Third week of electro acupuncture - very painful

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Third week of electro acupuncture - very painful

by Barmac @ 2009-06-09 – 21:45:22

I went for my third week of electro acupuncture today and explained to the nurse that I felt that this time I had not really benefitted from the treatments so far but that I was happy to keep going in the hope it would give me more than just a placebo effect.

This time however, except for the needles in my right shoulder all hurt when she put them in and when she attached me to the machine I could only manage it on very low.

One of the needles felt so painful that I moved very slightly and the needle just shot out and also this time after the nurse took my needles out I bled in a couple of places and have already bruised from it.

This has never happened to me before and I must admit that when I got home I felt really lousy and my husband did say that I seem to be wasting my time with the acupuncture this time. What I don't know is why it has had this effect this time as previoulsy I have had pain relief from the electro acupuncture and was able to lower my meds for a bit, however this time I'm still on all the meds I was three weeks ago.

I don't know if anyone can give me a reason for this or have any thoughts as to whether I should just keep going until the end of the course, but any feedback is always appreciated.
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10 Comments to Third week of electro acupuncture - very painful

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- Acupuncturist
- http://www.backachetherapy.co.uk
- 2009-06-09 @ 21:59:05
What's your diagnosis?
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- Barmac
- http://backpain.blog.co.uk
- 2009-06-09 @ 22:33:12
After four previous discectomy's and idet operations I now have a large beak like bone spur in my neck resting on the fusion plate. Four more discs are prolapsed in my thoracic spine, one is compressed and further degeneration and prolapse of lumber spine.
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- Hua (Visitor)
- http://www.wellsphere.com
- 2009-06-11 @ 21:27:36
Hi Barmac,

Sorry to hear your session didn't go well. I hope you find a solution to your pains soon.

I'm Hua, the director of Wellsphere's HealthBlogger Network, a network of over 2,000 of the best health writers on the web (including doctors, nurses, healthy living professionals, and expert patients). I think your blog would be a great addition to the Network, and I'd like to invite you to learn more about it and apply to join at http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger. Once approved by our Chief Medical Officer, your posts will be republished on Wellsphere where they will be available to over 5 million monthly visitors who come to the site looking for health information and support. There’s no cost and no extra work for you! The HealthBlogger page (http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger) provides details about participation, but if you have any questions please feel free to email me at hua@wellsphere.com.

Best,
Hua
- - Barmac
  - http://backpain.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-06-17 @ 19:30:13
  Thanks for that Hua - I will look at your site and get back to you. Barbara
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- John (Visitor)
- http://www.worldwidebestsupplements.com
- 2009-06-17 @ 15:46:15
I think you should go for some different acupuncture specialist. I never heard that someone is paining or bleeding while acupuncture. I hope for the best.
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- Barmac
- http://backpain.blog.co.uk
- 2009-06-17 @ 19:33:20
Hi John

My fourth treatment was cancelled this week due to an infection on the ward but I have felt no benefit whatsoever since last week in fact if anything it has gone worse so I was already thinking I would mention that maybe I should not have any more. Thanks for your thoughts. Barbara
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- Wellescent (Visitor)
- http://wellescent.com/blog/siteblog.php
- 2009-06-18 @ 00:36:50
That is some serious surgery work and I sympathize with you for the pain you must be facing all the time. As a kid seeing my father in the fetal position as a result of prolonged intense back pain, I can only imagine your frustration at trying things that do not work for you.

Since I did not see it in your long list of surgeries, I have to ask if your doctors have suggested vertebral fusion or disk replacement? With so many disc removed, the stresses on your back cannot be good.
- - Barmac
  - http://backpain.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-06-18 @ 11:46:30
  Hi,
  Thanks for kind thoughts.
  
  With regards to further surgery. We decided last year that it was about time I had a full back scan and a vist to someone new in the hope they may suggest further surgery but after all the xrays, nerve conduction tests and mri's the consultant said it was not the right time to have surgery.
  
  He said if I went for a 2nd opinion I may be told surgery is an option but due to the fact that as you say the stress on the rest of my back is so much that he felt if I had another disc removed or fused then 12 months later I would need another doing and another doing and suggested I went back to see him in 3 years time when he felt advances in back surgery would probably have something that would suit me.
  
  Its easy for him to say that and he did say he understands that I am in constant pain but he really did put us off pursuing help for me. I must admit I have never heard of disc replacement and would love to know more about it. Would you suggest I had a second opinion on this?
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- Wellescent (Visitor)
- http://wellescent.com/blog/siteblog.php?entry=constructing-a-better-back
- 2009-06-18 @ 17:09:00
I would definitely seek another opinion on this as there are other options out there.

I wrote an entry in my blog entitled "Constructing a Better Back" in February for which I researched options in back treatment based on my childhood-induced interest in back pain. There are a few links there that might be a good starting point in your personal research. Good luck. The link I provided should take you to the blog entry.
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- Barmac
- http://backpain.blog.co.uk
- 2009-06-19 @ 21:15:09
Hi Jason,
Thanks soooooo much for your info which I went to straight away and soon started researching about disc replacement operations. I do feel it would be suitable for me when all else fails and have even found out three names of consultants who do this type of operation in the UK. I am going to follow other people who have had this op and see the outcome as it still looks fairly new in the UK. Thanks again, i've mentioned and put the link on my last blog. Take care, Barbara
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