Sunday, May 20

Giving Acupuncture a Try

Posted on January 26, 2011 Eric Hollander, L.Ac.

Have you tried acupuncture before, but didn't have a good experience? Maybe you thought it was painful , or it just didn't help. I urge you not to give up on acupuncture, but to give it another try. Like all things acupuncturists come in a wide range of skill levels and abilities.

An old patient just wrote me who had moved across the country, telling me about a negative experience he had trying to find a new acupuncturist to help with his back pain. I had successfully treated his lower back pain years before with a fairly simple treatment. And he responded really well.

Here are some of the things he said:

- the bed was uncomfortable (really hard)...no face hole, so my neck was jacked the whole time
- the bed did some massaging and heat, but wasn't really relaxing
- she left me on the massaging bed for about an hour before she got started
- needles all over my body and most of them hurt

"Needless to say I didn't have a good experience. Only went twice. I'm so glad she wasn't my first time or else I probably would never try acupuncture again."

I wonder how many people have had an experience like this and decided not to go back? It's a shame, because more likely then not, acupuncture could have been very helpful. Sometimes the practitioner and patient are not a good fit, or the practitioner just doesn't have enough experience in that area.