Health Blog

I have a relative who has had a lot of success recently with acupuncture -- it was for lower back...and after many other medical treatments.  I've heard it helps a lot of people for back and leg pain, so I was wondering what else acupuncture has been used for successfully. Thanks for the info!

Kerry - Lumenos

I had permanent nerve damage from Shingles in 2002 and had see many doctors and tried many medications with side effects that made me tired, ruined my concentration and still gave me no relief.  I had been dismissed from pain management and even consulted a neurosurgeon about a pain block. I work for a major hospital and after exhausting all other possibilities considered acupuncture treatments. I bought several books about acupuncture and read them.   After consulting my Personal Health Coach at Lumenos in January 2005 I started acupuncture treatments.  I picked a Board Certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine from the Lumenos list with the help of a Chi Kung instructor I knew.  The instructor advised me to help guarantee the treatments would work, start with a very qualified practitioner. She also brought to my attention that if a life stress can bring on something like the Shingles how managing stress can also promote healing.  Although the doctor was on the Lumenos list my employer would not cover me for acupuncture. I negotiated a cash lowered rate and used my health reimbursement account to pay. I began with 2 treatments a week. After 3 months I began to reduce my medications.  I had been consuming more than $20. worth of prescriptions a day.  By June I was off all my medications. I also have other medical problems like Fibromylgia, sleep apnea, Sarcoidosis, hot flashes and Arthritis. I had battled weight gain and although was active at Weight Watchers had gained back 25 lbs over my goal weight. I now was sleeping like a baby, energized, walked 3-4 miles a day, lost the 25 lbs and feel fantastic. I no longer ache and do not even need Tylenol. I appealed the acupuncture treatments with my employer and was denied.  This year my employer has decided to allow 20 acupuncture treatments a year and I believe this was partially do to my bringing my results to their attention. I have also experienced the stress of having my job outsourced, found a new position at the same hospital and lost 3 loving pets to age related illness. I did not allow myself to get depressed and down but instead stayed optimistic and positive.  I have not taken a sick day since starting acupuncture. I continue to get acupuncture treatments weekly.  I am thankful my health insurance helps pay for it now but feel all the money I spent on my own was the best money I ever spent. All of my doctors at the hospital are amazed at how my health has improved and several of them have referred other patients to see my acupuncturist.  Does acupuncture work?  It does for me!  I started acupuncture for one reason and had all my other health problems improve as part of the over all benefit!

My dad had some back and shoulder tightness a couple of years ago to the point he couldn't raise his arm past 90 degrees.  After many unsuccessful trips to the doctor, he tried some alternate medicine, including acupuncture.  I'm not sure if it was 100 percent because of the different techniques he tried or just the arm healing over time but all that tightness eventually went away.  I think after seeing those results though, I'll consider acupucture as another available treatment option.

I've always wondered if acupuncture worked for people.  Every few years I get terrible shoulder pain from a medical procedure I had long ago.  The pain usually last ~7-8 days.  I usually can't sleep very well, maybe 4 hours, due to the pain.  My doctor can't figure it out and ha suggested acupuncture.  Hopefully, I will never get the pain again, but if I do, I will try it.