I'm scheduled to try accupuncture tomorrow. Now I'm having second thoughts MAJOR! My P.M. Dr. has someone in her clinic who now does accupuncture but my insurance will not pay for that. So, someone suggested that if I have accupuncture done it should be by a traditionally trained Chinese medicine Dr. and that's what I found.

My regular nerve block is scheduled for Thursday (Halloween). The P.M. Dr. who gives nerve blocks says we can do those as long as I want. I'm not sure that's good either, I'm going on number 16 during an 8 month time frame. I'm a zombie for nearly 24 hrs. following those. How perfect for Halloween - just add water and a costume!!

RSDRenee, I remember yours spread from accupuncture and that must be heartbreaking!
Any other input? Would I notice benefit right away? And should I get nerve block too?
I realize individual results vary greatly with this CR*P and it's not Dr. advice.
But opinions are most welcome!

I'll give my opinion lol, but as with all this stuff, it's your decision, and only you know your body and your situation.... Wouldn't it be easier if there was a tried and tested protocol for treating this condition that actually worked?!

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. Considering CRPS can spread from tissue damage and nerve aggravation, I'd be too scared of spread now. I think if mine had never spread, I'd maybe be more keen to try it - but it's the needles in skin thing that freaks me out. I suspect it's a lot to do with the skill and understanding of the practitioner...

If you decide to go ahead then really good luck with it, and I hope it works for you

Bram.

I am with Bram on this! It is not for me either. Many people (non RSD/CRPS sufferers) have asked me if I have tried it or told me that I should...umm, no thanks! I have RSD in my arm from a venipuncture injury. I was donating blood and the phlebotomist missed the vein and punctured a nerve. So the thought of many needles doesn't thrill me at all.

Do your research and make sure you are comfortable with your decision. If you do go ahead with it, I hope you find relief from it!

Nanc

My pm dr said that it's probably not a good idea to get needles in your rsd area if you get accupuncture. That may be why I got rsd spread. Unfortunately, she told me that after I had already seen the accupuncturist. The accupuncturist was a licensed dr from China and said she knew what rsd was and that it was okay to put needles in my rsd site, but after four visits and extreme pain from the needles in my body, I stopped going. I got rsd spread in all of my limbs about a month after that. I will never try accupuncture again and never recommend it to anyone. But everyone's different. If you decide to do it, I would make sure they DO NOT put needles in your RSD site. I'm not a dr, that's just my opinion. I would also check with your neurologist and pm dr to see what they think. I hope whatever you decide to do you feel better soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I still have the acupuncture wounds visible from Jan 19th 2010, it's how I found out I am one of the 7 - 8% whose wounds may never heal.