OT / Acupuncture

[Boys 9d]

My daughter who is suffering with a lot of back pain is not getting much assistance from her GP. She is tempted to try acupuncture as visits
to a chiropractor have not helped. Have any members of NSC had acupuncture treatment and can say whether it has been successful and if so can they recommend a practitioner in Hove of Brighton. Thank you in advance.

 

[Seagulltonian]

I had a minor car accident earlier this year, and had a bit of whiplash. I had some physio, and my physiotherapist also gave me some acupuncture at the same time.
Within 3 treatments my neck was absolutely back to normal, and for me the acupuncture helped tremendously.
I'm over in Hastings, so I can't help with recommendations, unless your daughter wants to come over this way. But, IMHO acupuncture was a painless treatment with a very positive effect. Hope your daughter can get her back pain sorted

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Same here, can't recommend a local specialist as mine was done miles away, but I have had amazing results from it (and I'm a complete cynic with these alternative medicine things).

The first time I had it, it blew my mind. Very strange sensation, but I went instantly from not being able to touch my toes due to a really tight hamstring, to putting my hands flat on the floor with no issues whatsoever.

On the two other occasions I've had it, the effects haven't been quite so dramatic, and I've absolutely no idea what the principle behind it is, but I'm willing to say yes, it's worth giving it a go.

 

[dazzer6666]

Same here, can't recommend a local specialist as mine was done miles away, but I have had amazing results from it (and I'm a complete cynic with these alternative medicine things).

The first time I had it, it blew my mind. Very strange sensation, but I went instantly from not being able to touch my toes due to a really tight hamstring, to putting my hands flat on the floor with no issues whatsoever.

On the two other occasions I've had it, the effects haven't been quite so dramatic, and I've absolutely no idea what the principle behind it is, but I'm willing to say yes, it's worth giving it a go.

Completely echo this. I was a huge cynic, until a physio used it on a running injury. Literally hobbled into the treatment room and walked out pain free 30 mins later. Have had ur a few times since, results always good. I can recommend a place in Burgess Hill if you need it.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Those that have had success - was it acupuncture or acupressure? I can get that putting the needles in where the problem is could work and my chiro does that with my shoulder. Or is it the put needles in seemingly random places and get success?

 

[blue'n'white]

I can thoroughly recommend acupuncture. Had it for sciatica a few years ago and it does work
I had it done on the NHS and I'm miles away but it really is worth thinking about.
Good luck - I hope your daughter gets sorted OK.
My chiropractor reckons the best thing (for me at least) is walking - walk through the pain and carry on even though you feel you can't or don't want to

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Those that have had success - was it acupuncture or acupressure? I can get that putting the needles in where the problem is could work and my chiro does that with my shoulder. Or is it the put needles in seemingly random places and get success?

I have had lots and lots of "needling" from physios and in my mind it is miracle work to be thoroughly recommended.

As I understand it, the needles go into specific points at the site of the muscles that need relaxing to free up the joint or skeletal movement. Works a treat!

Sportswise in Eastbourne are excellent.

 

[dazzer6666]

Those that have had success - was it acupuncture or acupressure? I can get that putting the needles in where the problem is could work and my chiro does that with my shoulder. Or is it the put needles in seemingly random places and get success?

It's anything but random.....when I had a lower calf problem I had needles along my leg, back and in my hand. The woman knew exactly which needle would trigger a particular sensation (including the one in my hand). It's a bit surreal to be honest but has worked for me.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

It's anything but random.....when I had a lower calf problem I had needles along my leg, back and in my hand. The woman knew exactly which needle would trigger a particular sensation (including the one in my hand). It's a bit surreal to be honest but has worked for me.

I would suggest that your hand is a seemingly random place to fix your calf! I sort of get the principle as leg pain can be caused by a back problem as all of these things are linked. I'm just interested as all I have ever had is needles in the area where the muscles have spasmed - never in somewhere completely different.

 

[dazzer6666]

I would suggest that your hand is a seemingly random place to fix your calf! I sort of get the principle as leg pain can be caused by a back problem as all of these things are linked. I'm just interested as all I have ever had is needles in the area where the muscles have spasmed - never in somewhere completely different.

I was a bit surprised as well.....Apparently all down to connected nerves.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Well if one placebo hasn't worked I can't see another one having any effect but it's worth a try.

 

[One Love]

Well if one placebo hasn't worked I can't see another one having any effect but it's worth a try.

"We don't understand how it works".

"We can't say that, there's an awful lot of people who live their life relying on us telling them what's true or not".

Well we could just make up a phrase that sounds scientific that really means we don't understand it and hope that satisfies them as an explanation".

"Naah, that would never work. Would it?"

 

[Boys 9d]

Thank you to those who shared their experiences. This has helped my daughter to seek to try this procedure.

 

[FatSuperman]

"We don't understand how it works".
"We can't say that, there's an awful lot of people who live their life relying on us telling them what's true or not".
Well we could just make up a phrase that sounds scientific that really means we don't understand it and hope that satisfies them as an explanation".
"Naah, that would never work. Would it?"

I think that's a little harsh. It's not that it isn't understood, the medical science profession do understand it, they know that it's theatrics, placebo, fake, etc. There is absolutely no evidence that it works aside from a placebo effect. Many years ago, an ex was into it (she trained in lots of alternative / science woo type stuff). I remember her paying to read a research paper online after some large 1,000+ person study was done on people with long term back pain. There were three groups; people given medicine, people given real acupuncture, and people given fake acupuncture. The people given acupuncture reported a far greater reduction of pain / increase of pain-free movement etc. It was like double that of the medicine group. Of course the people that had fake acupuncture (needles put in random places) did just as well as the real acupuncture people.

At the end of the day, fake science or not, if people feel significantly better after the treatment then it's value for money in my book.

I suffered with back pain for years, I'd pull something lifting a heavy object or simply rolling out of bed. I was complaining to a mate once and some beast in the gym said I needed to strengthen my back muscles. I'd never bothered doing that before because at that age I just wanted guns and abs. Spent a while working on back strengthening and have practically never had an issue since. I don't know the science behind it, but it made sense that my spine was better supported and it worked for me - your margin may vary!

I wish the OP's daughter the best of luck, genuinely hope she gets some relief.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Completely echo this. I was a huge cynic, until a physio used it on a running injury. Literally hobbled into the treatment room and walked out pain free 30 mins later. Have had ur a few times since, results always good. I can recommend a place in Burgess Hill if you need it.

Yes please - have had a lower calf problem which is restricting my recovery from a knee replacement so would be good to give this a try,

 

[VAL1850]

I have had lots and lots of "needling" from physios and in my mind it is miracle work to be thoroughly recommended.

As I understand it, the needles go into specific points at the site of the muscles that need relaxing to free up the joint or skeletal movement. Works a treat!

Sportswise in Eastbourne are excellent.

Another recomendation for Sportswise

http://www.sportswise.org.uk/