Acupuncture for balance issues

[susierg]

A friend of mine told me that his wife had acupuncture to help her with her balance problems after an accident she had that caused severe brain damage a few years ago.  Of course she did not have an AN, her problems were very different as she fell and hit her head.  She wasnt expected to live but miraculously she did.  It was a long recovery for her, but her balance problems were the same as mine.  She couldnt walk straight, etc.  I was wondering if anyone had tried acupuncture for their balance issues and if it helped or not.

[arizonajack]

You can probably find lots of anecdotal results online by googling.

Dr Chang of Stanford has been mentioned on these forums. I found a couple of recorded interviews that you can listen to.

The second one has his perspective on acupuncture.

I haven't listened yet.

Report back with his comments.

http://www.myacoustic.org/steven-chang-interview-acoustic-neuroma-treatment.html

[susierg]

Thanks for the link....I listened to most of it, did fast forward to the alterntive approach section..His posistion on accupuncture or biofeedback is "if it work, it works"  He's not opposed to trying it.  No specifics on acutaly patients.  Heck, I say its worth a shot.  Gonna check into it next week.

Thanks again

[arizonajack]

Thanks for the link....I listened to most of it, did fast forward to the alterntive approach section..His posistion on accupuncture or biofeedback is "if it work, it works"  He's not opposed to trying it.  No specifics on acutaly patients.  Heck, I say its worth a shot.  Gonna check into it next week.

Thanks again

I say it's worth a shot, too. Report back with the results over time.

I've also read that Tai Chi is good for balance issues and, for some people, works better than vestibular therapy. One such person is someone I know who suffered a head injury on 9/11 and has had balance issues since then. She's had vestibular therapy in the past and is currently taking Tai Chi which she likes better. I've ordered a couple of videos and will give it a try.

[susierg]

Have an appointment on Monday....I'll let ya know how it goes.

Have a safe and happy thanksgiving!!

Susie

[susierg]

So I went to an acupunturist about 3 weeks ago, with absolutely no results.  I had scheduled another appointment, but when I got there she was a no show.  I had started feeling better for a few days until I had my BAHA surgery two weeks ago and my wonky head came back with a vengence!  I found another acupuncturist in my area and decided to give him a try.  He was much more thorough than the first.  He is a certified physical therapist, certified orthopedic specialist as well as a licensed acupuncturist.  My first visit lasted 2 1/2 hours.  He stuck needles in my head and had me go home with them and remove myself after a few hours.  The next day I had one of my worst wonky  days ever.  I had another appt today and decided it couldnt hurt to give it another try as he told me that my healing would not be instantaeous.  Today, he again put needles in my head, but this time he moved the skin around on my head with the needles in, then had me move my head side to side.  I saw immediate improvement.  Then he had me tilt my head to each side....and again I'm on a rockin boat.  He moved the skin around again and this time there was a little improvement.  I again came home with needles in my head and this time he instructed me to leave them in as long as I could....up to  48 hours.  I'm afraid to get overly excited, but I'm feeling much better this evening.  I go back next Thursday and he said we would continue with the acupuncture for a couple of weeks and then start on some physical therapy.  I'm really excited about my experience and hope that this is the thing that is gonna work for me.

I would highly recommend trying this to anyone who is still having balance issues.  I would however check out the acupuncturist first to make sure they are reputable.  My first one was licensed, but she had just graduated from acupuncture school and not that she didn't know what she was doing....I just think she did'nt have the experience with my particualr problems.

Will report back with more hopefully good news next week. 

Merry Christmas!
Susie

[spgreenfield]

Susie -

I have had rather extensive acupuncture for my face - but not balance.  (for me it relieves that weird pinchy ache in my teeth and at one point seemed to help with my mouth producing saliva on my AN side again...also for my eye a little)   I have copied and pasted your note and will show it to my acupuncturist.  I have found that yoga and t'ai chi were beneficial to balance for me - but that "wonky" feeling comes and goes as it wishes.  Even during the day I have better moments and then it can return.  I didn't note any issues after BAHA surgery other than being numb once again on my skull....  I'm curious to see if that technique you mention would work!  PLEASE keep us posted!

I DID note one weird thing though....when I'm doing vestibular exercises tilting my head from side to side while walking, when I tilt my head to the side of my AN my sight twists extreme and fast, but when tilting it to my non-AN side it just moves smoothly.  This has eased some, but is still there.  Have any of you noticed this?

Pam

[obromis]

I spent 10 years trying desperately 😫 to get pregnant. I wasn't getting pregnant, but not yet ready to turn to infertility treatment, tried acupuncture to help me conceive. But I see lots of posts that people give birth after acupuncture treatment.  Well, should I try that? Your thoughts? And what device for acupuncture should I use?