Acupuncture May Reduce Frequency & Urgency Symptoms

[icnmgrjill]

In the July issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, Drs. Sandra Emmons & Lesley Otto report their success in treating overactive bladder patients (patients struggling with urinary urgency, frequency and/or incontinence) after just a few sessions of acupuncture. 85 women participated in the study and received acupuncture at points thought to help control the bladder, including the lower back and abdoment. After four weekly sessions, patients reported fewer trips to the restroom and a reduction in urgency!

- ICN Staff

[ICNJess]

My ob/gyn told me to try it, and it's also good for Fibro, too. She told me it could help with the pain of IC, too, but I haven't tried it yet. (She suggested this since I don't tolerate pain meds too well) I may give it a try!

[creatingkarma]

I wish these alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, were covered by insurance. I would definitely try it.

[emilyrose197377]

Jill , That is good to hear I wish luck with all that tries it. I consider myself lucky that I don't have the urgency and frequencey with My Ic. Just the unrelenting pain argh.

Take Care
Kim

[SrMaggie]

I tried it, but unfortunately, I couldn't stay on the table long enough for the whole procedure. The needles would be in place and I'd lay there for awhile and then I had to go. The needles come out, they wrap a sheet around me and shuttle me to the nurse's bathroom. I was hoping it would work. The neurologist, who does the accupuncture is a member of our church and was really trying hard to get me better. He has a huge heart. I don't know if I'd go try it again, because of that experience, but I'm sure it would work. He gets called into the hospital on calls where patients cannot stop vomiting. He's stuck in a few needles and it stops. He must be very adept at what he does for the hospital to depend on him.

[Tweety69]

I tried acupuncture a couple of few years ago and it didn't help my bladder problems at all. In saying that, I did only go for about 3 sessions. I also found it a painful experience and just couldn't relax in the slightest. One good thing that did come out of a session was the sleepy feeling you get afterwards. Great for a good night's sleep. Acupuncture is apparantly a good therapy for pain relief in some instances. Good luck to all who try.

[a11y]

I've done acupunture for awhile now. Although it hasn't help with the actual symptoms, it has help with stress, which can definalty make IC worse.

[hoping4acure]

The 3 times I tried it...were the worse flares I ever had. Didn't work at all for me. I was told it was because the cells were moving and being flushed out to quickly for my body to handle it. I am sensitive to a lot of different things. That's just me. My flex pay will cover it...to bad it didn't work.

[garden girl]

I've been having acupuncture and trigger point injections for the past couple of months at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. Luckily, my insurance covers 20 sessions a year. I was going every week and now will be going every other week. I know it has helped me, at least temporarily. All my treatments combined have been helping -- it's hard to pinpoint what's doing the most, though.

At first, the doctor only put the needles in my inner legs -- didn't do much, but I was much more relaxed afterwards. When he tried putting them in the tender trigger points in my lower abdomen, my symptoms improved for hours. When I used the restroom afterwards, the urine just flowed -- no feeling of needing to force it! And I didn't feel my urethra at all while going -- which is the way it's supposed to be!

I've been having acupuncture on my lower back now, too, and it has made a difference when I have a monthly flare up of symptoms. This month at ovulation, my symptoms did flare up (not as bad as before) and my back, although it got a little tight, was relatively pain free. I thought I'd be using a Thermacare heat back like I did last month, but I didn't need it!

I think that acupuncture is a useful addition to my therapies. It probably wouldn't work as well if it was the only one, though. I recommend that people who are interested give it a try!

[ICsunshine 4/12]

I have been going to a pain clinic and the doctor has me on electro-acupuncture.
Sounds weird but I went with fibro and ic complaints. He addressed the fibro first, while not cured , I have been able to accompany my mother on shopping marathons. Then a trip to Chesapeake, Va for a wedding , We went a day early and stayed in the hotel where the reception was held, Able to rest and get away when the spasms hit, still had a blast.
The Ic is a bit trickier but the placement of the needles in my lower back , lower calf then, just like a pancake I flip over ant the pklacement of the needles are on the lower abdomen ,the knees and mon the soles of my feet. Total time is about 75 minutes because if you hop up off the table too quickly you will pay a price.

I am blessed because my insurance and dh's insurance takes care of the bill.

To have any reduction of the pain has been wonderful. :woohoo:

Sorry to have made such a long reply but this is the first time I have had the stamina to long on in almost a year :woohoo: