Has anyone tried acupuncture?

[Yellow Fang]

I have a recurring knee problem, which might be due to scar tissue. I have seen a chiropractor, an NHS physiotherapist, and a private physiotherapist. They have bent me out of shape, put ultrasound on my knee, and given me a lot of strengthening exercises, but the relief never lasts for long. I am considering giving acupuncture a go.

 

[wintonbina]

I had it for my back after being knocked off my bike 2 years ago and I must say although I was sceptical beforehand, it did the trick!
Bear in mind, my injury was muscular so I don't know about knee's!
Good luck though!
Tony

 

[compo]

One of my GP's used to do acupuncture. I went to him with sciatica and he offered me the needle free of charge as he had only just trained in acupuncture. Two needles later the sciatica had gone and I was pain free for about 6 months before things started up again. (this was in the late 1970's).

 

[ScotiaLass]

I've had it. It didn't do it for me and I felt quite ill with it.
The physio that did mine said that can sometimes happen but on the whole she got good results with it.

 

[roadrash]

Ive had it for my spinal problems,I went with an open mind, didnt do a thing for me , i must say though i didnt even feel the needles at all , I know people who have tried it and now swear by it , i guess were all different

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I had it after car accident for a knackered elbow. It helped but was very very short lived, kinda like taking ibuprofen. I was very surprised I didn't feel the needles, try a local uni that has a health and social department and offers services. Salford uni offers it cheap as chips...I'd also highly recommend taking Tumeric capsules, proven beyond doubt to be a natural inflammatory. Takes about 6 weeks to get into your system though.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

[QUOTE 2926541, member: 259"]I've had it for abdominal pain and it worked for me.

It doesn't really matter if it's bollocks or not if it works for you - I certainly didn't believe in it and I was dragged there against my will by my wife.

It was a qualified doctor who is also a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner (whatever that means).

We get it free here if it's prescribed by another doctor.[/quote]
I didn't know that.

 

[ScotiaLass]

My physio suggested it and that was NHS

 

[cyberknight]

I have enough trouble with normal punctures without the fairy having another reason to visit

 

[ColinJ]

I don't know if this applies to you, Yellow Fang, but it might interest some of you out there ...

I was getting really painful knees before I lost weight. I thought they were completely shot with arthritis. I was having to walk up and down stairs very slowly, and really suffered walking down the local steep hills. I have lost 50 pounds since then and all my knee problems just disappeared. I am not getting any discomfort at all now.

 

[vickster]

My physio has tried if for me several times, made no discernible difference for me - for tennis elbow and tendonitis in thumb

I would still try it as it won't hurt. There is Western (direct) and Eastern (remote) - depends on who you see. I only had Western - i.e. needles in and around the hurty bits

Have you got post surgical scar tissue?

 

[Yellow Fang]

I don't know if this applies to you, Yellow Fang, but it might interest some of you out there ...

I was getting really painful knees before I lost weight. I thought they were completely shot with arthritis. I was having to walk up and down stairs very slowly, and really suffered walking down the local steep hills. I have lost 50 pounds since then and all my knee problems just disappeared. I am not getting any discomfort at all now.

I doubt it is my weight. I wondered whether it was arthritis myself, but none of the physios said it was. I over-pronate and my left foot points inwards. In the past whenever I did a lot of running, my ITB would get tight and start pulling my knee cap out of line. I don't know, but I suspect scar tissue may have built up.

 

[vickster]

Do you wear orthotics? I'd try those to deal with the overpronantion

Normally, you need an injury or surgery for scar tissue, I don't think it usually forms spontaneously. Do you stretch and foam roll etc? Physio should provide direction

I'd ask the GP to refer you to a specialist for an MRI if nothing else helps

 

[Glenn]

18 months of physio for Achilles tendonitis did nothing for my right ankle, I limped into the acupuncture clinic, 1.5hrs later I walked out with only a slight limp. 1 session later and I was walking as normal, that was 8 years ago, not a problem since.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Do you wear orthotics? I'd try those to deal with the overpronantion

Normally, you need an injury or surgery for scar tissue, I don't think it usually forms spontaneously. Do you stretch and foam roll etc? Physio should provide direction

I'd ask the GP to refer you to a specialist for an MRI if nothing else helps

Orthotics was the other thing I was considering. I went to a podiatrist years ago. She said I over-pronated badly and made me some cheap orthotics. They sorted out my knee in no time, but made me very prone to twisting my ankles, especially over rough ground. The same podiatrist had suggested spending £500 on some tailor made orthotics I could be persuaded to pay a lot of money on orthotics if I was sure they would work and would last.

I find foam rolling is just something you don't keep up. I do a few stretches and knee strengthening exercises from time to time.