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acupuncuture for pain management

updated thu 20 jan 05

 

Karen Stokes on mon 17 jan 05


My husband has used accupuncture for pain management related to an
industrial accident 11 years ago which tore off his right thumb, and
shredded the muscles & ligaments in his right shoulder. He has had a total
of 13 operations trying to set things right again, but they were worse than
useless. He is on disability now, but uses accupuncture for the "ghost nerve
pain" in his right extremity, and it works wonders!

While working as a Paramedic, I ruptured a disk in my lower back, and had 2
operations to replace the ruptured disk with "ray cages" (huge screws). Then
I was involved in a head on collusion, (a kid that my son graduated with hit
me head-on, totaling my ramcharger truck), and the impact knocked one of the
screws into the hinterland, which necessitated a 3rd back operation to
retrieve the screw, and put a BIGGER one in. I use accupuncture for the
severe pain I sometimes experience from scar tissue pressure on my spinal
cord, and also use it for the "sinus migraines" that I sometimes get.
Accupuncture works WONDERS for me. It's too bad that the medical
establishment in the states doesn't explore this ancient form of pain
control more extensively. The Chinese have been around for thousands of
years, and really have their stuff together in this area.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Karen Stokes
3 Feathers Ranch
Snowflake, Arizona

Where it's a BEAUTIFUL chilly sunny day, and I am fixing to go to work as an
ER nuse for the 4th night out of 5 nights straight at the Indian Health
Service Hospital on the Hopi Rez in Polacca, AZ. (I LOVE my job!)

Lesley Alexander on tue 18 jan 05


I can second that for acupuncture. Even my doctor agrees that it 'does
something' but exactly what and how.... Anyway, it's well worth a
try, with that, moderate and consistent exercise, perhaps some rolfing,
weight management and a healthy diet... these things may all enable one
to avoid operations and greater disability. My acronym is DREAM:=
diet, rest, excercise, awareness, and morale. Awareness is important
because who else is really going to monitor your body, and watch for
pitfalls (without obsessing)? What's left out of that list is LUCK! So
good luck to you, Lesley

Karen Stokes wrote:

> My husband has used accupuncture for pain management related to an
> industrial accident 11 years ago which tore off his right thumb, and
> shredded the muscles & ligaments in his right shoulder. He has had a
> total
> of 13 operations trying to set things right again, but they were worse
> than
> useless. He is on disability now, but uses accupuncture for the "ghost
> nerve
> pain" in his right extremity, and it works wonders! ( etc.)
>
>

Tom Sawyer on wed 19 jan 05


Claypals,

A number of years ago, I took an extensive course in hypnosis;
during the course, various methods of inducement were demonstrated including
the conventional monotones, swinging watch, humming [which reminded me of
Buddhist's chanting] and immersion of one's hand in tepid water without any
speaking at all. What was analogous in all cases was "suggestion" either
before or during the exercise. As an aside, only a few students were
susceptible to some of these techniques and that the level or depth of
hypnosis varied from person to person. The instructor presented data showing
different depths of hypnosis and that the depth of hypnosis for a given
person remained the same regardless of technique. For example, level 1
provided some relaxation but very little else and no significant pain relief
and if you were hypnotized and your level happened to be a #-1 then forever
after you would only go to level 1 and you were not a candidate for
significant pain relief. It all has to do with suggestibility; me the
doubting Thomas had a level 1 depth and was a poor candidate for
demonstration purposes; a doctor friend was level 10 and could almost be
induced if the teacher looked at him crosseyed. I found the procedure
involving self-hypnosis valuable on a personal level and for me it is
essentially identical with meditation.

My take on prayer, meditation, and acupuncture are that they are
related to hypnosis or for those who might object that hypnosis is related
to those exercises. Certainly, for many there is a great deal of suggestion
when one even schedules an appointment let alone subjects themselves to
preparation by the technician and then the placement of needles. This is not
to say that one does not enjoy pain relief or that the procedure is quackery
but it is worthy of note that the success rate for hypnosis, acupuncture,
prayer etc are variable.
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com
Tom Sawyer

Hank Murrow on wed 19 jan 05


On Jan 19, 2005, at 6:24 AM, Tom Sawyer wrote in part:
>
> A number of years ago, I took an extensive course in hypnosis;=20=

> finding the procedure
> involving self-hypnosis valuable on a personal level and for me it is=20=

> essentially identical with meditation.

Dear Tom:

Emile Cou=E9, a French Doctor who gave hypnosis some needed credibility=20=

said, "In any contest between the Imagination and the Will.........=20
the imagination always wins".

Aren't we lucky to be practicing Artist/Craftspeople? We have=20
Imagination in our favor.

Cheers, Hank in Eugene
www.murrow.biz/hank