Riding pain...Acupuncture

[Rough Edge racing]

 I've been dealing with arm pain for 6 months. Did all the usual stuff  like PT that made it worse. Finally I got an MRI and saw a respected neurosurgeon  who said there was nothing he could do that would be effective. My primary doc said some find relief from Acupuncture so it might be worth a try.
  So...I went to see the pin sticker and found out a few things. Number one she's an intelligent attractive woman with 12 years of formal education in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Apparently acupuncture is serious business and regulated just like regular medical doctors.
  Her office is New Age with a pitcher of chilled lemon water and some kind wierd music and I had to take off my boots at the door...
 She interviews me  and explains the procedure. I strip down and lay on a cushy exam table. Aroma therapy first with pleasant smelling balm. Then about 30 pins,my ears ,eyebrows and right foot and arm to "draw" the pain from the left arm. Then I'm left to mellow for about 20 minutes listening to the  music..I stare at the ceiling ..the arm pain doesn't disappear so mach as it feels more distant...
 She come back in and pull the pins. Then a vigorous finger massage of my neck and arm for maybe 15 minutes. All the while she's discussing what's being done.
 I've gone twice and while not a miracle ,the pain is less or at least less annoying. I'll keep an open mind and go three more times...
 My insurance and medicare doesn't pay, cost is 70 bucks per one hour visit..

[jas67]

At least she's attractive to look at while your there -- that alone could help ease the pain.   

All kidding aside, please keep us posted.    I deal with chronic back pain, and am open to just about anything to deal with it.

Working on core strengthening has helped quite a bit, but, the pain is still there.    I'd like to avoid surgery as long as possible.   Maybe acupuncture might help?

[Vasco DG]

Another type of mountebankery masquerading as medicine!

Pete

[NCAmother]

I've had an acupuncture regiment for depression about 10 years ago.  They did this thing where they would lite up a piece of paper and put a cup over that part.  It (for me) drew a lot of blood but didn't hurt.  They did it every visit, and gave me some kind of special tea.  In about 2 months I started feeling in a good mood again!   

[Lannis]

Another type of mountebankery masquerading as medicine!

Pete

On the other hand, if burning incense, waving a chicken bone, and chanting some mantra makes the patient feel better, then why not?   I'm sure I've done stuff or taken something that didn't really do anything but I thought it did and so I felt better about it ... no harm done ....

Lannis

[Vasco DG]

On the other hand, if burning incense, waving a chicken bone, and chanting some mantra makes the patient feel better, then why not?   I'm sure I've done stuff or taken something that didn't really do anything but I thought it did and so I felt better about it ... no harm done ....

Lannis

No, if people want to believe in mountebankery they are welcome to. I just don't like it being paid for by either the public purse in this country or private insurance in countries that have that system of health care.

Placebo effect is fine, up to a point. For me the 'Point' is where someone else is expected to start picking up the tab for bullshit.

Pete

[Lannis]

No, if people want to believe in mountebankery they are welcome to. I just don't like it being paid for by either the public purse in this country or private insurance in countries that have that system of health care.

Placebo effect is fine, up to a point. For me the 'Point' is where someone else is expected to start picking up the tab for bullshit.

Pete

Typically, it's not covered.   I know that when my wife tried out a chiropractor (who did spine manipulation in this case, but also offered massage therapy and acupuncture) our insurance wouldn't touch it, it was all out of pocket.     The chiropractor warned her in advance that the neurosurgeon was probably right and that surgery was the only thing that would fix it, but we gave it the old college try, sure enough the manipulation didn't help, and surgery made the pain all go away for good ....

Lannis

[JoeW]

Another type of mountebankery masquerading as medicine!

Pete

Even though I had several acupuncture treatments for knee pain with good results, I was still a skeptic. When I first started dating my wife she had a sweet, dumb, goofy yellow lab named Merlin. He developed a back issue and was clearly in pain. Several visits to the vet and estimates in the five figure range for surgery, Diane found a clinic that did acupuncture on dogs. She made an appointment and asked me to take him since she worked on Saturdays. I lifted him in and out of her little SUV. He slowly walked head down into the office. The receptionist came around the counter to give him a treat, Merlin lived for food. He laid still for his treatment with me holding his head in my lap. After the needles were removed, he got to his feet quickly, trotted out to the front desk where he promptly hopped up putting his front paws on the desk, he knew where the treats were. When I got to the car, I opened the hatch and as I bent to help him in, he jumped in on his own. His pain seemed to be gone. We did a regular monthly visit and eventually found a practitioner that would come to our home for treatments. He lived a relatively pain free life for another 5 years. Now, Merlin didn't know acupuncture from gardening, he had no preconceived opinions on it. But, I saw it help him. I'm a believer now!

[Rough Edge racing]

No, if people want to believe in mountebankery they are welcome to. I just don't like it being paid for by either the public purse in this country or private insurance in countries that have that system of health care.

Placebo effect is fine, up to a point. For me the 'Point' is where someone else is expected to start picking up the tab for bullshit.

Pete

Well, when Western medicine can't help with the pain and I sure as hell don't want to take opiates daily like so many do for pain...There are few options. And in this country we pay for acupuncture out of pocket. I've talked to people and for chronic pain there appears to be about a 50 percent chance that acupuncture/Oriental medicine will help to some degree. If it's just witchdoctor shit and my pain lessens, I'm good with that.
 I went into this with an open mind and it'll stay that way for a few more visits...
 On a lighter note, I told her about going to Maine with my 650 Triumph racer this weekend for the LSR competition. She said what is LSR? I said like the World's Fastest Indian movie only not an Indian and not that fast. Still a blank stare...Then I said

men and women dressed in animal hides hanging on to oily vibrating  machines propelled by fire. The smell of racing fuel, burnt oil  clutch linings and intense noise.. A pure internal combustion experience.

Her eyes lit up " the cleansing of the soul by primal urges...

[normzone]

You might consider finding a body work tech. Think of massage but with pressure and stretching, not only gentle stroking.

My body work guy leaves green bruises on me, but my dramatically increased range of motion and absence of pain is all worth it.

 My wife thought she had a permanent shoulder issue - the introductory free ten minute session made it go almost completely away, and that's when we began seeing this guy.

[jknight611]

Well after the traditional doctors prescribing enough pain medicine to make me a drooling idiot, and me not taking them because of that, I went to a acupuncture practitioner and after several visits I got some relief.  Don't understand how it works,  there is a lot if things I don't understand but I do know it was effective for me.   I am currently talking to some boyz in the 'hood about the value of the prescription drugs so I can move my retirement date up a bit.

[Rough Edge racing]

You might consider finding a body work tech. Think of massage but with pressure and stretching, not only gentle stroking.

My body work guy leaves green bruises on me, but my dramatically increased range of motion and absence of pain is all worth it.

 My wife thought she had a permanent shoulder issue - the introductory free ten minute session made it go almost completely away, and that's when we began seeing this guy.

I get that too,she vigorously  massages with her finger tips and left light bruises. It's a concept of Oriental medicine. Obviously this stuff wouldn't be my first choice for live threatening or live changing illness or injury.

[Groover]

I had some arm pain earlier in the year (still lingering a little) and after much research I determined that it was "Brachial Neuritis (Parsonage-Turner Syndrome)" http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/brachial-neuritis-parsonage-turner-syndrome

See if that matches your symptoms - I did a little chiropractic care, changed some of my habits (like not sleeping with my arm up like I was a kid in a classroom eager to ask a question), and things are much better now.

I've always wanted to try acupuncture for some other issues, so curious to see how this works out for you in this case.

[keuka4884]

Acupuncture is far removed from quackery. It has been a staple in China for what, 2000 years or so? If it were bogus it would have died out. The thing I have with acupuncture or chiropractic is that the relief is only temporary. However if regular medicine reaches a dead end (which it often does concerning pain relief) and relief comes with either treatment, why not? A pain pill is temporary relief too. I know some people who have seen a permanent change for the better after acupuncture treatments, but that is rare. I quit going to a chiropractor after I discovered an inversion table. For an iffy back it is the best treatment I have found. In upstate NY insurance pays for both with a small co-pay.
I'd much rather insurance pay for acupuncture or chiropractor treatments than continual refills of over prescribed pain pills. 

[not-fishing]

Four decades ago I knew a very well respected Doctor who used acupuncture with good results.  I respected his opinion as he was a former Marine who landed at Iwo Jima and was a no-nonsense kind of guy.

Whatever works - is the way I look at it.

