Re: ferred to an acupunturist/deep tissue to break adhesions?

From: Ellen Eggers (eeggers1@unl.edu)
Sat Sep 11 12:42:44 1999


At Fri, 10 Sep 1999, Michele wrote: >
>Anne,
>This person is supposed to be very good. I really appreciate the
>honesty of your post. My GP said that the relief would be temporary,
>but I thought it would be worth a try. I thought it was interesting
>that the conventional med, was open to other alternatives. My jaw was
>on the floor. I, ultimately am in control, and I don't think that if
>this is too painful, that these people want to "hurt" me. Thanks so
>much for responding. This is new and an unexplored avenue for me, which
>I have not tried yet.
>
>Maybe they will simply loosen up a little. Some of the adhesions are
>"wispy" and others sadly are not.
>Michele
>
>At Fri, 10 Sep 1999, Anne Hayashi wrote:
>>
>>At Fri, 10 Sep 1999, Michele wrote:
>>>
>>>Can anyone tell me if they've had experience with good or not good pain
>>>management via acupunture.
>>>
>>>I have return adhesions on the left pelvic sidewall connected to the
>>>bowel and omental adhesions.
>>>
>>>The idea behind deep tissue massage is not only to losen but to BREAK?!,
>>>the adhesions. There is no anethetic. I'm trying to keep an open mind,
>>>but that sounds really painful. Heck, I'm in pain when no one touches
>>>my stomach. But, did it ever give temporary relief for any of you.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>Michele
>>Michele,
>>
>> I had acupuncture about 6 years ago after a previous
>>laparoscopy. I too, have adhesions tethering the colon
>>to the left pelvic sidewall and omentum. It did work for
>>me to a degree that I could get off pain meds , however it was
>>acupuncture with electrical stimulation. It sounds
>>painful, but it is not. I think you will be surprised by the fact that
>>it isn't and is actually quite soothing.(These needles are so thin, you
>>hardly feel them then the pulsation really helps because heavily adhered
>>tissue does not really have a good blood supply, and it feels really
>>good to get some blood into that area.
>>Pain signals seem to get blocked temporarily.
>>I am not sure the reason.
>>Actually, the tens units worn by many adhesion patients are an offshoot
>>of acupuncture. Unfortunately, I have not had good luck this time after
>>surgery. I am not sure whether it is the severity of the adhesions, or
>>the fact that I have not located a good acupuncturist.
>>You will probably know whether it is working or not right
>>away. You will get a little relief after the first time.
>>This will last for a short time. Then do it again.
>>There will be longer and longer timespans between treatments. Did it
>>rid me of all the adhesions. The
>>answer is "No", but it did allow me to live with them
>>more comfortably, and it may have broken down some.
>>That was my experience. I wish I could find the same
>>acupuncturist. I would try it in a heartbeat.
>>
>>--
>>Anne Hayashi
>>

Dear Anne, I tried acupuncture for about six months following my hysterectomy (after two years of pain from endometriosis and adhesions). My experience was similar to Michele's: the pain didn't go away, but it eased a bit as the adhesions became less dense. When the acupuncturist began, the needles (true--not painful) were lying sideways because they couldn't go all the way in. By the third treatment, they were straight up and down, a sign that the denseness had broken up some. I had a dramatic improvement in the early stages, but it tapered off and, eventually, stopped helping. But, hey, six months is good! Good luck.

--
Ellen

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