Has anyone gone to an accupuncturist? Thoughts?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Since losing most of my hearing in my right ear, I have had tinnitus. Nonstop. All day and night. The deafness and muted tones I can live with. It’s the constant ringing and sometimes clicking that is a bit of a drag.

Since modern medicine shakes their head at the causes and with no possible cures for it, I thought of looking into accupuncture. Really, it couldn’t hurt ( ha…couldn’t hurt…they use needles[/size])
Those who say it is quackery, please go away.

Anywhooo, any thoughts or experiences (yours or a FOAF) with this avenue of medicine I would appreciate.

2

I hate to sound like a prick, but I really must needle you about your acupuncture fears. Hey, you started it.

I’ve never been, but my mother swears by it. She had constant neck pain with some fused vertebrae and most doctors just didn’t know what to do aside from prescription drugs. Well, my mom didn’t like the drugs, so she was basically in pain all day and night. A friend recommended acupuncture about 3 years ago, and for whatever reason it worked like a charm. She goes once a week for an hour (I think) session and is now basically pain-free. Unfortunately her insurance doesn’t cover it, but she feels it’s worth the $70 per session. Give it shot.

3

I was an acupuncturist’s assistant for five years, and have studied Traditional Chinese Medicine for four years. I’ve also had acupuncture done to me for everything from sinus infections to carpal tunnel to Esptein-Barr.

Acupuncture can take care of tinnitus quite easily. There are two camps of acupuncture at the moment: those who study western medicine (M.D.s, D.C.s and dentists) who are not required to take any acupuncture technique or theory classes before legally performing acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (also known as Oriental Medicine, but it’s not the preferred phrase at the moment) practitioners who have extensively studied the theory as well as the techniques as practiced in China and Japan. I prefer the second type. While any MD can look up a few points that are often used for treating “tinnitus” and may be successful using them, it’s been my experience that an acupuncturist trained in TCM has a better chance of more fully understanding the entire system and developing a treatment strategy based on you and all of your symptoms, not just the tinnitus label. According to TCM, there are several possible causes of tinnitus, and they would be treated differently. An MD who uses needles might not differentiate between them.

To find a board-certified acupuncturist near you, check out the “Find a Practitioner” button on NCCAOM’s website.

As for what to expect: no, it really doesn’t hurt. I promise! Not as much as getting a shot, anyway. The needles are really, really, really, tiny, and in most points you don’t feel them at all once they’re in. In really sensitive points, they feel like a little sting. Seriously, mosquito bites are worse.

Everyone I know uses disposible needles nowadays. No one bothers with autoclaving and reusing them. Each needle is either individually wrapped, or wrapped in bunches of five. Some practitioners use a guide tube , a little plastic tube which the needle rests in, to stretch the skin a little and make insertion easier. Others just pop the needle in directly. Depending on the treatment, there will likely be between 15 and 30 needles used. You will probably lay quietly with the needles in place for between 15 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the practitioner and the treatment.

Probably not for this particular case, but some treatments require additional stimulation of the needles, which means the acupuncturist or her assistant will come back periodically to check on you and twist the needles gently. This is usually done for conditions that are what we call “stagnant.” My favorite was tweaking needles to stimulate labor in post-term moms! (Tinnitus is usually a “blood deficiency,” but don’t quote me on that, since I haven’t seen you!)

While you’re lying there, you will lose all track of time. It’s really weird. You may want to set a wristwatch alarm for an hour or so, just to reassure yourself that you haven’t been “forgotten” and you haven’t really been lying there for two hours! You may feel woozy, and you may fall asleep. I’d say about 60% of the people I saw were asleep by the time I came to pull their needles - and our standard time was only 20 minutes. You may feel like you’re light and floating, or you may feel heavy and sinking. It’s pretty trippy, sometimes.

After they pull your needles, they will be disposed of in a biohazard box and never used again. Get up slowly, as you may feel dizzy. Drink a glass of water soon after - it helps people come down off that needle high! Occasionally, a point may become red, itchy, or swell a tiny bit. It’s nothing to worry about and usually goes away within an hour.

