Acupuncture Strange thing happen today

Options
Hondo
Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
edited October 2011 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I started Acupuncture treatment yesterday for the pain and nerve damage in my head and neck, and also hopping it helps with getting my Jaw open just a little more. My doctors at MD Anderson found a local Acupuncture doc here in Lafayette and suggested I try it and see if it gives me any help. OK, I did that, and today I am in worse pain and sore all over my body. I took my pain meds like I normally do and they don’t seam to work too well anymore, had to switch them around a little and finally got a little relief.

I know some of you did Acupuncture before so is this normal does it get worse before it gets better?

I have two sessions schedule for next week and I am not sure if I should do them as I don’t want to make things worse then they are now. I can live with what I have but not sure if I can live with it if it gets worse..

Hondo
«13

Comments

  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #2
    Options
    Acupuncture
    Hey Hondo,

    Never had an experience with acupuncture where things got worse. Still get regular sessions. I do notice that acupuncture is cumulative though. It gets better the more sessions I get. Talk to your acupuncturist. Tell them what happened. They will adjust the treatment accordingly. Enjoy your treatments. I always fall asleep within about 10 minutes and stay out for an hour+, wake up to feeling better. Hope your experience is good,

    AB
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Options
    adventurebob said:

    Acupuncture
    Hey Hondo,

    Never had an experience with acupuncture where things got worse. Still get regular sessions. I do notice that acupuncture is cumulative though. It gets better the more sessions I get. Talk to your acupuncturist. Tell them what happened. They will adjust the treatment accordingly. Enjoy your treatments. I always fall asleep within about 10 minutes and stay out for an hour+, wake up to feeling better. Hope your experience is good,

    AB

    Hi Bob

    I did fall asleep during the treatment and felt pretty good right after it but a day later is where the problems started. Like you said I will let him know about the problems, also I did have radiation twice to the same area so that might make for another problem.

    Thanks
    Hondo
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #4
    Options
    Hondo said:

    Hi Bob

    I did fall asleep during the treatment and felt pretty good right after it but a day later is where the problems started. Like you said I will let him know about the problems, also I did have radiation twice to the same area so that might make for another problem.

    Thanks
    Hondo

    Bob and Hondo
    I was considering a acupuncturist for dry mouth. I have heard through my Onc Dr that it has helped some people with saliva. Any ideas on this?

    Bob, glad to see you posting again. I have been off here for awhile due to job change and also a lot of stuff going on at home, all good. How has the bone issue you had recently been going? Are you feeling well.

    Hondo, always appreciate your honesty on all your issues. Many newbies here need to hear from someone like you that has beaten the beast twice, at least.

    all the best,
    Steve
  • po
    po Member Posts: 18
    #5
    Options
    i have problems with my jaw
    i have problems with my jaw opening or rather not let us know how u get on as this is so frustrating im out of hospital just 3 weeks
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #6
    Options
    po said:

    i have problems with my jaw
    i have problems with my jaw opening or rather not let us know how u get on as this is so frustrating im out of hospital just 3 weeks

    Jaw problem, hey PO
    Just to let you know, Many of us have problems opening our jaw. Mine is about 80% of normal, but others are way less than that. I did jaw opening exercises every day, open and close as large as you can, till it hurts, for about 30 times a day...
    Also, you Dr can prescribe a tool that you put in your mouth and expand it as time goes on to push your mouth open. I never tried this, but my Rads Dr said he recommends it for many H&N patients that have what you are experiencing...I am 18 months post treatment and I remember just being 3 weeks out, everthing was bad, jaw, ears, tongue, cheeks, throat, etc, etc,...
    Just have faith that time does help. It just goes by so sloooooowwwwwwly. Try to be a patient as possible and measure your improvement by months, not weeks or days....Set short goals that you can see getting better....I know of your frustration and keep posting to ask all of us questions. We're here to give advice...
    All the best to you,
    Steve
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #7
    Options
    Acupuncture
    Hi Hondo, best of luck on your treatments. I had two months of weekly treatments. I went specifically to see if I could get some tinnitus relief. The practitioner was great, one of the most personable docs I've had in treatment. She always looked at my tongue to start, because it gives an indication of gross imbalences in the system.

    She'd not treated for tinnitus before, but was willing to try. She did some homework and would insert I think about 15 or so of the needles in the head and neck, including ear. I'm still very vascular on my dissection side, and when she first put a needle in the upper exterior ear, it spurted blood. It didn't hurt, but she said she'd never seen that before.

