posted
In my ongoing effort to find something that will help me become symptom free...it's been 6 years, so I'm not expecting it will be right around the corner, but I keep soldiering on....I decided to try Acupunture....again. I had tried it about a year ago and remember feeling very strangely and I wasn't too enchanted by the Acupuncturist although he was nice.
The other day I saw a different Acupuncturist who was a woman and very thorough. My initial appt was 2 and a half hours long. She has treated other Lyme patients.
One of my major ongoing problems, from day one, has been my left trigeminal or cranial nerve which is a huge nerve with all it's branches There bugs have been camped out there for years. I have had migraine headaches where you want to take your head off, neck pain, tooth, jaw and facial pain, eye pain, tinnitus... and pain that has gone down my back localizing near my left shoulder blade. Although this particular symptom hasn't flared in a while; quite possibly a couple of years.
After we spoke and she got my background, she did the session with the needles. She didn't use many, and felt up and down my body as she went asking me if I felt tenderness here, there? Seems where I said yes to tenderness, she put a needle in. Probably inflammation. She said she would leave the room, and come back in shortly to see if my body was "speaking" to her.
As I layed there, relaxing and I was relaxed...I started to get that left shoulder blade pain, just I like had it in the past. When she came in, she asked if anything was hurting and I told her about the pain in my back. She seemed slightly excited.
After she took the needles out, she took some kind of oil and rubbed in on that area and then took a chinese soup spoon type of thing and started rubbing. She said this method was called Gua Sha.
I felt pretty good the day after the treatment. More energy, still the pain in my back, but maybe just in my mind...feeling like maybe acupuncture might unlock the secret to my wellness. The next day I felt terrible. Body aches, fatique, spent most of the day on the couch. Yesterday, I felt similar to the day before that. Today would be the fourth day, and I still have that pain in my back. Not as overall achey, a bit more energy but generally not all that great.
I plan on calling the acupuncturist tomorrow to go over the last few days, but I wondered if anyone here has had experience with Gua Sha and Acupuncture and might be able to tell me what I should expect...Any success stories or problems where it's just not worth the money?
-------------------- "Yeah, I miss me too." Posts: 234 | From NY originally registered in 2008 | Registered: Nov 2012
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Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
I can't speak for the type of acupuncture you had done, but each time I had it done I felt awful afterwards. I had a major increase in all my pain symptoms.
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
Interesting, thanks for sharing. Sorry, never heard of it, though I have had acupuncture for several years now, with a few different people. I'll ask my current person next time I see her if I remember, she knows about a lot.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Sounds like you are in very good hands.
I've had Gua Sha, separately from acupuncture.
For me, it was VERY painful but, ultimately, worked out some stubborn lumps.
I think it's important for ONLY a LL praticitioner to do this as they should have a knowledge of how lyme affects lumps and bumps, etc. It's not necessary the best approach for lyme, or at a least not unless someone is also attending to lyme with a variety of methods.
If the spirochetes are made "angry" than can just burrow in deeper. But, not all lumps and constrictions are necesarity spirochete related, though they can be.
As for acupuncture, it can be extremely helpful along with treatment.
Again, best with a LL L.Ac. Some are very good, indeed. I would not be alive now were it not for acupuncture and herbs.
In my experiences, the L.Acs. who have been classically trained in China are far better at Gua Sha than those I've had do it with more recent training over a weekend's time at a physical therapy seminar.
Some PTs are being taught this by another name but, in my view, it lacks the depth of how a L.Ac. approaches it. Sessions I've had with a PT were much more painful and not as successful.
Again, sounds like you are in very good hands. It really helps to have a LL L.Ac. &/or LL ND on board.
Normally, right after an acupuncture session, there may be increased energy. Dont' use it. Guard that as if your life depends upon it and use it wisely, not in a whirlwind as it commonly attractive to many.
It's common the next day to feel worse. More water, planned rest is good always for the day after.
As for the pain you have, be sure to tell them so they know how to proceed. These things can take time but, after a month or so with regular appointments, you should be able to recognize an stronger "interior" (can't think of the word I really want) and better balance. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- This book describes how specific acupuncture measures can help with lyme treatment:
GUA SHA -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- For me, trigger point massage, myofascial release was less painful and more effective (though still took many sessions).
Cranial Sacracl therapy by someone trained in UPLEDGER can also be helpful. It's very gentle with no sudden twisting of neck or spine (which should NEVER be done for anyone with lymem).
Remember MAGNESIUM, too, as the primo muscle relaxant. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- You might find some very interesting detail here about how acupuncture works. I saw 2 of the three authors in person (during some travels years ago). Very impressed.
Though not at all about lyme, this is one of the best reference resources on my bookshelf that has wonderful chapters, many graciously available through their website.
Search for "acupuncture" here and you'll find 26 pages:
The ONE EARTH HERBAL SOURCEBOOK (Tilltoson, et.al.)
He is a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine; She a doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncturist. The third co-author is a doctor of optometry. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Thanks very much for your input. This is day 5 after the treatment and I can't say I feel all that much better.
The pain in my back isn't as bad today, so far. I feel somewhat flarey. Last night I started to get a stuffy nose and woke up a bit congested. Who knows what that's about....it's always something and we never really know what's what, do we?
I think acupuncture and even Gua Sha have it's place. I don't know if it's with me, but I will talk with the acupuncturist to day, and my LLMD on Tues and see what they all think.
-------------------- "Yeah, I miss me too." Posts: 234 | From NY originally registered in 2008 | Registered: Nov 2012
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- If ANY treatment is just too much for you, it's too much. There are so many ways to address something so never hold back and say if something does not feel right for you.
It took me years of trial and error - even with acupuncture - to figure out who was better and which styles were a waste, a disaster or were supportive.
Regardless, the day after any treatment, rest and take extra good care of yourself. Always.
Good luck. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Of all the hands on work, I really did much better with 90 minute full body massages weekly (when I could afford it). Those worked way better than acupuncture ever did for me and way better than PT.
I had a stellar LMT, though. It can take a while to find one with the right strengths who knows how to work with a person who has lyme. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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