How long before acupuncture works

[rino]

Hi. I've had lightheaded, headache, fatigue, and digestive problems for over 6 years. Anyhow, I decided to do acupuncture, and I've had 3 appointments so far. I am supposed to have about 10 total. Thus far, the improvements have been very minimal. How many appointments does it usually take before you start feeling positive effects from acupuncture. I guess my legs feel a little more alive and like they have a bit more energy to them, but I'm still lightheaded, have headaches, and have fatigue and digestive problems. Did acupuncture make a difference for you?

 

[Hi :)]

Are you seeing a professionally trained acupuncturist? i.e. a member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC)?

If you are, then I would expect you to notices changes after each treatment, perhaps not directly related to your main complaints within the first 3, but soon after that.
If you have been to 4-5 treatments and still see no significant improvements, this should definitely be discussed with your practitioner.

It may be that acupuncture with that person is not working for you, or that a much longer initial concentration of treatments is needed to start getting results.

 

[mlvefrfn]

I see a Chinese doctor for acupuncture, and he is always 'up front' and says thatthere may be nochanges until after the second treatment - but I always feeldifferent after the first and rarely need more than four treatments in total - depending on what he is treating. First of all it was for migraine, then a few months later for hot flushes and more recently for muscle pain in my arms. I have a friend who 'signed up' for a series of treatments at a acupuncture centre in a shopping mall - the minimum number of treatments she could sign up for was 6, but she ended up having 15 but didn't feel any different - the therapist (who spoke very little English) blamed her diet.

 

[Kimberly, LMT]

Alright. I signed up for about 11 appointments, and promised myself I would go through the whole process before making a decision, since sometimes I am told accupuncture takes a long time to work. So far, 8 appointments, and no change in my lightheadedness, muscle stiffness, headaches, fatigue. In fact, since I can't eat salads and have to eat warm sandwiches and soups, I am gaining a little weight and feel worse, but that is the diet that Chinese medicine dictates....Now I know this guy, who is a highly regarded trained professional, will want me to sign up for more appointments after the 11, but these are expensive. I don't know whether to stop, limit it to once a month....help!

 

[fadekemi]

I would be tempted to stop and go to a different therapist - even though the person you are presently seeing appears to have all the right credentials, he may not be right for you. Apart from the acupuncture, is he also supplying you with chinese medicine?

 

[jxeeiuczidmipoedf]

The more sessions you have you should find the accupuncture therapist puts the needles in deeper with each session, and he/she will twist the needles too. You may be surprised at how much that hurts not only during but afterwards,but its worth the discomfort in the end. After my treatments I didn't feel as though the accupuncture had worked but a few month later, well actually it was around 5 month later I had no more problems,I think if you have had a problem for quite a few years it will take quite a few sessions then a few month to settle and hey presto No Problemo's. lyn

 

[reinvests]

After 11 treatments, I think you should definitely expect changes and improvements. This is too long a course for no benefit.
Have you experienced other positive changes aside from your main complaints? Are these changes significant?
If so, it may well be that acupuncture treatments with this practitioner will eventually get there, but that the cause of your main complaints is highly "in-grained" and will just take a long time.
If not, give it up! Go to a different practitioner or try a different therapy. This is something I would want to discuss with a patient, and certainly make a recommendation. Have a chat to your practitioner about it!

Also, lyn said the needles should go deeper with each treatment. Just to clarify, and sorry for contradicting you, but that's just not true.
Just think about it! What do I do with a patient that's seen me for 150 treatments? The needles would come out the other side!

Good luck ace88. Hope your get the relief you're looking for.

Aragorn x

 

[jaquisha]

Obviously there's a limit. I can only speak from someone that has actually had the treatment,and what I experienced,the needles did go deeper and were twisted too.
I also got the Chinese Medication. lyn