Acupunture or something more?

Brindabella said :

Play more tennis.

But then she’ll need acupuncture for her elbow. You clearly haven’t thought this through.

Play more tennis.

Highly recommend Alexander Technique, Andrew Earl at Dickson is great worth giving it a go, alternative therapies are not for everyone, but if you don’t try you won’t know, that’s my theory. Helped me move forward in leaps and bounds with similar issues to what you describe.

My own anecdote. I have a herniated disk in my spine and many years ago it flared baldly. I took it to my GP who prescribed anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and referred me to imaging, which confirmed his diagnosis. The NSAIDs did nothing and after a week or so of agony, I tried acupuncture. I immediately had freedom of movement, for the first time in a couple of weeks, and from there was able to gradually recover.

There was no massage, just needles and a light current. The effect was immediate, not delayed, so reversion to the mean was not in play. There was no effect on the underlying condition but the body was able to heal itself once some movement was possible.

Placebo, possibly but somehow I doubt it as other treatments, which had done nothing, should have had just as strong a placebo effect.

So, I’m inclined to think that there is something there. For subsequent flare-ups I have used massage only but if I ever get totally locked down again, I will consider the acupuncture option.

EvanJames said :

As Wally said, we’ve moved beyond writing off acupuncture as useless, although the medical folk still like to remind us that it hasn’t reached the level of evidence-based medicine.

I always regarded it as nonsense, but had a serious and chronic sports-caused ailment, and was nagged into trying acupuncture at the ANU facility (some years back). I had a very bad attitude to it, plus I hate needles, and there was going to be NO placebo effect on me.

The placebo effect is not quite that simple. Studies have shown that it is still relatively effective even when subjects are told that it’s a placebo. There are all other sorts of strange outcomes also, such as giving a subject two placebos has been shown to be more effective than being given one.

As Wally said, we’ve moved beyond writing off acupuncture as useless, although the medical folk still like to remind us that it hasn’t reached the level of evidence-based medicine.

I always regarded it as nonsense, but had a serious and chronic sports-caused ailment, and was nagged into trying acupuncture at the ANU facility (some years back). I had a very bad attitude to it, plus I hate needles, and there was going to be NO placebo effect on me.

Well, it certainly relieved the issue, in a major way. In fact I wondered if I was actually cured, it was so major. I certainly didn’t suffer from the issue for some weeks, until I stupidly went and totally over-did the sport (played 14 matches in one day at a carnival) and the issue came back.

I do believe that, if used as part of a bigger treatment plan by a sports doctor or physio, it could be very effective in relieving the pain and stiffness (but not curing it).

I agree with most of the comments about treating the underlying cause. For those of us in desk (and other sedentary jobs) exercise & stretching is a good idea (I’ve had success with Pilates).

Secondly, if you can find a solution where you can manage it rather than relying on repeated treatments.

Going to a GP could be good to makes rue there is no serious condition and to give you an idea as to the range of treatments.

Physios can be good first stops too. They are interested in self-management/treatment (my physio friend says treatments are usually 2-4 appts) and possibly don’t have the same risks as chiros. They will also refer to other health professionals if necessary e.g. sports physician.

I was getting pain in my bicep and a physio helped me work on my posture and gave me exercises to strengthen my back muscles (as well as massage to relieve the pain) which worked. Its amazing how a condition in one part of the body can lead to pain or difficulty in another part.

Regarding acupuncture I have recently seen some articles that it might not be all hocum (best of all the alternative therapies). One was a report of some clinical trials where there was more than a placebo effect. Another was saying that it can have a short term effect by increasing the circulation (nothing to do with meridians).
Here are some refs:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703630304575270792112727252.html
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/6/25

Good luck.

For those that know me this might sound like the pot calling the kettle black but go to the gym!

Swim my friend. Great for back pain and helping get rid of knots and tension.

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Acupuncture won’t improve your posture.

Acupuncture won’t improve anything.

I recommend Alexander Technique for addressing your posture and tension problems. It worked for me. You should also consider installing a program to manage your time sitting at the computer. I wrote one to remind me to rest and stretch every 30 minutes. It has helped my organisation save lots of money with compo payments.

I’ve found that regular swimming really helps relieve back tension and stress.

