Acupuncture

[MTBMaven]

Anybody use acupuncture to deal with injuries, strains, soreness from biking a lot? I have several little issues going on and have an acupuncturist (I assume that's what they would be called) in Pasadena that co-workers swear by

[el_d00der1n0]

I have an Indian neighbor that swears by it. She has a pet acupuncture place she takes her dog to. I have to admit, whatever they were doing must have been working cuz that dog could barely walk a year ago, and she hauls a$$ running around and playing now.

[denmother]

I have not used one yet. My father had very good results using one for water on his elbow.

P.S. I did have someone mention to me that you have to be careful regarding the needles and infection. They told me to do research and to be careful. Anyone else hear this?

[cbHarping]

I had a few acupuncture treatments to treat sore muscles from overuse and a pinched nerve. It worked really well for my sore muscle areas. You need to do a few treatments for the best result, not just once.

The acupuncture helped only temporarily for my pinched nerve - it felt better for a day or two then went back to the usual pain.

When you go for treatment, make sure it's on a day where you can go home and rest, that's part of the treatment. You will feel tired afterwards from all the toxins that are released.

[Wicked Smot]

There is actually some science behind it with studies that support it. When you have pain your body can go into a cycle where pain causes spasm which causes more pain which causes more spasm, etc... Acupuncture causes your body to release chemicals that can block the pain pathway and help to break the pain cycle.

The effect is not really curative IMO but it can allow you to get involved in appropriate rehab activities with less pain (i.e. stretching, exercising, MOUNTAIN BIKING). As with any physical medicine treatment, if no signs of progress in 2 weeks, it isn't going to help. Don't let anyone lock you into an initial treatment plan longer than 2 weeks on a trial basis. Believe me, they will try.

[kevinator]

Used it twice - once for tennis elbow (yanking on handlebars) and again for a pulled muscle beneath ribs.

All I can say is after the treatment, the pain in my elbow simply wasn't there anymore. Took a day for my ribs to settle down, but they're fine now.

Definitely recommended - I hate popping pills.

[sunny]

Funny you should mention this now... I went yesterday. First time.

I've been in discomfort for about a month, and in intermittent pain for about 2 weeks. After a couple visits to the physical therapist and the chiropractor with minimal results, someone suggested acupuncture.

I found out there is an acupuncturist on the SDBC club team who is a cyclist and is familiar with the needs of athletes.

Referral: Greg Bourque near the 52 and Governor Drive. 619-813-2898. Very knowledgeable, very professional.

After some massage and warming up the area, he identified the muscles that were out of control in spasm. Then he knew where to target the treatment. The pins actually do not break the skin - there is no blood. After sticking the pins (you feel a tapping, but not really a sticking sensation), he attached wires to allow a current to flow through and stimulate the muscle.

When I was lying there with pins in my back, and lamented that I wished I could have pictures, he offered to take some for me. These were taken with my phone.



After this, he did the suction cup thing. This heats the area and penetrates with concentrated heat down about 3 inches below the surface of the skin and pulls any stagnant blood to the surface to allow the tissues more healthy, oxygenated blood. At first it felt cold, then kind of like someone had a vacuum cleaner nozzle on my back. Not especially unpleasant per se, but not something I'd want done all the time.





Today my neck (trapezius for you physiology people) is still sore, but I'm not in pain like I was yesterday before I had the acupuncture. The sensation on my back is most like a mild sunburn. There is some mild discomfort, but I only notice it when I stop to think about it. Greg (the acupuncturist) says most people respond within 5-10 treatments, but athletes tend to respond within 2-3 treatments. I'm going back on Friday.

[cbHarping]

The cupping is a separate treatment. I went to an acupuncturist who only did acupuncture, and I went to another person who did both both acupuncture and cupping.

After the cupping, I also had some bruising and soreness for a couple of days, which is normal. Funny thing was, they did the cupping on my upper shoulders and base of my neck so I had to be careful of what kind of necklines I wore!

[cbHarping]

Originally Posted by mechmann

(sorry really bored at this place called "work")

Join the club... Today is dragging over here...

[MTBMaven]

I got an appointment scheduled for Saturday at 9. We'll see how it goes. I hope they can help with my achilles and ankle problems. Probably something mess up with the muscles behind my ears.

[speckledtrout]

acupuncture is awesome. i have been healed immediately from ailments in the past. but i've also had injuries that take a couple of visits. i don't know that it's good for all things, but i'ts been nothing but helpful for the complaints I've had.

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

I got an appointment scheduled for Saturday at 9. We'll see how it goes. I hope they can help with my achilles and ankle problems. Probably something mess up with the muscles behind my ears.

Shoot Brian, I'll stab you a few times for say.....25 bucks?

Sorry to hear it still hurts. Let me know how this works out for you, I've got to do something for my aching back!

[SAR_boats]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Anybody use acupuncture to deal with injuries, strains, soreness from biking a lot? I have several little issues going on and have an acupuncturist (I assume that's what they would be called) in Pasadena that co-workers swear by

I used to. I used acupuncture to treat injuries and vicodin and alcohol to treat the acupuncture.

I eventually realized my folly and cut out the middleman.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by SAR_boats

I used to. I used acupuncture to treat injuries and vicodin and alcohol to treat the acupuncture.

I eventually realized my folly and cut out the middleman.

That's hilarious.

[MTBMaven]

I just got back from my first appointment. Pretty interesting experience. No need to worry about needles as you really don't even know they are going in. It is more of a pressure sensation.

My ankle is still sore but feeling ok. The numbness and shooting pain in my left knee/front of calf area is MUCH less. Apparently when I had my arthroscopic surgery in '96 they went right through the Meridian zone of my left leg. This causes something like a sig alert in the translation of energy through my leg.

I love the first examination was him looking at my tongue!

[OMR]

Originally Posted by mechmann

dude.. you have nipples on your back!

Justin.... you are one sick grasshopper!!!

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by SAR_boats

I used to. I used acupuncture to treat injuries and vicodin and alcohol to treat the acupuncture.

I eventually realized my folly and cut out the middleman.

A good scotch does the trick too! - Lloyd

[granny ring]

Originally Posted by mechmann

dude.. you have nipples on your back!

ROFLMAO
Can I have this for my signature?

[TKCastle]

Coming from someone who has had lower back pain now and again, went through surgery, PT and meds. Once I found an acupuncturist and a really good masseuse I never looked back. Barbara Burns(arcadia) rocks at acupuncture 626 446 5900.