Acupuncture

This is guaranteed to be a hot button topic.

A recent (2007) article in the Archives of Internal Medicine offers something for everyone. German investigators randomized 1162 patients with an average of 8 years of chronic back pain to conventional therapy (drugs, physical therapy, exercise) vs. traditional acupuncture vs. sham acupuncture ( needling random points not used in traditional acupuncture).

Acupuncture advocates like to point out that acupuncture was almost twice as likely as conventional therapy to bring about some pain improvement (46.7% vs. 27.4%).

Acupuncture skeptics point out that the sham acupuncture was just as effective as traditional acupuncture (44.2% vs 47.2% improvement), suggesting that putting a needle anywhere is just window dressing for placebo, and that the improvement was due to the personal attention delivered during the acupuncture sessions.

There is little consensus in the literature regarding the value of acupuncture. There are lots of anecdotes, both for and against. Anecdotes shouldn't be mistaken for any version of the truth.

Article reference: archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/1...0&resourcetype=HWCIT

i have read the same reports as clem and concur

I'm a big believer in Acupuncture, been using it for 7 years off and on for various physical issues, mainly back pain.  I know a great acupuncturist in SEA if that's where you are.

During my recovery from a 2nd shoulder dislocation I visited an acupuncturist -- I wasn't particularly interested in acupuncture -- but the acupuncturist was a friend and he was offered to treat me for free.   Prior to the treatment I couldn't lift my arm above my shoulder, after I had nearly full range of motion (still weak however)

Yes there is a lot of controversy over whether acupuncture is more or less effective than a placebo. 

However I think it is important to remember that the placebo effect is actually very real -- so what if  "sham" acupuncture and "real" acupuncture are equally effective ?  Both are actually more effective than doing nothing.

Conclusions  Low back pain improved after acupuncture treatment for at least 6 months. Effectiveness of acupuncture, either verum or sham, was almost twice that of conventional therapy.

So even if acupuncture operates solely through the power of suggestion -- it can still be effective for pain relief and healing.  (even for skeptics like me)

I suppose similar effects could be had in a number of ways -- such as deep relaxation, meditation, etc  -- It really just depends on which of these methods / rituals stimulate your brain and bodies to it's own healing effects.

Yes have tried AP for many different things... pain management being one of them.

I guess it depends on how good your communication is with your acupuncturist!

Best advise i could give you is make sure you have some one you feel comfortable talking with about your issues and how you understand them to manifest... then see if your practitioner LISTENS... or do they tell you you don't know what your talking about ... let me tell you how you feel.

There are many forms of medicine make sure you believe in the system you want to use!

I use AP for Asthma, pain management after BAD car crash, depression, night mares, PMS, even BOY DRAMA... OK so i sent my boyfriend to the AP so he would stop bothering me! IT WORKED!

Hope that helps!
PEACE

PS. it also depends on the type of injury, location, and duration of rehab phase, or how long you have had the injury...

(i am an Exercise Physiologist and do a lot of Rehab work with Athletes... pro, semi pro, and beginner athletes...)