How often and long will you need treatments? It depends. Any office that “guarantees” over the phone that you’ll be better in four visits is lying. Some people need two, some need twenty. When the acupuncturist sees you, she’ll be able to give you a better idea. Most of our patients came in once a week, but how many visits varied greatly.

Many insurances will cover it nowadays if you have a physician’s referral. Check with your insurance company.

I don’t know where you live, but if you’re near or willing to travel to Schaumburg, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Lincoln Park or Rogers Park, I have some fantastic referrals for you. My email’s in my profile. Otherwise, check the website and do a search.

4

Whynot Thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish I lived in your area, I would use whomever you recommend. Alas, I am in Michigan.
I will be placing a call to my insurance company to see if they cover it or partial or something, like validating parking. :slight_smile: They actually cover 1 hearing aid per ear every 36 months. So, that surprised me greatly.

5

I had three sessions about 7 years ago. I was having problems with a “pinched nerve” in my lower back that was really painful. The treatments had absolutely no effect on me or my pain unfortunately (but I went to a chiropractor that “cracked” my back once and that got rid of the problem almost immediately.)

6

No problem. I do know a few people in Michigan, but it’s a pretty big place! If you want to email or post your zip code, I’d be happy to look through that search and see if I recognize any good names.

7

Why wouldn’t you want to know if it’s quackery? Why would you want to spend your and/or your insurance company’s money on a treatment that doesn’t work?

Not saying it’s quackery; not saying it isn’t. My own one experience with acupuncture (not to treat any specific condition, just a demo) had no effect whatsoever. No trance state, no euphoria, nothing, except for a little bit of feeling like a ninny for having a dozen needles sticking out of my ears.

A quick Google turns up this report which you may find of interest.

8

I think acupuncture is good in certain situations. I went to the acupuncturist with a sore throat, got some tea and needles and ended up in hospital a couple days later with an abcess in my throat. Not good. Stick to western medicine for things that seem bacterial or fungal.
I went for a numbness in my arm/wrist and they fixed me right up.
I went for a painful/stiff neck, and it worked pretty well. I think it may help with the tinnitus. It’s at least worth a try. If you feel no difference after the first session, drop it. If you feel better, try it again.

P.S. the only pain I’ve ever felt was when they twisted the needles, sometimes. Then it would burn a bit. Don’t be scared.

9

Otto, beleive me, I am the first person who is either " It is total quackery" or “Hey, you never know.” When it comes to alternative medicines I tend to be in the latter camp. My philosophy is either " It is working but the FDA poo pooh’s it because they don’t want to be put out of business…etc…conspiracy theories abound." or “If I am being deceived, then it is in my favor.” (my favoring being that the ringing stops in my ear.)

Being that the regular medical community says Nothing Can Be Done for the constant, nonstop ringing in my ear ( day and night, night and day, day and night…and it’s only been since August 1, 2004. What if I live another 50 years?)
I don’t mind trying something new.

10

I have bad knees, a combination of arthritis and probably some wear and tear from tennis and skiing. I go to my acupuncturist every other week - and it gives me good relief and greater ability to exercise without pain. Next week I’m going to have him work on my hip because I’m having some pain, possibly sciatica but I’m not sure. His office is in his home, and it’s very relaxing to get a treatment from him. I don’t think I would benefit as much if the environment was a doctor’s office. Very positive experience for me overall.

11

I’ve never been to an accupuncturist, but I used to work for a guy who went to one. He’d go on his lunch hour, and come back to the office raving about how relaxed he felt. He frequently fell asleep during treatment, and said that an hour of accupuncture was like spending a week in the Bahamas.

Just as an aside, I don’t know if the accupuncture took care of the problem he was going for or not. As to the OP, I’d say if doctors have already said there’s nothing they can do, it couldn’t hurt to try accupuncture.

12

I would really encourage you to give it a try. I am a total acupuncture convert, complete with needle phobia.

The needles really are not that bad, they really do not hurt (nothing like getting a shot) and you don’t have to look at them if you don’t want to. Just tell the practitioner that you have ‘needle issues’ and they’ll be sensitive about it.