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So I have had 4 acupuncture sessions with a well regarded chinese doctor. She helped my wife with fertility issues and IVF
I'm going to her for stress / IBS issues.
Firstly - it really hurts. I mean like to the point that you aren't sure you can make it through the whole session. She tells me it needs to be 'strong' to work. Then subsequently tells me to relax. I can't because it seriously hurts.
On the 3rd session I had a needle in the wrist, I felt an immediate stabbing pain in the palm, like a nail going through. I said this at the time, and I was told not to move my wrist and it needs to be strong (a story about that point is used in open heart surgery with no antes tic!). 3 weeks later I still get sharp pains in my palm if I rotate my wrist too much. I think a nerve has been tweeked.
So my question is, is this normal? I want to continue if I can to see if it makes a difference, but it bloody hurts and I'm concerned there could be longer term nerve issues
Google isn't much help.
It should not hurt IMO / IME - I have had acupuncture and it didn't hurt. The wrist thing sounds like she hit a nerve - it happens sometimes but should not be giving you issues weeks later. when I had this happen it just caused a bit of tingling for the duration of the treatment
Perhaps continue with the accupuncture but find a different practitioner
Acupuncture is one of the very rare alternative treatments that actually has a decent evidence base even tho the explanations make no sense to someone trained in western medicine
I've had acupuncture once - on the NHS. It certainly wasn't painful (and I hate needles). Everything else you've written shouts "crank".
Sounds like the Acupuncture is causing you some more stress. Maybe think if it is working for you.
I have had it a few times and it has never hurt as much as you have described.
I suppose I should add, not all the needles hurt. Some are sharp, some are dull aches apparently depending on the angle she said.
The ones in the feet / ankle / wrist / neck are like torture and I feel pinned to the bed.
There is one muscle in the back as soon as the needle goes near instantly cramps and locks so she has stopped trying that one after two sessions of trying
maybe I'm just not designed for needles. I can't say they are my favourite thing either.
I'm not sure about trying to find another, this one is highly recommended and has been practising in the uk for over 20 years
My wife said it didn't hurt her either, doctor said for fertility the needles are much shallower
I think I will cancel the next session, I'm dreading it. and my palm / wrist are hurting typing this
So my question is, is this normal?
Not at all IME! I have had countless sessions of acupuncture over decades, I suspect well over a hundred, and from several different practitioners - half a dozen or so, I have never ever considered it a painful experience and always found it relaxing - typically I fall asleep!
Yes occasionally a needle hurts a little bit more than feels comfortable and the acupuncturist should adjust it very slightly to ease of the pain.
A tiny bit of pain or strong feeling intially when the needle enters is considered desirable but it should settle down and stop once the needle is left in place. It should definitely not hurt after the event!!
I’m concerned there could be longer term nerve issues
I can't see how that could be possible as the needles barely penetrate.
a well regarded chinese doctor.
This is what I don't understand, I would always recommend that you go only to a traditional Chinese doctor, and obviously ideally one that has been recommended.
Which causes me to wonder if this is psychological more than physical. I have only recently discovered that some people suffer from vasovagal syncope when having acupuncture treatment, I had no idea. Perhaps the pain is because you expect it? I certainly don't.
Maybe try another acupuncturist and if you are getting the same reaction then I would suggest that it isn't the practitioner.
google tells me pain continiuing after acupuncture is because things have been 'unblocked'
wrist pain is akin to carpal tunnel symptoms which I didn't have before....
I should add that I have had on quite a few occasions acupuncture which includes an electrical current, that bleedin hurts, depending on the amount of current - which is usually adjusted to be just below unbearable!
Watching your leg or arm twitching uncontrollably with the electrical impulses can be a tad disconcerting 🤨
I had acupuncture as part of treatment for a pulled hamstring several years ago.
Whilst I wouldn't say it really hurt, it did make me twinge a few times and I never looked forward to it.
Not sure if it actually did anything, I think it's supposed to promote blood flow to the area amongst other things.
Had it a lot for elbw/forearm issues. First session practioner made me promise not to punch her. Bent at least 3 needles as my muscles were so tense and I pulled over on way home and cried it hurt so much. 90% better next day from long standing problems to a few sessions and all issues gone.
