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Topic: Accupuncture |
Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 1:18 pm |
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| Hi folks, For the passed 12 years or so I've been struggling with a foot problem called a neuroma. Its a nerve that's being pinched between two bones right behind and between my third and fourth toes on my left foot. I had surgery that failed and cortisone shots that didn't do much good either. Tuesday I had acupuncture done for the first time although I had no faith at all that it would work. I thought it was just a bunch of nonsense but I was wrong. My foot is now almost pain free and I feel like I've been given a new chance at a normal life. If you are suffering from a painful condition I recommend you try acupuncture NOW, not as a last resort. Its cheap ($70.00), painless and not hocus-pocus. Don't live with pain unnecessarily. Good luck, Don [This message was edited by Don McClellan on 21 December 2006 at 04:57 PM.] [This message was edited by Don McClellan on 21 December 2006 at 05:42 PM.] |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 4:29 pm
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| Don:I thought that I was going to need shoulder surgery a few years ago,I got hit by a spring loaded metal door very hard,Nothing would take the pain away.I went to an older Chinese Acupuncturist in Anchorage 4 times,at the last visit he asked me to lift my right arm,I told him that it still hurt a little bit,he placed about 6 more needles in-between my toes,in my knee,and in my hand..within 30 seconds all of my pain was gone,and has not come back.this has been about 5 years ago,I had brought a friend with me,to this day he still can't believe what he saw.The body is like a matrix and these folks know how to turn of the pain switch...amazing stuff. |
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Jerry Lee Newberry
From:
Prim, AR USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 5:42 pm
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It has helped my Mom too.
Donna |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 7:51 pm
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I had tendinitis of my thumb that wouldn't go away. I tried one acupunturist. No benefit. I tried another and voila, it took away 75% of the pain, and that allowed me to rehab and strenghten the thumb. It's an amazing discipline and particularly effective for anything structural i.e. joints, tendons, muscles, etc.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 8:08 pm
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I am absolutely petrified of needles. Acupuncture is probably the only thing I have not tried on my left hand...but posts like this make me want to at least look into it.
Somebody would just have to tie me down to do it.....
:-( |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 8:13 pm
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I have had acupuncture from time to time since 1977.
It is not a total panacea for ALL things.
But it is a valuble tool for your health,
if administered by a expirenced practisioner.
It can help lessen the withdrawl pangs for smoking,
help balance the body in general to relieve stress.
It helps unblock places that cause pain,
I believe through either :
removing tension that blocks nerve transmision,
or blocking certain nerve transmissions to allow healing
to happen in an unstressed environment.
Yes it can do both inverse ways.
Not bad for helping arthitis and spinal stenosis too.
I had a bad waterskiing accident in '76, and
the regular docs filled me with painkillers, that left the mind woozy.
After 9 months, some of which I don't remember,
I dropped them completely after 2 accupuncture treatments,
and then had the back straightened out much quicker.
No progress before that, even after a milogram,
and mutitudes of x-rays that NEVER found
the problem. Coxyx displacement by 6°.
I only wish I had done it 7+ months SOONER.
I was with a friend getting a lesson from
a 10th degree black belt in karate.
While I was sitting watching the lesson,
a man was carried in from Boston's Chinatown,
with a .38 slug in his rear, bleeding profusly.
5 or so minutes later a Dr. So, arrived, stripped the man to the waist,
and put around 36 needles in his hands and back.
The bleeding stopped.
He added a few around his face, and surrounding his buttox.
Took some alcohol, cleaned the wound,
went in with forceps and removed the slug.
no screams, no nurses with sponges and tools
to stop bleeding.
NO ANESTHETIC. No syringes of any kind.
Just went in with forceps. By then man had stopped wimpering already.
Took a needle, sewed him up, put a bandage on it,
handed him the bullit as a souveneer,
and the guy walked out with a limp, on his own....
I thought; "I GOTTA see this guy about my back".
I did and it was a great decision.
