acupuncture causing nerve pain/damage?

[montos]

Hello,

I've been getting acupuncture to treat my lower back pain. At my last treatment the doctor placed a needles at several locations on my legs and back.

The needle behind my right knee caused pain upon insertion and a lot of pain when he manipulated it. He took the needle out and replaced it and it appeared to be fine. Also the needle in my right ankle caused discomfort.

Shortly after the treatment I experianced pain at both sites and some odd sensations in my right foot and calf (warmth and numbness). The doctor (who is an MD as well as an acupuncturist)said it was nothing to be concerned about.

Has anyone had acupuncture cause nerve damage in such a way? The literature says it can cause "nerve damage" but no specifics are mentioned as to symptoms or location of needles.

Anyone experience something similar?

thanks

[LauraOfSaintPaul]

On one of a few sessions I experienced soreness and a bump in my feet just behind my ankles where the needle was put in.  I casually mentioned this on the next visit, not wanting to be a complainer.  I thought the response would be that this was normal.  She seemed surprised and concerned.  I stopped going after that session.  That was 2 years ago.  Now I am having a lot of problems in the same area with swelling and pain when I run or walk.  Have to ice all the time.  Related?  I would skip the acupuncture next time.  Not worth taking the chance.  Only ones on this thread that are pro acupuncture are the acupuncturist.  How about I stick needles in you?

[TFmcd]

I have had 5 acupuncture treatments for tennis elbow. After the 3rd treatment, my ulnar nerve started to bother me.  I have had tingling in my elbow and in my hand near my little finger.  It has been quite painful in the week and a half since it first started to bother me.  Has anyone had this problem and has it gotten better with time?

[yhtac]

Yes I just recently went to get poked by a good acupuncturist and she put some in my foot and others elsewhere on my body. I felt a twinge and my leg jerked uncontrollably when she took it out. that day I felt pain in the area near my heel. I had trouble bending my foot to far back when walking. I have returned to her since then and she let me know it was inflammation also. The pain is really pretty bad. I cant stretch my calf at all unless I bend my knee first. It has been about three weeks since it started and it seems to be staying at the same intense level of pain. Nothing makes it better or go away for me. I suppose it is just a waiting game and pampering of the foot. I still go to her because it has helped with my back and fibromyalgia pains. Good luck !

[Essie2017]

Hi! Did your symptoms ever got better? Im suffering from acupuncture nerve damage 7 days after it was done. Im desperate to get better. ☹️

[Andremosen]

I am one of those adversely affected by acupuncture. My leg pains were on the improve when I went to seek treatment with acupuncture after the first session I complained of heightened pain but was told that , that was a good sign since such reactions precede positive results. after the second and the third sessions I had had enough and still days after the third session my pain was at its maximum worse than the peaks I experienced before.
Again I was not told of the risks and no reading materials were given nor waiver of liability documents. I do believe that practitioners should screen their patients just as surgeons before embarking on treatment and decide whether they are good candidates with high degree of success.
when I went into acupuncture I never thought not one in a million that it had the power to make me worse based on success stories by those who swore by it!! and now after I googled the acupunctures bad effects I am astonished by the number of people who share my bad experience.  

[Chrissy0804]

I started acupuncture for some back problems of an annular tear and slight herniation. He immediately put me on the 3 day a week plan with herbal tea. I did this for three weeks and felt great. He used the electric treatment every time on lumbar needles. Sometimes when he would spin them in my problem areas they would hurt so bad and he would tell me it's normal and there are blockages and he has to get to them so deal with pain. He would joke about his patients cussing but it was necessary. Then I stopped going so much when I spent more than my own mortgage in one month and returned with some back flare ups. The acupuncturist scolded me for not continuing to come for 3 visits per week and said "let me fix you". He used deep needling on at least 5 in my back and said it had to hurt for him to get to the right level. It was agony. Then used the eclectic machine for the lumbar needles for about 25 mins. That night I was in worst pain of my life! A 12 on the pain scale to say the least. I was begging my husband to take me to ER! I was throwing myself on the bed to the floor crawling in sheer agony trying to escape the pain. I had sever deep nerve pain, burning, stabbing and sharp shooting pains that I couldn't even walk. All through my butt on both sides. The pain was so bad I couldn't control my body temperature. Neither ice nor heat helped and both hurt. I couldn't get away from the pain and this happened for the next 3 nights. Luckily I got an appt with my spine dr prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain until my MRI results come back. That has helped bit not cured me, I am unable to drive or go to work. I know this is from acupuncture bc I've never had this problem before then. Does anybody know what is going on? At first I thought it was sciatica but tonight I have nerve pains going up my back. I'm on day 8 and the pain at night is excruciating and I'm completely disabled during the day! I have 4 children a successful business, a husband that need me and employees that need me!!!!

[Essie2017]

Hi. Did you ever feel better? If so, how long was your recovery and what did you do to make the recovery faster? Thank you.

[jenn4Xt]

Hi all,

I am so sorry to hear about all the horrifying side effects you all were experiencing.

3 years on after my treatment and after 2 years of attempted self healing, I cannot say yet that I can fully recover from the damage that was done to my back muscles, but I wont give up and I believe that eventually it will heal.

3 years ago, I accidentally twisted my lower back. Not very serious, but since the pain did not subside after a few weeks, my therapist tried acupuncture and electro-acupuncture on me. The procedure left some muscles on my right side numb, non functional, and emanates pain and electric shock sensations when used.

As I work more with myself, my body gradually uncovers the truth behind the damages that was done, from where the source or pain and sensitivity come from. As it begins to open up the damage, I believe that it is slowly healing. It wasn't easy as it was a painful process, both physically and emotionally.

Being a dancer/dance teacher, I cannot give up on myself and my body and will continue healing my body until it is fully recovered. I believe it can. Reading your stories, I know it can be much worse.

But look inside yourself, learn to heal yourself. I hope that you will all find healing from your pain too...