Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Just for the sake of argument... Let's just assume my Lyme is in remission. And that everything left is my body just trying to figure out how to be normal after 25 years of fighting.
My biggest issues left are some pain in feet and one knee And sleep.
Of course I also have my lifelong allergies.
Has anyone had good experiences with accupuncture?
Please share.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
It's like Lyme disease - everyone is different.
I can tell you it helped me with a lot, I'm going back soon.
It's worth a try, really, I'm sure you'll agree after your 3rd or 4th visit.
Good luck
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
It's great for many things... really good for pain and relaxation. Find someone who is very experienced so that you get the most bang for your buck!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
It depends on the acupuncturist.
I found one that treats lyme, MCS and tendon problems. It's the only thing that's brought some good pain relief this past month.
I'm considering doing customized herbs to keep the Lyme in remission. Still playing with idea, but I was in the best health several years ago when I found an acupuncturist who was old school and gave you the "boil in a pot" herbs that were custom blended.
This was before Lyme. I feel like I'm almost at the end of acute treatment and playing with options myself. Antibiotic forever? Maybe. Not sure yet...
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Herbal Safety considerations & reference books; etc. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Skill is the most important aspect of being a good acupuncturist, IMO. Now, you may not need someone ILADS educated in the strongest sense of that concept however, it is best to find someone who is very LL - for a frame of reference.
Still, some are skilled and some are not in regards to the needs of any particular person. I went through many student interns whose technique did not fit the needs of my body at the time at all. So the reduced fee was not that much of a bargain in those cases.
It took some time to find a L.Ac. who really got it. She was / is also a ND (as is often the case) and very LL for that time. But her technique, her skill and absolute gift for just how to decide and place needles was fabulous.
There are also various styles. Before I found the most gifted L.Ac./ND - rarely even felt the needles, she was that good.
But she also knew that I could not tolerate the needles staying in long at all (others might have left them in 20 minutes and that was WAY Too long for me). After a while, I could benefit from longer and she knew just when and how to work up to that.
- over years before that I had seen several. Some hurt more than others when they go directly into to "grab" the chi. That's when the tip of the needle goes directly down into a very sharp definitive "got it" to the meridian.
I tried and tried but that technique caused me so much pain at each session - from the adrenal stress of it all. That was called Five Element Acupuncture.
It has some value to me in many ways but, ultimately, it was just not a good fit (although the L.Ac. was very gifted it was more painful to me than it would be to others without LL and the L.Ac. was not really LL to know that - other styles much easier, MUCH).
Ask at the area lyme support groups and I'm sure you'll get names of who has the best gifts in this technique. It is an art, truly - not just a skill. I hope you find someone who is a very good fit for you as acupuncture can truly be remarkable, given the right L.Ac. for your body, at this time.
Yet, it is a subtle thing. Not a life changing experience all at once. It has cumulative effects. Be sure to take it easy afterward, for a full day . . . and drink more water, too (just like with massage).
Feel free to talk with them first about their style / technique(s). Some offer a short gratis introduction, at least by phone. Many have websites where you can learn more, too. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- If you are comfortable saying what area of the country you are in, you may have some here PM you. If you are not comfortable stating location, just be sure to contact area support groups. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Find someone who you're comfortable with even if you have to try several acupuncturists.
I like ones that are open to both conventional and alternative medicine. I also like the ones who acknowledge that the same thing doesn't work for everyone.
One claimed to treat Lyme and then said a bulls-eye rash doesn't mean I have Lyme when I got reinfected. She said to wait 8 months before trying antibiotics.
She tried to treat me with herbs and I got very ill in the 2 months trying that. I blame her for my delay in treatment with antibiotics and the complications this caused.
I did do antibiotics at the 2 month mark with pills I had leftover from my first bout of Lyme. It turns out I had Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along with a slew of other infections that showed up on the tests that I pushed to have done.
Just because an acupuncturist says he/she has an understanding of Lyme, doesn't mean he/she does.
I love the person I see now. She's realistic and respectful. And I'm in less pain!
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Thanks for all the info. I don't think I would even mention Lyme. I think I would tell them I was there for pain in my feet and insomnia. I know it is supposed to treat the whole body.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
I tried accupuncture several times with different practitioners and every time felt worse. One of them was very lyme literate and had even had lyme herself. Unfortunatrly it has never been a good experience for me.
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- The reason they should know that you are dealing with lyme is that
the treatment (even if there for symptoms, other things) will be VERY different, in terms of time and number of needles. How they approach treatment will be much more guarded, as it should be.
Lyme changes SO MUCH about the body - so much. They need to know that you have a diagnosis of lyme, even if that is not the main scope of your treatment path with them. They need to know in order to best do their job. They are not mind-readers.
Not to disclose this will just cost you more time, expense and not allow them the knowledge they need to do the best for you from the very start - for whatever reason(s) you are there. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I agree about mentioning the Lyme. The acupuncturist I'm seeing started out with very light treatments.
Our bodies are so sensitive, sometimes we don't need as many needles to get good results.
I had one acupuncturist flood me with needles. It was not a good fit.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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posted
Ive found a community acupuncturist right here in my town and its amazing. Ive been 3 times so far and the best part but not so best part is that he has lyme himself and it says right on his front door lyme literate. I love it, and was so glad I started.
Posts: 908 | From Albany | Registered: Nov 2008
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
Accupuncture can always help.
I would though add cleansers like MSM, chlorella, bear garlic... magnesium...
I would also learn tapping (EFT-like technique).
With accupuncture, you got to do it for long. It costs money and you got to keep coming back twice a week or so, to see any effects.
Once you see the points that are being treated, you can just tap these at home, 3 or 4 times a day for about 40 seconds each. The effect is almost the same as with accupuncture.
The best is that you can do it many times a day, while when you go to a session, you just go once a week, or so... It is much more effective when you do it a couple of times in a day, even for very short time each point.
Tapping is known to do both types of treatment in accupuncture: it gives energy to a point, and it takes energy when it's got too much.
Another thing you can do: use strong essential oils to the points that are weak (like eucaliptus, peppermint) and just massage lightly the ones that need to lose energy (too energetic points). I find though tapping the easiest, as you don't need to know which point needs energy or needs to release energy.
If you know nothing about acupuncture, go to a few sessions and learn the points the practioner is treating. Then do at home, by tapping.
And definitively, learn all 9-11 points used in EFT or MFT, and just keep taping them (it takes less than 5 minutes, and the benefits can be unbelievable).
Good luck
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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Judie
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posted
Tapping (EFT) and essential oils didn't work for me.
Acupuncture does work very well for me. Everyone is different. Explore what works for you. That's the important thing.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Great idea Brussels! :) Tapping helps me.
Once nice thing about acupuncture is it forces me to sit there silently and drift off/meditate. That in itself is healing for me. Also reiki is really good too.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
It's funny because tapping uses acupuncture points... It is acupressure, in other words. I think the advantage of acupuncture is that you can treat several points simultaneously.
Tapping, only maximum two at a time...
I've been doing tapping for very long. It's a matter of knowing which points to treat at a certain time.
both acupuncture and acupressure will not work if the treated points are not the ones you need.
What I find good in tapping, is that you can do it long term. Not only on the 9 MFT / EFT points, but all over the body.
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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