Dr. So was the 1st liscenced acupuncturist in New England,
under a western MD. who was supervising
and studying his work,
for a New England Journal of Medicine report.
The report was positive and since this time acupuncture has been liscenced across the USA.
But for me I will NEVER forget seeing this guy
carried and an walk our after being shot.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 21 December 2006 at 08:22 PM.] |
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Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 21 Dec 2006 10:50 pm
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Thanks for the replys everyone. Great stories. I really think we're doing our friends here a great service passing this info along.
Jim, I don't like needles either but you hardly feel them at all. But if the needles don't scare you enough the electric shock treatment might. He put two of the needles right into the problem spot of my foot and connected two small clamps to them like tiny little jumper cables. They were connected at the other end to an electric charger of some sort and he slowly turned up the voltage until I could feel it. I didn't like the idea of that at first but it also was painless. Frankly, for some reason I think the electric charge did the trick. I don't know why I think that. I just do. I'll find out more tomorrow when I see my doctor again. $60. this time.[This message was edited by Don McClellan on 22 December 2006 at 06:45 PM.] |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 7:05 am
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Jim S., I actually find it quite pleasant.
These are hair-like needles, flexible, and are tapped into the spot. Troublesome nodes are blockages in energy; you can feel the energy release. I go into a nice relaxing state all over.
Not making claims, or saying 'try it, you'll like it,' but it's not a fearful or overly intense treatment.
Merry Christmas.  |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 7:26 am
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A few years ago, the small fingers on my right hand went numb. I had no feeling in them. In a neighboring town there was a chiropractor who was also a licensed accupuncturist. After a number of treatments, the numbness went away.  |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 7:54 am
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| Even reading the "supportive" posts makes my skin crawl. I seriosuly don't know if I'd be able to do it. "Required" stuff, like blood tests at a physical, I can barely tolerate. Voluntary??? |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 8:18 am
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After the needles are put in, I found that I would sometimes doze off. I know it doesn't make logical sense, but you don't feel pain, but rather feel relaxed.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 10:05 am
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| Jim:It's a much smaller needle than the blood test one.The guy that I went to plays classical music for about 15 minutes before he starts the procedure to relax you.The jumper cable thing that was mentioned I believe is a Tens unit,it's for nerve stimulation.I used to have a hand held one but me and some friends were using it like a stun gun on each other,One day we'll grow up..not this week.I don't know what you're hand problem is but think that you should check it out,they also sell herbs that help internal things.Take Perlowin with you and have him hold you down,it will be worth it. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 10:18 am
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One of the hard things for me is finding a trust-worthy practitioner. As in any discipline, of course--I'm having trouble finding an MD worth a damn right now. Some years ago I went to a chiropractor for a chronic hip problem. After 4 months of ineffective treatments she declared me cured, the very same week that the insurance company decided that I'd had enough. How's that for coincidence?
Soured me, for sure.
I can definitely use some treatment for chronic foot-toe problems that have me walking like an 80 year old (actually not true--my 85 year old dad walks a lot better than me) and I'm very interested in this thread. Now I've just got to find some good word-of-mouth on local accu-dudes. |
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Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 10:34 am
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| Jon, I'm glad you brought up the need to find a good acupuncturist. The guy I went to has a great reputation and he told me himself that it was important to get it done right. If you can afford it, you might consider planning a little business/pleasure trip to Maui to see Dr. Collon Brayce. Or you could call him and ask for referrals in your area(?) I would think the good ones would recommend each other. [This message was edited by Don McClellan on 22 December 2006 at 10:50 AM.] |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 11:10 am
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I too have had a chronic condition cured by acupuncture. I had a broncheil infection that lasted for 5 months. The doctors tried everything, including twice weekly visits to the hospital for inhalation therapy, and nothing worked.
Finally, I tried acupuncture, and the infection started to clear up immediately, and was com0letely gone in 2 weeks.
