Jan Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Have any of you had acupuncture since your SAH? I am currently having physiotherapy for my shoulder pain (rotator cuff damage) My physio has suggested acupuncture as the muscles surrounding my shoulder are so knotted that the manlipulation that she’s doing isn’t relieving the pain. I know that everyone is different regarding pain threshold and how far they will go with a particular treatment etc.I just wondered if anyone has had acupuncture and could share their experience? By the way, I don’t have a fear of needles!! I suppose what I’m really asking ( in typical ‘Jan the Rambler’) fashion is . . . . . iS IT SAFE?? Thank you for reading Jan xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Hey Sis My daughter sees a chiropractor regularly and has acupuncture - she loves it and finds it really helps with her treatment. However, she's not had a SAH. I've never been told not to but I haven't raised the question directly. Can you contact your consultant / specialist to ask?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Hi Sis Thank you for your quick reply and advice. I have just spoken to my consultant s secretary ( my consultant/ surgeon is on annual leave) I explained what I wanted to ask and asked if I could perhaps talk to another consultant or nurse specialist? Short answer was NO . . Advised to ring my GP which would be a waste of time as they won’t answer anything without speaking to N. Staffs hospital first ?. Back to Dr. Google!! xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Mario Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Just a thought, have you asked the acupuncturist you are thinking of going to for their opinion? They may be able to give an indication, well a good one would anyway. Ethically they would not treat anyone who would be at risk. What opinion does your physio have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Sis - do not Google - it is not your best friend. Do as Super suggests and if they are unsure, then unfortunately you'll have to wait to speak to your guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman23 Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I don’t know much about it but many many patients swear it s very helpful but they don’t have SAH. They do it for rotator cuff, back pain, fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis etc. some even come off pain meds which I m not complaining. Most insurances don’t cover it here so some even pay a fee upfront. 500$ for ten sessions I m told. Many clinics in big cities where Chinatown is. I just tell them it s ok as long as they take meds for lupus etc. Patients just seem to be upset that I look Asian and don’t know much about it. I think it has very few side effects . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Jan I was told I could have it but not sure if it is safe. Who treated you at stoke, I had Mr Dias, he has gone private now xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinaw Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Hi, I specifically asked my consultant about this as I have found acupuncture really helpful in the past. She said it would be perfectly safe. Since then I forgot about it, so I never actually went to my physiotherapist to have it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 SM, Thank you, I have tried to phone my physio this afternoon but can’t get hold of her yet, she is aware that I’ve had a SAH so I’m sort of assuming from that it must be ok, To be honest, I think that because it’s something totally new to me I’m being over cautious. I was ok until I read the leaflet she gave me and this sentence jumped out at me . . . . . . Research shows that acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce natural pain relieving chemicals - Endorphins............... It’s the ‘stimulates the brain’ bit that had me worried. I am just being a great big Wuss!! Jess, I was treated by Mr Tzerakis ( Not mis spelt, I just checked)!!! John and my sons referred (& still do!) to him as Dr Nik, much easier!!! Jan xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Tinaw, I think our posts crossed! Thank you for your reply, That helps to put my mind at ease ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClareM Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Jan a consultants secretary has no right to tell you you can’t speak to a nurse specialist. You should be able to access one through the outpatients department. Or just try asking for the neuro nurse specialist through the switchboard. They will be able to give you the definitive answer so try again. Hope you get an answer. Clare xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Clare, Thank you, I will try again, I was actually told that there was only a nurse specialist for patients with cancer!!! Odd? Yes. There was a neuro nurse specialist when I was discharged 3 years ago I will try again, Thank you. Jan xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 I phoned N Staffs again yesterday. Switchboard couldn’t put me through to a nurse specialist as they don’t have one on their list!! She asked if I wanted to be put through to ‘the ward’ Which ward I had no idea but said ‘yes please’ As it turned out it was the ward that I was in 3 years ago. A lovely nurse answered and I asked my question re acupuncture, she seemed to understand my concerns and immediately went to find a doctor to ask. She came back to me with. . . . Yes Jan, it’s safe to have acupuncture after a bleed on the brain.??? Relief?? I can’t tell you ! So, I’m off to do my impression of a pin cushion this morning. I’ll pop back later to let you know how it went. Thank you all again for your advice and support. Jan xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClareM Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Great new Jan I knew by phoning direct you’d get an answer. Most staff on these types of wards are used to patients calling with queries and are sympathetic. Secretaties drive me mad sometimes they can be so protective over the consultants who usually are more than happy to help! Hope you enjoy getting stuck with the needles and more importantly that it works! Clare xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Well . . I did it!! What was I worried about? My physio Emma explained what she was doing and kept me talking to keep my mind off what she was doing. I only felt 2 of the 7 needles and they didn’t hurt.I was aware of her putting the needles in the top of my arm but only because I could feel her hand holding my arm! (I didn’t watch) until she put one in the back of my wrist I saw that one and it hurt. I’m sure it only hurt because I could see it, if you know what I mean? When it was over, I asked why I hadn’t had any needles in my shoulder considering that my shoulder is the major problem. Emma smiled and said that I’d had several needles in my shoulder all around the rotator cuff. Brilliant!! I didn’t feel any of those?Anyway I have another appointment in 2 weeks. I’m not sure yet if it’s helped with the pain but it’s no worse so here’s hoping? Jan xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winb143 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 I had it on back so I could move a little Jan and then it seemed like it stopped helping. But it loosened me up that's for sure but after 3 sessions he gave me exercises to do XX Good luck xxxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle C Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 I had acupuncture for my back, it did help to relax things off for a little while, she used to put one of the needles in the bit of skin between my thumb and first finger and I would feel so relaxed it made me fall asleep and I felt really good when she woke me up. Really hope it helps to get your shoulder feeling better Jan. Love Michelle xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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