Acupuncture Anyone?

[lindy lou]

Have any of you had acupuncture treatments for your IC or PFD pain? My NP refered me to one. She is an OBGYN, who also does acupuncture, so knows about the medical stuff also. I don't know what to expect. How many treatments are normal before, or if, relief comes? My insurance won't cover the $100 initial treatment, $50 - $100 for additional sessions. I'm trying to exhaust all possible treatments before considering Interstim.

Linda

[peaceplease]

I tried acupuncture when I first came down with IC. It started with a bladder infection and then the symptoms never went away even though the E.Coli infection did...
Anyway, I didn't find any luck with it, but I know others have. My acupuncturist did Japanese style needling, which I think is way more needles and much smaller and more gentle. I think she said one treatment for each month you have been sick or something like that. But, I think there is no way to know how long it will take to work if it works at all. I for sure think it is worth a shot! I believe it might not make you better, but it for sure won't make you any worse!
Good luck

[peaceplease]

Oops, I meant to say it might make you better, it might not, but it won't make you any worse and also I do think it is overall a good thing for the body in general!

[littleQ]

I have tried more than 20 acupuncturists in four different cities. They all claimed they have experience treating urinary problems. But none of them give me any relief. I finally find the right acupuncturist team in Shanghai, China that has experience treating urinary problems. I am still in Shanghai receiving acupuncture treatments three times a week. So far, I have great result. I no longer have to get up at night to pee and I also have no symptom for 24 hours after the acupuncture treatment. My acupuncturist told me the time with no symptom would increase as I receive more treatments.

[Rosalie]

I used acupuncture before I had a diagnosis and was very impressed with the treatment. It was the first time in many years that I got any relief from the pain. However, it did take a while. I had treatments for over a year as it gradually eased. During the treatments, while the needles were in place, it was wonderful.

[Imustpee]

It really helped alot with my back pain but not any with my IC...

[lindy lou]

Thank you for responding to my question. I had my first treatment last week and it was interesting. The doctor, MD in OBGYN, explained the whole routine to me and said that it doesn't work for everyone and may take many visits to see an effect. She said we would evaluate my progress after 4 weekly visits. I did have immediate relief for a short time and look forward to the next visit. Hopefully this will become part of my overall treatment regimen.

Linda

[Silverfox]

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
Hi, :woohoo:

Please go to the ICA web site www.ichelp.org and look in the Cafe ICA in Volume 5, Number 9, November 2005

Go down to #4 on the Latest IC Research Highlights

"Recognizing Pelvic Pain in Fibromyalgia and Underlying Causes"

Gerwin RD. A review of myofascial pain and fibromyalgia - factors that promote their persistence. Accupuncture in Medicine
2005 Sep; 23(3):121 - 34.

This article is about myofascial pain and fibromyalgia in a accupuncture journal points out that visceral pain syndromes, such as irritable bowel syndrome and interstitial cystitis, often acompany these conditions.

The author encorages healthcare professionals to look for precipitating or perpetuating factors that may not have been addressed, including structural or mechanical causes, such as scoliosis, localized joint hypomobility, or generalized or local joint laxity, metabolic factors, such as, depleted iron stores, hypothyroidism, or Vitamin D deficiency as some of those.

He noted that sometimes, correcting an underlying cause of myalgia is all that is needed to resolve the condition.

Hypothyroidism was the cause of the IC in my case, and others. Please make very sure your Dr. looks very seriously at Hypothyroidism as the cause.
My thyroid tests at the time were normal low yet I was severely hypothyroid and I suffered with many common IC sister diseases that are now gone.

It was true that I never did have IC of the Bladder. The true diagnosis is "HYPOTHYROID NEUROPATHY" The treatment for this is to take ARMOUR THYROID daily for life. Make certain that you are getting the correct dose and the right kind of thyroid hormones.

IT IS TRUE THAT HYPOTHYROIDISM CAN CAUSE IC!!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

MY VERY BEST WISHES, SHEILA!

[Ginny]

I also tried accupunture many times. Never had any relief from it.
I did try accupressure once and it helped a lot.

Ginny

[callie0767]

i have hypothyroidism since i was 18 (now 38) ic at 19 or 20 and just diagnosed with endo 3 weeks ago. i was thinking about trying accupuncture for the pain but scared it will affect my bladder. my endo pain is not getting any better after lap and lupron. doctor wanted me to try advil but its not working either.

[Weskie]

I've had IC for 24 years. I've never had any medical treatments for it. The only treatment I've had is acupuncture. I've gone to the same acupuncturist for 24 years. I have on occasion tried other acupuncturists, but their treatments haven't helped. My acupuncturist is Chinese. She was trained in Beijing. She doesn't invite questions about the treatment--but she did once say to me that she's treating my "reproductive system" as much as the bladder and that "the nerve is the same". No one else has ever used 3" long needles in my back like she does. When she puts these needles in, and inserts them all the way, I feel a "pang" in my bladder which is the signal that they're in the right place. Then she attaches electrical stimulation to them. She does put other needles in too, but only two of the 3" ones.
I follow a modified IC diet and take calcium carbonate and Benadryl if necessary. But if I don't go to acupuncture, these don't help much. I go 2--3 times a week. I also use a pendulum to tell me whether a food will bother me or not. I learned this in a Reiki class. My acupuncturist uses one to guide her food choices too! It's helpful when you're in a restaurant and don't know if there is lemon in a sauce, etc.

[hottytoddy93]

Acupuncture along with strict IBS/IC diet is the best combo therapy i have had in 4 yrs. down to only 3 meds now. i have no depression or anxiety anymore, and i sleep great. very relaxed. wish i could go everyday! drs of course never suggest this stuff, they just write more scripts. i could hardly remember my name! acupunct really targets those nerves and spasms. i have almost no pain while on the table and not nearly as much pain as i used to even when i was taking Kadian and Lortab.

[mybladderandme]

What is the typical cost per visit at an accupuncturist? My insurance doesn't cover it. I would like to give accupuncture a try but I'm afraid it won't be in my price range.

[Weskie]

My acupuncturist charges $75 a session. She gives me a discount because I've been going to her for 24 years. I couldn't afford it otherwise--my insurance doesn't cover it either! You might see if there is a school of acupuncture near you--they typically charge less. Another local acupuncturist charges $60 for the first visit and $55 thereafter, so there is some variation in rates.