My acupuncturist is also an excellent guitar player who studied with Lenny Breau at one time. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 11:42 am
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| John,I went to a few Chiropractors up here and never had long lasting success,seems like they were always trying to get me back in position where I was twenty years ago.I got lucky with my Acupuncturist,he's a really good one.John it might be worth taking a trip into the City"Chinatown" and ask around,I know there has to good ones there.Stu |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 12:47 pm
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Yup, there are good acupuncturists and bad ones. The bad ones don't really do harm, they just don't help much. The good ones, however, can and often do change lives. I'm fortunate enough to have a great uncle (sort of) that's one of the two top practicioners of 5 Element Acupuncture in the US. He's got pro football players that will fly in from around the country to get treated. He's got top surgeons seeking treatment. The list is huge. He often works "miracles" where western medicine completely fails. Acupuncture is truly amazing when done right. It's so succesful that finally after many years, some insurance companies are finding merit in including it in their coverage. It's quite often much cheaper and far more effective than drug or invasive treatments. I'm way past needing to be convinced of it's effectiveness. My only recommendation is to find someone who has done it for a very long time and has built up a good reputation. There are lots of newbies in the field, and it's hard to know if they've got the gift or not.
Brad |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 12:48 pm
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Jim, we've talked abiut herbs before. Maybe give that a shot first. Really helped me more than the needles.
Jon, about the practitioners, my girlfriend is Chinese. My old western med doc was from Taiwan, since gone into research. Both of them told me, no,,,insisted,,, that I only see herbal docs and acupuncturists who have emmigrated from mainland China. That's where the best are, and where the best come from! Even if you need to grab someone to use as a translator!
Three years ago, I could not walk with out a cane, due to arthur-itis in my knees. The needles weren't helpin' much, so I tried herbal. 3 weeks later, I tossed the cane!
And Jim, the needles are so thin, that if you look the other way, you won't even feel most of them going in. And the ones you do feel, don't hurt.
Anybody here tried "cupping?" |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 1:18 pm
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John - I've been looking into the Chinese herbalists, just haven't had much success since I don't have any connections in that part of the community.
Mike - did you go to someone around L.A. when you had it done? If so and can give me a name, I'd feel more comfortable than searching blindly. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 1:40 pm
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| Jim, wish I could steer you in the right direction. I asked my doc if he knew anyone out your way. Unfortunately, no. Have you tried lookin' in the yellow pages? Grab a Chinese newspaper and look for ads? Look around Chinatown. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 2:21 pm
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Jim. The man's name is Denis Alvino, and he is in South Pasadena. I don;t have the address and phone number offhand but I'll look it up and send it to you. Some of the L.A. players may remember him from his gigging days before he went to China to study acupuncture.
It stands to reason that being a guitar player, he would be the logical choice to treat your hand problem.
But despite Stu's suggestion, I'm not going to come with you and hold you down. I only do that for the ladies.
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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site
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Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 2:29 pm
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| I just came from my second session with my acupuncturist and I must say it was a little more painful this time but still no big deal at all. He put one needle in the top of my head, one in the middle of my chest, one in each hand in the muscly part between the thumb and forefinger, one on the outside of each calf, one on the inside edge of each heel, one on the bottom of each foot, one in each knee, two in the trouble spot (my foot behind the toes) and maybe one or two more in other places. I'm not sure. He hooked up the electric charger and I laid still for 25 minutes. Nothin' to it! So far the results are startling. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 3:51 pm
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"But despite Stu's suggestion, I'm not going to come with you and hold you down. I only do that for the ladies."
Thank God!
;-) |
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Mark Edwards
From:
Weatherford,Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 3:57 pm
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| Accupuncture is a proven remedy. In my line of buisness we have what they call Accudetox. It is Accupuncture for folks that have substance abuse issues i.e. Alcoholics, Drug Addicts etc... They place accupuncture pins in and around the earlobes, and I have witnessed outstanding results. We also use it to help as a stress reducer. Of course it can be used for a wide range of issues such as overeating, smoking cessation, and as have been discussed medical reasons. An old world remedy that is still used today. |
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