Acupuncture: What do people think of it?

[Zane1]

After a rather excruciating bursitis flare & a cortisone shot I made an appointment to see an acupuncturist. Anyone have any opinions? Any experience with them?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm more impressed by the results of Bowen therapy.

[Zane1 in reply to PMRpro]

What is that? I have to say I went for acupuncture yesterday & noticed no difference. I probably will not pursue this direction.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zane1]

Most acupuncture practitioners would tell you it will take some time and multiple sessions to achieve a result - I've not tried it so I don't know from personal experience.

Bowen therapy is a gentle manual soft-tissue physical therapy. This video

youtube.com/watch?v=9badjdj...(Not working as expected?)

tells how a podiatrist discovered it for himself and then shows how it is done. I don't know about all the holistic bumpf - I only know it has worked for me and a lot of others. It sounds crazy and looks crazy - but it is definitely worth trying.

Are you in the UK?

[Zane1 in reply to PMRpro]

No, the US. I have had a few trigger point massages that seemed to help & chiropractic is helpful. Maybe it was this particular person, but it seemed like hooey.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zane1]

Bowen works towards those trigger points too, they are also on the acupuncture meridians and I don't think it is any more hooey than acupuncture as described by many practitioners! It is far more gentle than manual mobilisation of those trigger points by a massage therapist which is why I suggest it - many manual therapies are not ideal in PMR as the muscles are in a poor state anyway and it can be very painful.

As I say - all I can say is it kept me upright for 5 years of PMR with no pred because it was beyond the GP's ability to dx PMR without a raised sed rate! Unlike acupuncture where there are suggestions of weekly sessions over months in Bowen therapy you will know within 3 sessions if it will work. Many patients walk out after the first session and feel a difference - I know several personally.

[peanuckle in reply to PMRpro]

I asked my massage therapist about Bowen Therapy here in Canada. She said she had heard about it but was not too familiar with it. Said she would look into it.

[polkadotcom]

Yes, I had a very positive treatment with acupuncture some years ago for upper body pain. It saw me all through one very bad winter and I was lucky enough to get the treatment via the NHS (hardly heard of then). Unfortunately my physio then was moved to another hospital so the treatments ceased. If it was offered again I would take it like a shot.

However, don't take this as set in stone - we are all individuals and PMR/GCA makes us even more so...........but I do hope it helps you.

[Zane1 in reply to polkadotcom]

Thanks, yes it did. Curious about it & have an appointment today so I will see. I guess it never hurts to try different things.

[Charlie1boy]

Yes, I have had acupuncture in the last year for arthritis is an ankle, which I broke and dislocated over 40 years ago! I found that it definitely did help, but, as others have said, that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.

Incidentally the preds at 30mg, when I started in January this clear cleared the pain 100 per cent. Now at 13mg, I can just about feel it again a bit.

[Zane1 in reply to Charlie1boy]

Prior to the PMR diagnoses I had osteoarthritis & I have found that the pred has reduced many of the aches & pains related to it. I am at 7.5 mg right now & pred still seems to work for many other pains not related to PMR. I would have to invite them back.

[Zane1 in reply to Zane1]

have = hate

I wish there was edit.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zane1]

There is - click on the arrow in the third box on your own post which will offer you the options of edit, delete, report.

If you click on that box in someone else's post it offers only report.

[Zane1 in reply to PMRpro]

Oh....thank you. Why didn't I think of that?

[Patricia157]

My doctor advised me to see a chiropractor who also did some acupuncture but this was before I was diagnosed with PMR. He stretched and got more movement in my upper arms and shoulders and also gave me acupuncture as well. Unfortunately after the following nights sleep and resulting stiffness overnight I was back to square one. I feel that as he did not realise I had the symptoms of PMR but then he perhaps did not know about PMR or had not come across it in a patient. I even had some sessions of acupuncture on a cruise but again it did not help me. I got the same result as earlier but maybe because the treatment was in the mornings I was already less stiff than during the night. Everyone is different but I would not subscribe to too many expensive sessions in the beginning. I hope this helps you.

[Carrollee]

Hi there. I regularly have acupuncture and am impressed with its ability to reduce pain especially bursitis. I general have it to keep the ME under control. I once hobbled in with bad hip pain that had appeared that morning after 15mns I walked out pain free! If it's a long standing pain it will take a few visits but does go. I recently was diagnosed with PMR and unfortunately the acupuncture didn't really help with that as there was so much pain/stiffness etc that could not be sorted on a monthly visit. To expensive to go weekly. All the best. Cc

[peanuckle]

Hi: I haven;t had acupuncture but I have Inter-Muscular Stimulation (IMS) and that worked on my sciatica nerve. They use needles just like acupuncture. Good luck.