Acupuncture is just nonsense. Osteopathy is bunk. Chiropractic treatment is twaddle.

If you do need physical intervention try massage or physio.

You need a physio. You need work to relieve the immediate issues that are causing pain and headaches, and that might include a bit of acupuncture which is a reliever, not a cure. Some physios are qualified to administer acupunture. And if you find a good physio who is not an acupuncturist, they might be able to put you on to a good acupuncturist.

Then, you need what physios are particularly good at: fixing the cause. In your case that will mean some sustained work, remediating the muscle imbalance that has formed over time. But you’ll be amazed what can be achieved.

Thoroughly Smashed said :

HenryBG said :

MrMagoo said :

Complementary Therapies like acupuncture can also provide relieve from the symptoms …

Unlike most woo, acupuncture actually *sometimes* can be shown to provide *weak* effects (greater than just placebo) on the symptoms.

The thing is – you should be getting the underlying condition treated using some kind of evidence-based medicine and not relying on woo which (at best) weakly masks the symptoms, but more generally woo (including acupuncture) causes a delay in people seeking genuine medical treatment thereby worsening their condition.

And, even when it does (weakly) work for a particular subject, it’s a very expensive way to avoid taking an aspirin.

Yeah, I forgot about that aspect of it.

Mind you – have you seen how much cheaper it is to go to a Chiropractor [quack][quack][quack] than to a real physiotherapist?
That’s why some people go to the quacks – they’re cheaper, and if you can convince them to leave off the neck manipulation (so you don’t risk ruptured blood vessels leading to strokes), you can get a cheaper massage from the quack than you can from the sane, trained professional.

HenryBG said :

MrMagoo said :

Complementary Therapies like acupuncture can also provide relieve from the symptoms …

Unlike most woo, acupuncture actually *sometimes* can be shown to provide *weak* effects (greater than just placebo) on the symptoms.

The thing is – you should be getting the underlying condition treated using some kind of evidence-based medicine and not relying on woo which (at best) weakly masks the symptoms, but more generally woo (including acupuncture) causes a delay in people seeking genuine medical treatment thereby worsening their condition.

And, even when it does (weakly) work for a particular subject, it’s a very expensive way to avoid taking an aspirin.

+1 million for the ANU posture and flexibility class. If you can’t get to that, pilates is also good for computer-induced back and neck pain.

Acupuncture could help if you are in so much pain that you can’t stretch and you are sick of taking painkillers, but otherwise it is of little benefit. Osteopaths are like acupuncturists – great for short term relief, but you will need to do something longer term that deals with your imbalanced strength and flexibility.

Specialists just take your money. They are great for repairs and for long-term nerve issues and not much else in my experience.

It’s scary how much people here know about back pain.

MrMagoo said :

Complementary Therapies like acupuncture can also provide relieve from the symptoms …

Unlike most woo, acupuncture actually *sometimes* can be shown to provide *weak* effects (greater than just placebo) on the symptoms.

The thing is – you should be getting the underlying condition treated using some kind of evidence-based medicine and not relying on woo which (at best) weakly masks the symptoms, but more generally woo (including acupuncture) causes a delay in people seeking genuine medical treatment thereby worsening their condition.

I have to totally disagree with the poster who said Massage doesn’t work long term. Massage Therapy that reduces the symptom logy of the issues is only the start. A good Therapist will also work with the client to adjust seating position, exercise/homecare that promotes a reformation of posture, re-aligning muscles that act on the spine and the shoulder girdle. Complementary Therapies like acupuncture can also provide relieve from the symptoms and aid in the rehabilitation of lazy/ weak or inhibited muscles.

The kicker in all of this is of course adhering to a treatment plan that is given to you by your therapist. Changing the way you sit, the amount of homecare you undertake, including exercise and stretching (both at your desk and away from it) will all lead to an improved postural situation.

CrocodileGandhi said :

So I would definitely stay away if I were you. I would suggest going to see a specialist. It may cost a pretty penny, but you know that you are recieving genuine medical advice from a qualified professional.

Alternatvely, sit at home and poke yourself randomly with sewing needles.

