Does Acupuncture really work for pain relief?

Question

I have this shoulder that is bung. Doc said I need to upgrade it to plastic but in the interim I should have 6 courses of cortesone injections guided by ultrasound.... So I dont like that idea very much .... and the plastic shoulder reconstruction is just unacceptable given my tender young age of mid 40.. and I still want to workout at the gym so if I speed up the wear on my shoulder, so what.. at least I can use it except for the pain... which is where acupuncture comes in...

Does acupuncture really work? Like I can appreciate that sterio music headphones make your mind think the sound is coming from the middle of your head... so it is logical that if someone sticks 3 pins in your right leg and 32 pins in your left shoulder often enough you are going to start thinking that the pain in your shoulder isnt too bad... and pain managememt is physchological right? or wrong?

Answer 1

i have to have a shoulder replacement, but am on waiting list.
acupuncture works really for me to keep on top of the pain.
its the sort of therapy though where it helps if you think it is going to work.
dont just go to any old bloke to get it done, ask around and find the best practitioner in your area and go to them.

Answer 2

I have recently had two sessions of Acupuncture following an RTA at the end of April. The first for hip and back pain was very effective and I am completely free of pain, the second yesterday for lower back pain has left me feeling a little sore. To be honest I was sceptical about it's effectiveness and am pleasantly surprised just how effective it's been at relieving my pain. You could try it once and see what you think. I have no personal experience of the herbs, but I know my Mother tried them and they made her quite ill. If I remember correctly she had some kind of reaction to them. Don't however let that put you off, my mother may have been the exception rather than the rule. :0)

Answer 3

Accupuncture does work for pain relief in many (not all) cases. It's not a matter of the pain from the needles blocking other pain, as the insertion of the needles is painless. And it's not all psychological, as it works on animals as well. I can't say HOW it works, but I care more about results than theory -- if I'm hurting, all I care is that the pain be relieved, and accupuncture can often do this very effectively.

Answer 4

Acupuncture can work. I lived in China for several years and many dentists did not use novacaine; they inserted an acupuncture needle in the web of your hand and it worked!

I have found that some who do acupuncture are very good at it and have brought great pain relief. But lots of folks who get trained in it don't have the skill for it to be effective.

I suggest you try accupuncture, but get referrals from friends or associates to make sure you get someone skilled at it.