Many have said that acupuncture is the way to go, but I cried. I didn't like it, but you should try it. My brother loves it.

Supposedly, most people don't feel the needle. You might look at this book: Healing Back Pain Naturally by Art Brownstein, MD. It really helped me rehab my back, but I don't have DDD.

I really think you would find it not as painful as that gadget your doc used on you. Believe me...I'm not fond of needles but you really don't feel them. They are so thin that you don't feel them. I have had them from my scalp to my feet. I will admit that occassionally one will give a momentary sting but that fades. I really recommend you give it a try.

I had an acupuncturist who was rushed and I ended up with 4 days of gushing gum bleeding. I had to go on 10 days of antibiotics. If you go, make sure to thoroughly check them out. I didn't go enough to know if it worked or not. It didn't hurt that much.

My next thing will be Reflexology!

Thanks guys.

Carien, Reflexology is the greatest. I wish I could do it every single day!!! :)

OUCH!! No wonder you've been in so much back pain. But it's better to know what is causing you the pain. At least now you can get some treatment that might help alleviate some of the pain. Good luck with the acupuncture.

I'm sorry to hear that you have DDD. I have got to tell you tho that I don't know why a doc would recommend acupunture for that ( unless it is for the arthritis). I have DDD and had two back surgeries to deal with it.

I have had acupuncture and I do believe in it. But it didnt' work for me and yes I did feel the needles and it hurt. But it doesn't last long and it's not that big a deal. I have myofacial pain and I think that's why accup.. never helped me. But it works great for my DH.

hope this helps...hugs jilly

Well, I may have to break down and try it just once. I can always walk out in the middle of it, right? :)

Yes you can Dixie, lol just remember to remove the needles first! love you...jilly

I bid on a gift certificate from an acupuncture doc at a fund-raising auction and I won it - still trying to work up the nerve to go, as I HATE needles, but I know some have been helped by it.

that is a good question with the sensitive skin that i know we all have I cant imagine, but would love to get up the nerve to try it... sorry to hear about your dx. dixie

ACUPUNCTURE VARIATION!
I had acupuncture once a week about 30 years ago for various problems, and it worked but hurt like hell. I couldn't stand to have the needles touched when they were in me. So the guy showed me an alternative: he took compressed herbs shaped like a little cone, put them on the spot where the needle should go in, and set light to the top of them. (They were like mini incense cones.) It was to "warm" the spot and activate the energy like the needle would. Just before it burned down far enough to actually touch my skin, he took it off. Well, it worked just as well as the acupuncture and didn't hurt!

So you might want to explore that alternative. Funnily enough, when I had weekly acupuncture about 10 years ago for other things (including TMJ), it didn't hurt at all and really helped. I have never had TMJ problems since! I've always wondered if it was the difference in approach of the practitioners, or just not as painful energy points.

Anyway, just to let everyone know there are TWO ways to have acupuncture!

Hi Mirren!

I actually had one acupuncture session where something was in the end of the needle that the dr lit. It burned out in like 10 seconds and then was gone. The needle heated up from the flame and didn't hurt until the last second and that hurt like a (insert word here)! Sounds like a combo between the two.

I'm a big baby about needles too (I used to pass out from shots and such, lol) but I tried acupunc and I lived to tell the tale. I didn't like it but it was doable...hugs jilly

I have never tried acupuncture but I think it works differently for everyone so i would give it a go. I am so sorry you are having a rough time hope you find something that works x