Posted: 4/1/2009 5:15:01 PM EDT
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So I've had back and neck pain most of my life from a car wreck, done all the usual physical therapy, chiropractic , massage therapy and so on, nothing really helped.
My last visit to the spine clinic at the local hospital resulted in a referral to a Dr. (he's an M.D.) who does trigger-point injections, no steroids or anything just tiny amounts of local and B12, says it's mostly the needle that matters, he's also doing chiropractic manipulations and working on the traditional acupuncture methodology but mostly he's sticking needles into the trigger points that've been plaguing my existence for the last 20 years, it's a very odd sensation, makes me twitch when he gets the needle in the right spot... Anyway so yesterday was the first treatment, he stuck me a couple dozen times, said he wanted to see how I responded, if I got sore or whatever,and then he'd stick me a lot more, like a couple hundred times a visit. I feel pretty darn good today, felt great yesterday, slept like a baby. Going to go back tomorrow. Anybody have any experience with this methodology or with traditional acupuncture? does it help long term or is it just another temporary fix that leaves you back where you started after a few days? I'm excited because I think this is actually working, but I've felt that way about other treatments also. So what do you think? Quackery or no? |
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i get traditional acupuncture, works as expected. the B12 is probably doing more for you then the actual needle itself.
i had a slap lesion (minor rotator) tear. did prolotherapy injections for 3 months. not from here just a link http://www.prolotherapy.org/article.asp?prolotherapy=761 this is just one site that you can visit. prior to the injections i was lucky if i could ride my mc around the block w/out being in major pain. the surgeons were quick to dismiss this type of treatment and naturally ready to slice & dice. a former coworker opted for surgery vs my suggestion. 4 yrs later he still has issues, while i am w/out pain. Its not for everyone, and the physician who did the treatment was up front about the success vs not rate. the injections really generate a lot of heat, in the area treated. A major reason i gave it a try vs surgery was my MRI. I was injected with ah iodine solution to see how much damage my rotator had. The iodine generated a lot of heat in the shoulder area. oddly enough for about 1 week i was pan free. figured if the iodine did that for me give the prolo a try. 4 years later i'm better. DISCLAIMER Like my carpal tunnel surgery. IF you continue doing the same kind of work you may not have as success then if you took some time off. for me it was a job change that helped. If i lift over 50-75 lbs i can feel some twinges. YMMV |
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I had the cab of a fire engine that was tilted up fall on the back of my head and neck resulting in herniations from C2-C7 and strained most of the upper back muscles just over 2 years ago. I've been in almost constant pain for the entire time from spasming of the muscles in the neck, back and head.
I've had dozens of chiropractic sessions, acupuncture, electrostimulation, 50+ PT sessions, 3 cortisone injections in the spine (2 last friday) with no help. I have a very good pain tolerance, but I'm just tired of being in this much pain. I've got all the narcotics I want, but only take them when I need a break in intensity. I think I'm coming to the end of the line of what can be done without going to a spinal fusion. The only thing that I remember at the time of doing that was that it reduced some of the issues, but only gave me a couple of days relief. Give it a try and if it goes well , good luck. |