Acupuncture has never been shown to be any more effective than placebo. The common test is for “genuine” acupuncture to be compared to “sham” acupuncture. The genuine acupuncture utilises experience acupuncturists, using the traditional methods and supposed energy points. The sham acupuncture utilises random people sticking needles in random places. The outcome is that patients report the same health outcome, regardless of whether they have recieved the geuine or sham treatment.

So I would definitely stay away if I were you. I would suggest going to see a specialist. It may cost a pretty penny, but you know that you are recieving genuine medical advice from a qualified professional.

30 minutes a day on a correctly fitted bicycle would not only help with this issue but would improve your overall health, reduce illness, increase mental sharpness, decrease stress, reduce weight, improve strength and fitness etc. etc. etc. etc. The same amount of time spent on a vigorous walk or swimming would probably do just as much.

Or you can keep trying to “patch up” the symptoms of a sedentary lifestyle.

Your call.

i would suggest the posture and flexibility course out of anu – also run through seveal agencies, now… this will give you appropriate stretches to ensure your are well rested, flexed and postured, with the benefit that doing it for a while will increase your overall flexibility and provide your body with feedback mechanisms when you start to slump again…

they have a website – google ‘posture and flexibility’ and you should find it. do it…

dtc said :

It might at first seem counter intuitive, but hunched shoulders can often be caused by too strong chest muscles (pulling the shoulders forward) (too strong relative to the back muscles). So a common suggestion is to improve the back muscles and stretch the chest. So hit the gym, forget about bench presses and focus on rows, pull ups etc. Dont forget swimming as well. Google “kyphosis exercises”.

If you have a muscle imbalance (rather than a spinal or genetic issue), then massage etc doesnt really help because it relaxes the muscles for a while but then they go back to their habitual posture. Active release therapy can be used in conjunction with resistance exercise, although how useful ART actually is remains the subject of debate.

^This.

surprisingly common, and the fix is to do back muscle exercises.

Acupuncture really helped me with my similar issue though – yes it doesn’t correct the posture, but it relieves the pain without resort to drugs and makes it easier to fix, because you can’t work out or stretch properly when the muscles are in constant pain.

I remember after suffering through similar condition for months, going to acupuncture and for the first time having a proper sleep, the relief was beyond words.

dtc said :

It might at first seem counter intuitive, but hunched shoulders can often be caused by too strong chest muscles (pulling the shoulders forward) (too strong relative to the back muscles). So a common suggestion is to improve the back muscles and stretch the chest. So hit the gym, forget about bench presses and focus on rows, pull ups etc. Dont forget swimming as well. Google “kyphosis exercises”.

If you have a muscle imbalance (rather than a spinal or genetic issue), then massage etc doesnt really help because it relaxes the muscles for a while but then they go back to their habitual posture. Active release therapy can be used in conjunction with resistance exercise, although how useful ART actually is remains the subject of debate.

What this person said.

I have an imbalance from too much chest at the gym which was causing shoulder pain. A visit to a workplace rehab showed me the hows and whys this was happening and some stretches and exercises I could do a alleviate my pain. 3 days of stretching and pain was gone. Now I focus more on my back and stretch regularly and havent had pain since.

Get an OH&S check done by a professional too. Being a giant I needed a bigger chair with a deeper seat (long legs) and an adjustable height desk, made all the difference in at desk comfort.

You might think you’re sitting correctly but chances are something in the set-up is wrong. Your desk and chair should fit you, not the other way around. Insist on a OH&S check with a professional and get it sorted. It might make all the difference. It might be you but it might be the office.

Over the years I’ve had to accept that as a shorty I need adjustable desks, smaller chairs and a desk set up so that my screen sits on the desk and never on a PC. Offices should offer flexibility without any drama- it might save them a workers comp situation in the future.

Acupuncture won’t improve your posture.

It might at first seem counter intuitive, but hunched shoulders can often be caused by too strong chest muscles (pulling the shoulders forward) (too strong relative to the back muscles). So a common suggestion is to improve the back muscles and stretch the chest. So hit the gym, forget about bench presses and focus on rows, pull ups etc. Dont forget swimming as well. Google “kyphosis exercises”.

If you have a muscle imbalance (rather than a spinal or genetic issue), then massage etc doesnt really help because it relaxes the muscles for a while but then they go back to their habitual posture. Active release therapy can be used in conjunction with resistance exercise, although how useful ART actually is remains the subject of debate.