    She also used aroma therapy, and would insert the needles, turn on some soft music, and get an aroma going then leave me for about half and hour. It was a pleasant experience, but proved not to help the ringing.

    Your complaints are much more conventional, and I imagine they have a good understanding for treatment. I'm hoping you get some specific results from your visits bud.

    best, Hal
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #8
    Options
    po said:

    i have problems with my jaw
    i have problems with my jaw opening or rather not let us know how u get on as this is so frustrating im out of hospital just 3 weeks

    Hi po
    Same here with the Jaw problem, it only opens about 20mm hoping for some help with the Acupuncture treatments as I have already did everything else and nothing worked.

    PS: welcome to our little family here on CSN
    Hondo
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
    Options
    Hal61 said:

    Acupuncture
    Hi Hondo, best of luck on your treatments. I had two months of weekly treatments. I went specifically to see if I could get some tinnitus relief. The practitioner was great, one of the most personable docs I've had in treatment. She always looked at my tongue to start, because it gives an indication of gross imbalences in the system.

    She'd not treated for tinnitus before, but was willing to try. She did some homework and would insert I think about 15 or so of the needles in the head and neck, including ear. I'm still very vascular on my dissection side, and when she first put a needle in the upper exterior ear, it spurted blood. It didn't hurt, but she said she'd never seen that before.

    She also used aroma therapy, and would insert the needles, turn on some soft music, and get an aroma going then leave me for about half and hour. It was a pleasant experience, but proved not to help the ringing.

    Your complaints are much more conventional, and I imagine they have a good understanding for treatment. I'm hoping you get some specific results from your visits bud.

    best, Hal

    Hi Steve / Hal

    Doing a lot better today with a lot less pain. I think my nerves went into shock with the acupuncture treatment Friday and now they are just starting to ease up or release the built up stress in them, if that makes any since. Oh well will see what happens on Tuesday when I go back. Remember my taking radaition twice to the same area may cause me more problems then it is worth..

    Take care
    Hondo
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #10
    Options
    hawk711 said:

    Bob and Hondo
    I was considering a acupuncturist for dry mouth. I have heard through my Onc Dr that it has helped some people with saliva. Any ideas on this?

    Bob, glad to see you posting again. I have been off here for awhile due to job change and also a lot of stuff going on at home, all good. How has the bone issue you had recently been going? Are you feeling well.

    Hondo, always appreciate your honesty on all your issues. Many newbies here need to hear from someone like you that has beaten the beast twice, at least.

    all the best,
    Steve

    Hey Steve
    I've got most of my saliva back and have had regular acupuncture since just prior to treatment and all the way through. The acupuncturist treated me for this condition specifically when my saliva went south and it improved rapidly and steadily. Haven't used the humidifier for about a month now and haven't used the gel for at least 3-4 months. I do chew a good xylitol gum pretty much all day which helps work out the jaw and lubricates the mouth. I am feeling fairly good since I got zapped again. Fatigue gets up there at about the same time every day but nothing that a nap or a cup of tea can't help. Heading back down to Palm Springs in a couple days to put in some guiding work and I've been doing some rock-climbing and Bikram yoga over the last couple weeks. Amazing how the body keeps bouncing back. Sorry we never made it to a game. Maybe we should shoot for a 49'ers game as they're doing great. They destroyed the Bucs today. Always nice to hear from you. Let me know when you're ready for a football game.

    AB
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #11
    Options
    adventurebob said:

    Acupuncture
    Hey Hondo,

    Never had an experience with acupuncture where things got worse. Still get regular sessions. I do notice that acupuncture is cumulative though. It gets better the more sessions I get. Talk to your acupuncturist. Tell them what happened. They will adjust the treatment accordingly. Enjoy your treatments. I always fall asleep within about 10 minutes and stay out for an hour+, wake up to feeling better. Hope your experience is good,

    AB

    Hi Bob

    I go back tomorrow for my 2nd treatment, it was amazing as over the week-end most of the problems I had from the acupuncture went away. My wife told me that the acupuncture said I would be sore but I did not hear him say anything about increase pain. I am glad the pain is way down now. I only had to take one half of my normal pain meds this morning so that is some good news, I will see how it goes all the rest of today.

    Thanks
    Hondo
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #12
    Options
    Hondo said:

    Hi Steve / Hal

    Doing a lot better today with a lot less pain. I think my nerves went into shock with the acupuncture treatment Friday and now they are just starting to ease up or release the built up stress in them, if that makes any since. Oh well will see what happens on Tuesday when I go back. Remember my taking radaition twice to the same area may cause me more problems then it is worth..

