial expression is back to normal. I guess I hadn't realized how much I was grimacing.

The lack of pain has lifted my spirits and I can now contemplate booking a vacation for DH and me.

I'm holding my breath, hoping that the positive effects won't wear off with time. I'll have my 4th treatment in 4 weeks next week and then will drop it down to once every two weeks to see if I can maintain with that. 

How has it worked out in the longer term for you acupuncture veterans?

Anonymous

kathy - I still see my wonderful acupuncturist every month, and my experience is completely positive, like yours. I started when I started taking Arimidex ( that was now 6 years ago) - finished my FIVE YEARS, and still have acupuncture as it keeps my knees moving without pain.  Plain ole osteo-arthritis, age related, and acupuncture really DOES reduce inflammation.  The effects for me are cummulative, and I notice a real difference if I don't have a treatment.

It was my oncologist who suggested seeing an acupuncturist for the joint, muscle pain, SE of Arimidex. In addition to acupuncture, I stopped eating all gluten, and no "whites" including sugar.  The difference is truly life enhancing.

I also still see a massage therapist every month.  Both massage & acupuncture - "the bookends of my wellbeing"

kmpod

Thanks for that, Sunflowers. I was worried that the benefit from the treatments may diminish after a while. The relief after the first appointment seemed almost too good to be true. So far it has lasted from week to week quite well.

I think I'm going to get to know my acupuncturist very well indeed over the next few years.

blanviper

I've been getting acupuncture for SEs of tamoxifen since 10/2012 and with my first acupuncturist, it had helped a great deal. Greatly reduced hot flashes, almost no drenching sweats, less insomnia, less anxiety. It's not an immediate thing, though. It takes a few sessions. The acupuncturist at the intake session was way more thorough than ANY of my other docs have been - they really want to know everything thing about you because the belief is that they are treating the whole body, not an isolated part. I do think that's something that western medicine should pay more attention to.

The unfortunate thing is my original acupuncturist had to move out of state and treatment doesn't seem to be as effective with my new one. I did recently start seeing her and her style of acupuncture is different from the previous practitioner, so I think I have to give this one the same amount of time to determine whether she's the practitioner for me.  

Cdx

If you are going to try it then ensure they're from China or something and barely speak English, they're generally better. That being said, the right one it can help. I had too many bad ones to really trust it. I did have my dad drive 8 hrs plus once a week to month for about a year and I believe that delayed this diagnosis process cause I was well enough that it didn't show up but I still felt something was wrong.

Otterlike

Just started seeing a new Chinese doctor/acupuncturist.  Both needles and herbals.  My surgery is set for 8/28/13 and we are boosting my system a little bit before that.  My treatment plan may change if final path report comes back with need for chemo.  I am doing complementary supports and I feel pretty good about having the extra care in there, especially when I get to adjunct treatment time.  Only had one session so I can't really speak to efficacy this time around but I have had Chinese medicine before and it was helpful at the time.

Good luck!

Heather U-K