my acupuncture experience
 

I know there have been a few other threads that have recommended acupuncture for treatment, but I just want for my 1st session and was amazed at the improvement I experienced. It's almost been a year since my auto accident and figured why not give it a shot, nothing else was working.

I was quite skeptical as the Dr. was explaining the whole qi thing and blockage caused by my accident so the blood isn't circulating properly. He put a bunch of needles in me(not painful at all) and used heat lamps for my feet and stomach. I came in the appointment with a really bad headache and by the end it was almost gone. He said after a few more sessions he can start to do cupping therapy once the blockage is relieved.

I felt like my tension had eased a bit after the session but I wasn't sure if it would just be a short term thing. I woke up this morning and my head felt much clearer than normal. Usually I wake up in a haze but this almost reminded me of how I used to feel before the accident. This sensation lasted for the whole day and was truly an amazing feeling.

There are so many different therapies to try for PCS, but I would highly recommend you at least try acupuncture. It's not as expensive as doing some of the other therapies and there may just be something to acupuncture that does get the blood circulating again thus refreshing the brain.

Here is a link talking about acupuncture for TBI patients.

http://www.acupuncturedoctor.net/201...ion-syndromes/

Thank you! I have tried acupuncture once and found it to be helpful. I look forward to trying it again.

I have had some pretty good experiences with accupuncture and recovery. I was injured in November in 2011 and by Feb of 2012 I was not making any noticeable progress. I started accupuncture in March of 2012 along with other therapies and by end of May I started feeling excellent again.

I had a setback in July but I had stopped all my treatments to save money, started them up again and have returned to work again a couple of weeks ago.

For those who try accupuncture, the experience varies greatlty from one practitioner to another so does their technique. Might be worth trying someone else if you have a poor experience.

I should also add that the accupuncturist I am seeing also adds NAET treatments. I don't really understand it and was extremely skeptical about it. Most medical societies/organizations advise against this practice, I found it very interesting if nothing else but have seen improvements in myself, some family members and co-workers for me not to believe it to some extent.

I have also seen a poster here talk quite a bit of theraputic touch practitioners. I know of one PCS patient in my area who is having amazing success with that form of therapy and I am going to try it tonight for the first time (free clinic :-)...)

I am a complete idiot when it comes to acupuncture so forgive me if this sounds stupid, but what do the therapists do to ensure that the needles are sterile? And what do they do to prevent infection?

Also, what happens if I suddenly have a twitch or spasm while they are inserting a needle?

All the needles are individually packaged and are sterile. They are quite a low guage and when the practitioner sticks you with them they do it kinda swiftly. I twitched every single time he stuck me but he was quick about it so by the time the message got to my brain that something had pierced my skin, it was already in there.

Now don't get me wrong - when I say swiftly, they aren't stabbing you from 3 feet up, but they certainly aren't slowing sliding it in (shudder)

oops! forgot to add - when they remove the needles they wipe the "hole" (its so tiny you can't even see it) down with alcohol or some sort of topical disinfectant

andromeda, and others who may wonder about acupuncture needles:

FYI, acupuncture needles are as small-gauge needle as diameter of a hair on your head. Thus sterile, individual-pkgd, and *disposable*.

Srgallan....I think you are probably talking about me. I post a ton about Healing Touch. It is different than Therapeutic Touch, but similar. Healing Touch is endorsed by the American Holistic nurses Association and practiced at more than 100 hospitals nationwide (that we know of). Its basically Acupuncture without the needles. Both are energy therapies. The goal is to restore normal flow of energy or chi (qi) in both Acupuncture and Healing Touch.
There have also been about a 100 research studies published on the effects of Healing Touch. One just came out last month in Military Medicine magazine about Healing Touch and PTSD. The findings were astounding!!! The group who got Healing Touch had significant improvement in symptoms, quality of life, and less depression and nightmares. Its a huge study that was done by my hospital system and some of my Healing Touch instructors.

My depression lifted after getting healing touch, along with my headaches subsiding. I am now getting certified to become a Healing Touch Practitioner!
I live in San Diego, and every hospital in San Diego has a Healing Touch nurse who gives treatments to patients in the hospital to help with pain, anxiety, depression, after chemotherapy, nausea, etc. It is very widely used and accepted and I am a clear case of how powerful it is since I went from 10/10 headaches everyday to feeling amazing with regular treatments along with doing treatments to myself every night. I'm off all medications and healthier and happier than I have ever been in my life!

Heres a link to the abstract and story about Healing Touch and PTSD! If you want to find someone who can do Healing Touch on you, you can find a practitioner on www.healingtouchinternational.org


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0924102500.htm

Thanks NightShiftNurse30, still reading about. I may be using the words interchangeably. I am not even sure, these 2 are quite new topics for me in an area I don't understand. :) Whatever it was there is a Level 1 practitioner class next week, may even check that out.

I am glad to hear you have found something that works and a passion to help others. I myself feel pretty good lately and returned to work again on an easeback schedule. Just looking for anything to further enhance recovery and prevent another setback.

You should take the class!! its pretty awesome! you learn things about the body that you never knew existed! As a nurse, this has been extremely helpful for my patients and for my friends and family. I use Healing Touch all the time. Its the biggest passion in my life! Where is the class??? The class is great because half the time you are learning the theory and the other half you are getting treatments from each other in the class. Its so relaxing and you will feel amazing when you leave! If you do take it, private message me and let me know what you think!!