Has anyone had accupunture and if so was it any help?

[NanaB43]

[LynneJ Vasculitis UK Volunteer]

I have traditional acupuncture but have had it long before I got Vasculitis. So it wouldn't stop you getting Vasculitis.

It would depend on what you mean by help.

I feel it has helped me generally cope with the illness and in doing so I have probably had a more positive attitude to it, which I feel has helped my recovery BUT I wouldn't have had it instead of medication.

There is a type of acupuncture that can help with joint pain. Is that what you were thinking? Some GP's offer it. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture is different in that it works to keep you balanced. A lot more to it of course but it is very hard to explain in a short post.

Don't know if this has helped at all

Best wishes

Lynne

[NanaB43 in reply to LynneJ]

Thank you Lynn, I was wondering if it could help with joint pain, I have had GCA and PMR for six years and have a lot of pain in my neck and shoulders, I am trying to lower predisiolone and have got down to 2mg, I don't want to go back up but will probably have to. I am also on Cell Cept and the usual pain and blood pressure meds. Best wishes to you too

[PMRpro in reply to NanaB43]

If you have pain in your neck and shoulders it could be spasmed muscles - a good physio or massage therapy is probably more appropriate than acupuncture. Care is needed with massage in PMR but I find it helps a lot. So does Bowen therapy.

[NanaB43 in reply to PMRpro]

Dont know what Bowen therapy is but will look into it. Too sore for a massage at the moment but hope to have one soon.

[SusanCh]

Hi I have had acupuncture for back pain caused by fractured vertebrae and herniated discs due to osteoporosis due to prednisolone. This was done by Rheumatology Physio. I have had 3 separate courses of about 8 sessions and these have been at least a year apart. The first course helped. The second didn't work but the third course really helped with the pain. It needs to be done by a properly qualified person. I always wear a TENS machine and it all helps to control the pain. It was also supposed to help my insomnia but I can't say that this changed although after the first session I usually would sleep well,.

[NanaB43 in reply to SusanCh]

Will get a TENS today!

[PMRpro]

Here's the reply I posted on the PMR/GCA forum to someone who asked:

It's a gentle form of physical therapy concentrating on muscles, ligaments and tendons - I suppose in some ways you could look at it as chiropractic for soft tissue. I don't really know HOW it works - I just know that it worked for me and also sambucca on this forum as well as the friends who recommended it in the first place. It was developed by an Australian and it is used by quite a few physiotherapists. My pain therapist here in Italy (an anaesthetist) has also trained in it. It is worth a try - a good therapist will tell you you will know if it is going to make a difference in 3 sessions - it might be quicker for something acute, longstanding problems are, by their nature, more difficult.

Here are some links:

bowen-therapy.co/

thebowentechnique.com/w...

Just google it for more.

[NanaB43 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you have sent you a message

[JanetR]

I had acupuncture from 2 different physios (on the NHS), first for neck pain, and the second for a painful achilles tendon. Both very helpful. The neck pain treatment was a mixturure of massage and acupuncture. Treatment for the achilles was all acupuncture and worked well.

[Hidden]

I've used it twice and whilst it had no direct marked effect on the disease itself, it did help with some nerve damage pain and certainly helped with my relaxation. Healthy wishes.