Acupuncture | Arthritis Information

 

Has anyone had any experience with Acupuncture for RA?

thanks,

teech7

Not me. But the research shows it does not improve arthritis.My son had acupuncture yesterday. he was (cured) afterward. He said his ankle and foot was as good as new. 3 hours later it all came back. I was wondering if I should continue these sessions.

There's a term that medical practioners use for people who want so badly for something to work.....and it does....and right afterwards it's a failure. I forget the term, but it sounds to me like this is a classic situation.

Save your money.

Hello,

Please don't knock something that you may have no experience with. Acupuncture treatments take time. Anyone who treats patients with it, will tell you that. Some may feel relief after only a few sessions. I have had it done many times. It basically gets the blood flowing. It's almost like our systems are stuck and acupunture moves things along. Sorry, I can't explain it correctly.

Of course, it's not a cure for RA. I believe acupuncture gives "relief". Yes, it's costly but until one tries it, one will never know. I went for accupucture for 10 sessions.  I spoke to the practioner in great detail prior to the first session - it was a chinese medical centre and very well respected - the consultant was licenced to practice on the national health service which is practically unheard of.  The beliefs behind RA from a chinese medicine point of view is that dampness or (evil wind) 'gets into' the body when it is in a weakened state and it is believed that this is why so many women are affected after child birth because we take showers etc when our bodies are in a weakened state.  Personally, and please note that this is personal opinion on my part, this is not something I particular believe to be true to me (i suffered first symptoms at 4 months pregnant and then full blown flare 4 days after i quit breastfeeding at 9 months).  Again however, after hearing many many different theories behind RA and also very aware that even the most respected RD's do not know what causes RA, I decided to take a course of accupuncture.  For me, it did not help AT ALL and the practioner was more than qualified.  I also believe in having faith in any treatment you undertake otherwise the negative attitude will have a negative result on the treatment so I can say whole heartedly that I was very positive, but sadly i saw no improvment at all.   I can't say whether it would work for others, i'm sure it must and i was advised rightly by the guy to make sure i did my homework on therapists because there are many con artists out there. 

I believe that if you have the money and you want to try something then you should go for it.  I think that it is a positive thing to do because it gives us back some control in that we are taking matters into our own hands.  RA is a funny thing, there are so many variables and remissions etc and it is such a mystery to us as well as the doctors that anything must be worth a try - yeah there is the placebo effect but that can work too.  We don't know what triggers it and we don't know what makes it disappear for some folk either.  I wouln't go without conventional meds but personally I will and have been trying everything that I think may be of benefit to me, obviously I don't want to be made a fool of and there are many many people only to ready to do that to RA suffers especially BECAUSE it is such a confusing disease.

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