Has anyone tried acupuncture?

[vickster]

If there isn't a specific injury or damage to your knee, certainly look into orthotics. I don't think you have to spend as much as £500. I'd talk to a physio and get advice, unfortunately with knees there isn't normally just one magic bullet

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

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.

I have £300 orthotics and they are well worth the money as it saves me getting knee and lower back ache on 12 hour shifts on the ward.

 

[MrPie]

Had a tight IT band that was giving a bunch of knee pain. I put up with it for a while, rested, and then put up with it some more. Ended up visiting a sports physio who 'did her hands on magic' and also recommended a bunch of stretches & foam roller. After a few weeks the anatomy was all in the correct place but the pain was still there. Physio recommended acupuncture, which turns out to be one of her specialities. Was very sceptical, but, nothing ventured = nothing gained.

Round 1 - hobbling around as normal for the first hour, but when i got back to work and stood at my desk I felt the pain evaporate! Pain came back later on that night, but i was impressed & relieved that I manged a few hours pain free.
Round 2 - woke up next morning pain free. Returned for a 3rd session and that was it: totally pain free. I would not hesitate to give it another shot if needed.

 

[TheJDog]

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.

I was the same - long period of limping then a few sessions of acupuncture and I was 95% fit. I did have electro-stimulated acupuncture, which made me think it wasn't just Hong Kong Fooey, though. Really had my leg jumping around on the table.

 

[Hill Wimp]

It has always worked for me. I first had it back in the late 90's when the NHS in my area were trialling it. I had severe whiplash and had been struggling for months. I noticed the difference after the first session and it was completely gone by session 4. I cannot recommend it enough.

 

[fossyant]

I've had it twice mainly soft tissue damage in back and shoulder (after shoulder operation/RTA issues). Practitioner found trigger points. 1st Session was good, second I felt really ill - she had triggered off my 'trigger point' in my trapezius. Had to remove needles and leave me to settle. It wasn't unexpected as I'd been sick as a pig a few weeks prior when one of the physio's worked on my trapezius.

Problem eventually sorted with a load of steroid injections in my back and trapezius.

 

[goo_mason]

Never had it done as I was always a little sceptical. Then I went out with a vet for a couple of years who'd been trained in acupuncture for treating animals. As she said, you can't tell an arthritic dog that acupunture will make it easier to walk, and there's no placebo effect that you'd get in humans - yet after treatment an animal which could barely walk in would walk out of the surgery without any bother.

I'd definitely consider it now as an option for any physical issues I might have in years to come.

 

[Andrew Br]

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.

Exactly my experience after a football injury although I was out of action for several years (couldn't play football, couldn't run very far).
After 3 sessions I was able to start running to get fit enough for football and I started playing again after ~1 month.
The physio warned me that, as I got fitter, I'd be putting more strain on the Achilles and I'd probably need further treatment. He was right !
I had to go back about 3 months later but, after that, my tendon has been fine.
I've stopped playing football now but that's because I've snapped an ACL. Acupuncture can't help there !

Before my 1st treatment, my damaged Achilles was considerably thicker than the other.
The 1st session got rid of all the inflammation and it went back to being the same size as the other.

ETA: quite a while later, I went over on my ankle during a 5-a-side game and it swelled up like a balloon.
The physio tried "conventional" treatment (ultrasound) but it had no effect so he did some acupuncture and the swelling disappearred overnight.

I'm a believer

.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I have had acupuncture on the NHS. It helped with the pain, but did not cure it - but I had major nerve damage as it turned out and the only thing that cured the pain was the removal of the damaged nerves (and 11 other operations). I guess I had various versions of acupuncture because sometimes the needles were only in the affected area, and other times they would be in a different limb entirely. I also had numerous session with the needles connected upto electricity as well. I'm not unconvinced, but I am not convinced either. I still get pain from that limb +20 years on from the original injury, but only severing all of the nerves completely will resolve that one.

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.

I also have £300 orthotics and they have been amazing and saved me from needing surgery. Mine have lasted +8 years so far and don't look worn at all. I have had to get them adjusted as a result of the dog bite injury I acquired 2 years ago which altered my walking (which left me slightly more paralysed in the lower left leg than I was previously), but I can honestly say I don't know what I would do without them. When I established I needed them, I could barely work 10metres I was in so much pain. They got me back walking/hiking up to 30 miles a day over the course of a couple of years (I resolutely refused to even consider surgery on the soles of both feet). I won't hesitate to recommend them to anyone else. But get a 2nd pair made up at the same time. I really wish I had done now, but the lady who made mine has returned to New Zealand and I have yet to find anyone else making the same type as she did and I have seen the ones my husband has had and not been happy with.