Question:
Has anyone experiened or have references for an accupuncturist in the Boston, Mass. area that has helped you? I did try being a human pin cushion 10 yrs. ago but not in the Mass. area but I don't remember the results and that was before surgery. Things are worse now even after Phys. Therapy, wearing a T.E.N.S. unit and all other treatments including taking pain meds. Thanks for any info you have to offer.

Answer:

tried acupuncture about 20 years ago from a Korean fellow who was an OMD (oriental MD). IFWY, I'd find a real OMD who was trained in the orient, and who knows diagnosis and is also an herbalist. There are many chiropractors who take a course in acupuncture and hang a shingle, but they don't know the system adn therefore can't diagnose.

Oriental medicine is a whole differnt paradigm, with organs like the "triple heater" that a western doc won't find on an xray, e.g., OMDs read your wrist pulse and feel for 3 different pulses coming from 3 levels. That's a nine-variable pulse where a western doc feels one.

After all that, I'll tell you that acupuncture did absolutely nothing for my neck pain or my ddd condition, but I do know that it couldn't hurt, unlike chiropractic adjustments that I also tried for about a year, which I believe accelerated a ddd condition.

Lots of accupuncturists use alternatives to needles these days - there's a laser (I think) version which stimulates the nerves in the same way the needles do, which is supposed to have the same effect.

Most local telephone books have a Dr. referral service number located in the yellow pages. You could try there. As to the procedure it's self it is a lot like chiropractic care. Some believe it works, others don't. I say hey if it makes you feel better, have at it.

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