acupuncture

[Jeanine]

Has anyone tried acupuncture? I have had pelvic pain for the past two years. In July, I was diagnosed with IC. I am taking all the standard IC meds (7 total) and still have pain. I think the meds are helping with the urgency, noctura, and little accidents but I still have chronic pain daily. I take Tramadol for the pain. It seems to help a little but mostly helps me escape and sleep the pain away. Nothing seems to work well so out of desperation I went to a Chinese Medicine Clinic.

The first visit, I gave a complete description of medical history and he immediately treated me with acupuncture in the ear. I felt a warming sensation immediately in my pelvic area and was so excited. Unfortunately, that was all I felt. I had no relief for the pain. He said I would need to come M-W-F for two weeks.

The second visit my pain was 8-9 and he did a different procedure by placing the needles in my pelvic/abdomen area and down my leg. (My left leg always hurts) I did not feel like it was going to work but I wanted to at least give it a try.

By the third visit my pain was a 5-6 and he did the same procedure. Today I went for my fourth time and my pain is now at a 4-5. I still am amazed at how this works. I have researched it a bit on the internet and they discuss that the needles placed properly will stimulate energy and blood flow to the pained area.

I have two more appointments this week and am hopeful the progress will continue.

My back up plan is to go to the Texas Tech Pain Institute in Lubbock Texas. Has anyone gone there? I would love to hear your input.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts, questions and support to all of our IC Family. Only another IC patient can understand what you are going through.

Sweet Thoughts,

Jeanine

[Dixiefireball]

i havent never tried this hopefully someone can come by to help you soon
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda:kiss:

[MakinIT]

I've had three treatments for accupuncture. (I had had treatments done a while back wth this same gal for migraines.) While it does relax and calm me, it hasn't relieved the pain. I just feel nice and pampered. She's very good, and thorough, but cost/benefit analysis rightnow is that I can't afford $50 every other week for this. I do also have chiropractic help but it is more that just a snap, crackle, and pop. He does myofascial tisuue release and that is helping because I have soooo much scar tissue and adhesions in and around the bladder. I;ve cut those appts down do I could afford to do the accupuncture but my money is better spent with chiropractic.

Tracey

[PikkuMyy]

My acupuncturist in NY sent my symptoms into near total remission for almost 9 months. Unfortunately I had to move and my new acup.st isn't as good. It was HUGE difference when I was seeing the Dr. in NY, though. He put them in my tailbone right where people usually put the pads for a T.E.N.S. unit and hooked it up to the same electrical source as a TENS unit. So basically, it's like really strong TENS. I wish I was back in NY as it helped me so much.

If you don't find help from the person you are seeing, try anyone one before giving up. I would gladly pay $60 a week for the relief I had.

Emily

p.s. There is another section on this board with lots of discussion and success stories about acupuncture. Look under Self-Help Strategies, and then under Alternative Treatments

[Jeanine]

Tracey,

I too have had problems with adhesions and endometriosis.
When they did my hystorectomy, I was covered in both. After that surgery, I still had pain and they went in and removed a coat of adhesions 9 inches across my stomach. Still in pain, they went in and cleaned out the adhesions attached to my bowels. A year later and many doctors, procedures and medicines indured, I had gone to an anethesiologist for four treatments of trigger shots to an entrapped nerve. Twenty pounds later (thanks to every other week of steroids) I started going to the Acupuncturist for treatments three times a week for two weeks. I have two more treatments left. I had a meltdown at my primary care physicians office and he went to bat for me with my insurance. So now they are going to send me to Texas Tech's Pain Clinic. I researched them on the internet and they do a procedure for release entrapped nerves. I don't know much about it but will keep you posted when I return.

I am so sorry you too are having such problems with your IC. Everytime they open us up, more adhesions occur and still no relief from the pain. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Jeanine

[curlycue]

I have tried accupuncture and it did work for the time that I went but I had to stop due to the 50.00 I was paying for the treatments. I had 1000.00 to start and I was only able to pay for about 3 months worth of treatments and that was it money ran out and I did feel good for a couple of weeks after but then the pain was there again.

I wish you the best of LUCK.

Ruth:hi:

[Julie Smith]

Hi gals,

I started acupucture with my chriopractor last yr. I was in really bad shape, could'nt stand up staight ,walked s l ow , etc. and he wanted me to lay on my belly but there's still now way I can. So I layey on my right side and he put pins in my ankle to triger points up my leg and in my low back. He had never seen anyone in so much pain and difficulty getting around. He had this machine which registered nerve velocity (not sure name) and it registered really low on the richter scale. He joked he didn't know how I was breathing! Anyway, now that I'm feeling better than I was, still lots of pain etc. and not back to work I only go once a month bc of $$$. Now I lay on my back and he puts needles in my belly and down my rt. leg. I also get adjusted. I truly believe they have helped me and will continue.

Years ago I went to a store-front acuputurist with a girlfriend bc she was trying to help me with migraines, the place was so dirty and looked just like I had pictured-gross. I never went back.

Please check out that medical center that another girl is, they must have the finest of what's out there so why not give it a try.

Best of luck to you, my prayers are with you,
:thumbsup: :angel: :pray:

[MakinIT]

Yeah, one of the things my accupuncturists did was hook me up to a TENS unit in my pelvic needles. It felt nice, but like I said, didn't help with my situation. I'm just sad I can no longer go. I can't afford it, but she is the partner of a good friend of mine...My chiro and I decided to do weekly treatments now....sometimes when I seehim weekly, It calms me down well. Beside the PT told me I seem much better when I see him every week. "Big heavy sigh"....I guess you have to listen to your body to know what to do.

Tracey

[Julie Smith]

T,

How true! We must listen to our bodies and I think we know what's best most of the time. Glad you're getting relief from weekly chiro visits, I did too. Had to stop because of $$$$. I could literally spend every day at a different doctor at $35 a pop, and did last year, plus about $475 monthly on meds, plus $465 on ins. Single, unable to work due to ic and at my wit's end. Even though my dr.'s work with me, pay a little at a time, it's still due.

Just in the application process of ss disability. I keep praying. You all are my salvation and when I can sit for a few minutes this is where I'm at, on the computer with you.

Best wishes to all,
Julie:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :toosh: : :pray:

[MakinIT]

Unless I get more "requests" from SS to go to more places I'm done with the app process and awaiting the results. I had to go to an independent Psychologist for testing and I think I did lousey enough on the tests that I should get it, I think. The psych that did the test said I was very slow in my responses and that I was confused (i didn't feel confused, but my meds fool me) so....he didn't think I should have a problem getting it. WE'll see...sounds like they just kinda go eni meenie minee mo at the SS office about who gets it and who doesn't. I really don't want have to go through appeals...Ugh...

Good luck to you Julie!!!

I gotta try to call my accupuncturist today to cancel my appointments and explain why. I know she's going say " it's cause you need to come more often" but geez, I'm just flushing money left and right in search of a "cure" or at least pain relief. And I know Chiropractor works for me.

Bye! Tracey