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Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower
I have a herniated disk, and I have done acupuncture to help. The typical acupuncture (small needles left in for a while) feels good and is relaxing and seems to help, but it is honestly hard to tell if I would feel different if I did not do it. But at the same time, she uses longer needles to release specific muscles (basically trick them into firing with the needle) and that definitely works. When I have had particularly bad back spasms, it is the only thing that actually gets my back muscles to loosen up a bit.
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I also have used acupuncture for a disc issue (chronically bulging L5/S1 which causes steady pain and numbness in my right leg). It was the only thing that kept me from needing surgery last year. I went in unable to stand or lie flat and after two sessions two days in a row, I laid flat on my back with no pain for the first time in months. It was a total game-changer for me. I still do it once every 3-4 weeks for maintenance. As others have said:
1. It depends on the practitioner -- I have a great acupuncturist, but tried a couple of others with not as good results.
2. I don't know why it works. I don't need to know why it works.
3. It also made me more fertile, which wasn't something I was going for, but was a definite side-effect.
My acupuncturist also uses E-stim on me while I have the needles in and she does cupping. I also go to a chiropractor every few weeks. Since I've done the chiro and acupuncture tandem, I haven't had the chronic pain I had before treatment (unfortunately none of it has helped with my now numb right foot). Chiro is good for maintenance but couldn't get me out of the pain without acupuncture.