    Take care
    Hondo

    Sometimes
    Sometimes when I see my chiropractor, for a day after a treamnent I feel worse than when I went in, like a bus hit me and then decidded to back up and run over me again. Hopefully that is what happened to you.

    Linda
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #13
    Options
    Acupuncture 2nd treatment

    Did my 2nd treatment today and feeling a whole lot better now. I was having some wired problems over the week-end with nasal drainage, I mean liquid running out and very stink. I never had this problem before and so today I told the Acupuncture doctor about it to see what he thinks it is from. He said a lot of times Acupuncture will loosing up clouded sinus passageways and let them drain if there is an infection in them.

    Get this the Acupuncture doctor said he think it is because I have an infection up in my sinus. I them told him the story of my last year having a bad Mastoid infection on the left side of my head that almost killed me. And all my doctors were telling me it was my cancer and not an infection and would not treat me for an infection, I had to do that myself.

    He said well I think you still have some infection and you need to get it taking care of, so here we go back to the ENT to see what she will say..

    What a game we play
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #14
    Options
    Feelings...
    Hope you start feeling better.....at least with the condition of your poor mouth, I know I won't get much arguement from you on fishing locations or choices, LOL...

    JG
  • po
    po Member Posts: 18
    #15
    Options
    Skiffin16 said:

    Feelings...
    Hope you start feeling better.....at least with the condition of your poor mouth, I know I won't get much arguement from you on fishing locations or choices, LOL...

    JG

    sinus infection hondo
    hi hope your doing well after your treatment. i'm just getting over a sinus infection ans i can tell you it was minging the smell was horendous and i could taste the stuff. im on antibiotics at the minute and its a lot better snots are still yellow down left side but clear on other side. i had my surgery on my left side.
  • sportsman
    sportsman Member Posts: 97
    #16
    Options
    Acupuncture
    Just curious as if my medical insurance would possibly pay for acupuncture treatments. I have not checked on it with them at this point. I have spoken to my ENT about possible treatment to see if I can get saliva back. I don't know if this would even be remotely possible as it will be five years in February of 2012 when my radiation ended. Also if insurance does not pay for this how expensive is the acupuncture treatments. Where can you fine a qualified person to do this in regards to attempt to restore saliva input. I still have the ropy type thick saliva and have continuous dry mouth. I have used Biotene products, gum, tic-tacs to produce saliva up to this point. The dry mouth as all of us know contributes to tooth decay problems and I am have my share of them. If anyone could give me some information on this I would appreciate it. I live in a small town west of Charlotte, North Carolina. Thanks for anyone's help!
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #17
    Options
    ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    Hondo, I have had Ultrasoud Therapy in the past for several athletic related injuries, and this therapy was able to soften and loosen various ligaments, tendons, joints ETC.

    Just wondering if this would help to loosen your jaw??

    Keep us posted as to the overall result of the Accupuncture Therapy. I was thinking of trying it out hoping it might jumpstart my Saliva Glands.

    Mike
  • vsudd
    vsudd Member Posts: 52
    #18
    Options
    Acupunture
    My husband has been going to Accupunture for for about 6 months, he has only been going once a week and he saw a real change for the better when he started going. He had a neck dissection in 2010 and its the only thing that has helped him. Last week he skipped and the pain was really bad again. Maybe 2 times a week is too much at first. Wishing you luck give it a little while if you can it really has made a difference with him.

    vsudd
  • razorboy70
    razorboy70 Member Posts: 4
    #19
    Options
    I did acupuncture during my
    I did acupuncture during my radiation treatments for head and neck cancer. I had a good response with my salava and pain. i would reccomend it to anyone going through radiation of the head and neck.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #20
    Options
    razorboy70 said:

    I did acupuncture during my
    I did acupuncture during my radiation treatments for head and neck cancer. I had a good response with my salava and pain. i would reccomend it to anyone going through radiation of the head and neck.

    Hi Razorboy

    Welcome to CSN glad to have you here with us my friend

    Hondo
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #21
    Options
    More bad Pain last night

    I will have to give up the acupuncture treatments for now until we can figure out why after the treatment I am having server pain on the left side of my face. Even the acupuncture doctor believes there is an underlining problem there and he thinks it may be that the infection I had 8 months ago is still there in the Mastoid. Last night was another very bad night with pain, to the point I had to start taking Lortaps again to help.

    Oh well as they say so much for all my hopes with acupuncture, it works for everyone but Hondo

Discussion Boards