[Rough Edge racing]

I had some arm pain earlier in the year (still lingering a little) and after much research I determined that it was "Brachial Neuritis (Parsonage-Turner Syndrome)" http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/brachial-neuritis-parsonage-turner-syndrome

See if that matches your symptoms - I did a little chiropractic care, changed some of my habits (like not sleeping with my arm up like I was a kid in a classroom eager to ask a question), and things are much better now.

I've always wanted to try acupuncture for some other issues, so curious to see how this works out for you in this case.

My problem is slight pressure on the arm nerve from the herniated neck  disc. The squeezed out disc part was dissolved by my body but but the pain remains. I also have arm muscle damage from past injuries ...No numbness or weakness to speak of and I have full arm rotation...

[normzone]

" The thing I have with acupuncture or chiropractic is that the relief is only temporary. "

Yeah, eating and drinking have similar limitations. But they're still considered reliable forms of relief.

My experience with acupuncture is very limited - an attempt to treat my chronic hypertension.

 One needle in my earlobe, one in my foot, and one in my hand produced a drugged, drunken sensation that was a real surprise. The body's electrical signals can be manipulated by sticking test probes into the wiring harness.

[Wayne Orwig]

Not saying acupuncture does or does not have any value, but:

It has been a staple in China for what, 2000 years or so?

These are the same people that prize rhino horn and tiger penis for there medicinal value. When I visited Shanghai, they tried to get me to eat toad saliva as a dessert treat. (of course they also had bird saliva on the menu)
Just because China has done something for many years, doesn't make it right. 

[Lannis]

Not saying acupuncture does or does not have any value, but:

These are the same people that prize rhino horn and tiger penis for there medicinal value.

Actually, they've just about driven these species and several others near extinction because they believe in the "Aphrodisiac" value of these things.

Basically, they think that anything shaped like a penis, if it is powdered and put into some sort of elixir, will "improve" your "manhood".

I don't care if their "medicine" IS 2000 years old or whatever, it's the same level of quackism as the penis-enhancement stuff that we see all the time.     There MIGHT be something to acupuncture or there might not, but being Chinese "medical practice" puts in in the "Junk Folder" for me ...

Lannis

[O]

Don't be so close-minded, guys.  Acupuncture has been clinically proven to be effective for chronic pain relief.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/acupuncture-provides-true-pain-relief-in-study/

[nunzio]

While installing Neurological monitoring equipment in Shaoshan,China in 1981.
 I monitored the neurological activity of a patient that was having jaw surgery.
His face was split open and the skin pinned back from above his ear to past his chin.
He was wide awake and NO pain meds were administered to him.
He was in no pain.
He was talking to the doctors during the 3 hour surgery.
they had the side of his face covered in needles...probably 40-50 of them.
from time to time they would twist them or pull and reinsert them.
I have never seen anything like it.
Acupuncture is the real deal!!!!

[Groover]

I would just be sure the needles aren't Made in China - Should be printed on them if you look closely.

[nunzio]

I would just be sure the needles aren't Made in China - Should be printed on them if you look closely.

This was 35 years ago when the only thing China made was Charcoal for their stoves.

[kirkemon]

I didn't have a good experience with a licensed Acupuncturist here in Los Angeles (Korea Town actually).
My wife insisted that I give it a try, well I did, with absolutely no results. I felt exactly the same leaving as I did going in. They only charged me a small fee since I wasn't satisfied. 
They stuck many needles, maybe a dozen, in various locations. Some long needles he twisted around. I was amazed that there was no blood at all.

[normzone]

Yeah, like anything else if it's not a problem of that nature then that approach won't work.

I always see my chiropractor first for anything short of a compound fracture or a root canal. If he won't be able to help me he lets me know, and recommends who he thinks I REALLY need to call.

Sometimes an ignition problem is really a fuel issue 

[gfritzmeier]

I think if we were to look around we'd see that many reputable medical facilities use acupuncture. I for a fact know that the Mayo Clinic uses acupuncture for chronic pain. I've had it and have not results I'd write home about but as someone above mentioned he had a dog it worked on. We've had it done on several of our dogs and got positive results every time.  I tried it because of pain in my hip, leg and foot to no avail. I did have back surgery 3 weeks ago and no longer have pain. Hopefully tomorrow the surgeon tells me I can start riding again.