I had a flare up and couldn't get to the same person. Went to a traditional Chinese accupuncturist who was absolutely rubbish and who said it was my fault the treatment didn't work at the end of the session.
I was persuaded to have acupuncture for shoulder pain provided by an NHS physio thinking it was worth a try but sceptical.
it wasn’t comfortable but almost immediately had a positive effect on the chronic background ache.
I certainly didn’t get the pain you suffered from
I am a big fan of acupuncture. I used to go for spinal/nerve issues and it worked a treat. I used a GP who had trained for years in China and he seemed good. Told me if things were not improving after 3 or 4 sessions it wouldn't work for me. First session was usually gentle and second and third sessions were usually wired to the machine for a bit of oomph. It never hurt, I would either read or doze off. Always sorted my flares and not used it for years thankfully.
I have had accupuncture and certainly don't remember any pain during and definitely not after
Iv'e also had accupressure, that was quite sore during the pressing part on tense or spasming muscles. But again definitely no pain afterwards
I do some trigger release pressing on tight muscles and that can be very sore when pressing, followed by joyful relaxing once it stops.
Everything else you’ve written shouts “crank”.
I'd be concerned that it's a "Chinese doctor" rather than a "Doctor". A doctor of what? "Well regarded" is not a recognised qualification.
Plus, y'know, it's traditional acupuncture. Find someone who's capable of less painfully administering a placebo unless you think your meridians are lacking in Qi.
Cougar - you know my stance on fake medicine but acupuncture actually has a decent evidence base of working well beyond placebo
It never hurt me. Had it done by professionals at work (colleagues - University staff trained in it) and also my Physio.
Wasn't painful.
Only issue I had, was a trigger point in my back - I was having treatent for a smashed up shoulder, fixed with surgery. One phyio session made me come over all sweatty, and I threw up. Some weeks later, acupuncture, and one particular needle made me come over all sweatty again, she took it out and I was OK.
Another that's had quite a few sessions of acupuncture (and dry needling) and I can't say it hurt TBH.
I also hate needles but didn't have a problem with it once I'd got used of seeing them all sticking out my legs/arms.
One phyio session made me come over all sweatty, and I threw up. Some weeks later, acupuncture, and one particular needle made me come over all sweatty again, she took it out and I was OK.
Sounds like vasovagal syncope which apparently isn't uncommon for some people having acupuncture.
unless you think your meridians are lacking in Qi.
It's not lack of chi which causes problems, it's blocked chi! 🙂
Qigong will also help to unblock the chi 😉
I had a really bad pull in my shoulder. Combination of work related wear and tear and basically coughing myself inside out during a bout of covid.
various sports massage sorted it for a bit but i ended up at a physio who did acupuncture.
i was very sceptical (and actually quite needle phobic)
it didn’t hurt at all and sorted the issue in a couple of sessions.
i’d be considering a different practitioner…
Cougar – you know my stance on fake medicine but acupuncture actually has a decent evidence base of working well beyond placebo
I did specifically and intentionally say "traditional acupuncture."
There may be some evidence of efficacy for dry needling providing temporary relief from chronic pain. It's available on the NHS (though that's no yardstick, it's not all that long ago that they finally retired homeopathy).
But the notion that some Chinese witch doctor is going to cure fertility issues and IBS by randomly sticking pins in you is absolute nonsense. You might as well bury a toad in your back garden.
(... not a euphemism)
Qigong will also help to unblock the chi 😉
I thought Obiwan was better.
providing temporary relief from chronic pain.
I have had acupuncture provide a complete and permanent cure for carpal tunnel syndrome in just two sessions, after my doctor had told me that the only cure would be an operation and that I would be off work for 3 weeks.
The first acupuncture session made it about 80% better and the second one cured it 100%. That was about 15 years ago and it has never come back.
Much more recently I have had acupuncture to deal with night time nasal congestion for which I was taking prescription nasal sprays. I honestly didn't expect it to work and I only happened to mentioned it to the acupuncturist when I saw her about some sciatica issue and she asked me about how my sleep was. I no longer use the nasal sprays.
I have absolutely no idea how acupuncture can help something like that, I only know that it has. It is indeed like some sort of weird Chinese Voodoo/witchcraft.