acupuncture? post herpetic neuralgia

15 years ago

I wrote a while back about my mom having alot of upper back pain. She is trying an acupunturist. She has alot of pain in her shoulder blades, deep pain. Also she is bothered by burning and sensitivity to the skin around the bra area. It is like a band that goes all the way around. Only releif is if she doesn't wear a bra, and she doesn't like to do that. She has had 3 treatments from the acupunturist and is not feeling any better yet. He does think it is caused from post herpetic neuralgia(lasting effects from shingles) Has anyone here ever had this or tried acupuncture. How long does it take to find any relief? She is already getting frustrated after 3 treatments. Don't want her to give up yet.

I tell her mom, you have had this for years, you can't expect it to go away in 3 weeks. I feel so bad for her.

Would appreciate any ideas or your own experience.

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Comments (10)

matti5
15 years ago
Tell your mom to hang in there. Acupuncture takes a few sessions before you notice an improvement, plus she has had these ongoing issues for quite sometime. How often is she going? I began my treatment once a week for about a 6 weeks, and am now down to once a month for maintenance.

I have different medical issues that I am being treated for and do notice a difference in pain level and well being.

I have a 12 year old black lab that suffers from severe spinal stenosis. Meds were not helping him much, so he vet recommended acupuncture. He could barely walk when he started acupuncture and now 3 months later has improved tremendously and not taking meds anymore.

Ask your mom's acupuncturist to show her some pressure point techniques that she can do at home to help with pain.
JennaVaNowSC
15 years ago
I agree with matti5... it takes several treatments. chinese medicine does not work the way conventional medicine dones, it is trying to balance the systems in her body and will take several sessions. tell your mom not to give up on it yet. my DH and i both go for treatments for various things, and we have both been helped a lot.
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sue36
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I did acupuncture (well, had it done to me) for a pinched nerve and knotty muscles in my neck. It worked very well. I had some relief right away (when I went in there I couldn't move my head or neck at all) and it took about 5 treatments for it to resolve. I had three treatments the first week. They also did that cup thing that leaves the large round bruises.
lynn_d
15 years ago
I had my first treatment today, that coupled with reiki, some reflexology and a form of physical therapy. I have RA and it has been horrible for the past couple of months, I removed myself from the RA meds because of the side effects I was suffering. For the past few weeks I could barely walk, could not sleep without a pain pill (which I tried to do without) and my joints were so swollen my skin was shiny.

Had the treatments this morning, walked out 930 or so.....by noon I was feeling so much better. First time in weeks that I was totally painfree. I know it will be back, and I have another treatment next week, we are striving for monthly.....I wish your mom luck.
matti5
15 years ago
Lynn d - Just curious, but have you ever had your Vitamin D levels checked? Often times people with RA (and other autoimmune disorders) are deficient in D. Once on a theraputic dose, symptoms are said to be dimished.

Glad to hear today's treatment provided some relief :)
carol_in_california
15 years ago
Sorry your Mom is having so much pain. Post herpatic nerve pain should be evaluated by a neurologist.
I hope she gets some relief from the accupuncture.
I had accupuncture for neck and shoulder pain and it was effective within hours and lasted for several years.
I hope your Mom gets some pain relief soon.
lynn_d
15 years ago
Matti5, I have not but will sure ask about it, thanks!
Indy_Anna
15 years ago
I had shingles last year, and an anesthesiologist did a procedure to make the pain better during the acute phase of the illness. He said if the post herpetic neuralgia was bad enough, he could do it again. He shot the nerve with a steroid and a numbing medicine. It's supposed to "reset" the nerve and help it heal.

I still have some pain, burning, and itching. (Mine's around my hip) When I complain, DH reminds me that there is medicine I can take that has very few side effects. I don't want to take it, so I've never asked what it was. If you haven't tried this route, I can ask him. (DH is a neurologist in training, and his dad is a rheumatologist)

I think it's worth continuing with the acupuncture. Many things simply require time to work. Good luck to your mother. I hope she feels relief soon.
jillguffey
15 years ago
I have had severe chronic pain due to post-herpetic neuralgia for 7 years and I have had my first few good nights of sleep in five years after using this new product my doctor recommended to me. I had tried everything to reduce my pain but nothing worked, I even tried epidural morphine but it was no help. My doctor recommended this new product he heard about and I bought it off the web.

www.blumjk.com

I don't normally promote products but it helped me so much I wanted to pass if along.

God bless. Jill
eugenejmartin_msn_com
12 years ago
Please help what was the product your dr gave you thanks

acupuncture? post herpetic neuralgia

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