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Posted 5/1/2015 6:46 AM (GMT 0)

Hi All,

As you can see this is my first post so not sure if this has been mentioned or discused. I Have UC (5yrs) and going through a long flare up that 60mg of pred. has not been able to calm down.... In the past it has always worked to get me back on track. Tapered to 40mg now and this weekend will drop to 30mg as I gradually get off of it.... My Dr wants to start me on Remicade and I'm willing to do it but I must admit I am nervous and a bit scared. So before I start Remicade I decided to try acupuncture hoping it may help... I had my first session today and scheduled for 5 more to see if it brings some relief. I was wondering has anyone else tried acupunture for there UC and if so what type of results you had.. Thanks for any feed back

56 male

Had good results with Asocal for a couple years then max dose failed as did Lialda... still doing the hydrocortisone enemas..

Posted 5/1/2015 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
It's not talked about much here but you can use the search feature to bring up old posts on the subject. My opinion is that it might help with pain but otherwise it would be pretty useless as a UC treatment. Calming the mind down of stress may be of benefit for UC so if it can decrease stress or be used as a placebo effect then theoretically it could help. Please read the resources thread at the top of the page for ideas, both medical and alternative. Many of us use a combination of both.
Posted 5/1/2015 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I used acupuncture several years ago. I first tried accu for a knee problem and the Dr. of Accu cured it (after MD and surgeon said they could do nothing to help). Because accupuncture cured my knee I decided to try it for my UC because I had confidence in my practitioner. (edit to add: accu doctor also sold me packaged herbal supplements which did nothing good/bad but some people here have had success with TCM traditional Chinese medicine).

Sorry to say it did nothing for my UC. She used needles, cupping, smoke and massage over several sessions. Nothing improved.

I've tried just about everything including hypnosis but the only thing that worked for me is a long process of diet modification to identify foods my gut did not tolerate. I never stopped Rx meds even though over 15 years the only RX that ever had clear benefits is mesalamine enema (which I highly recommend). Probiotic VSL#3 was also very beneficial.

Lately I've found that turmeric/curcumin pills with bio-perine are a good add-on to my daily pill taking. Search for threads about turmeric.

Good luck.

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 5/1/2015 8:30:32 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/1/2015 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have had it quite a bit on and off over the years. It definitely helps as a pain relief I find and I noticed that it regulated my menstrual cycle (not much good if you are a guy :-) ). Some practitioners didn't hit the spot though. You do need someone good. I suppose it's going to activate your body's natural pain relieving system if you are full of needles, even if only gently pushed in.

With the UC, not a cure but I think it may have reduced spasms so helped with control.

I did find it very stressful when in flare having to lie there full of pins thinking if I need to make a toilet dash now, what will happen! Luckily though I never did have to dash so maybe that says something about it helping, I'm not sure what. I don't think I ever found it particularly relaxing, I found that if I fell asleep and my leg jerked the leg needles sent nerve pains up my legs.
Posted 5/1/2015 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'd go with remicade, as it is a standard uc treatment, and has wirked wonders for me. Acupuncture, might relax you but it's not a treatment for uc.
Posted 5/1/2015 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I tried accupuncture before I had my j pouch surgery as sort of a last resort. It did not help my UC but I did find it very relaxing and calming. So it helped my mind but not my UC. It was rather expensive too so I quit after about six sessions. Good luck with it but in reality don't get your hopes up.
Posted 5/1/2015 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
I tried it for a couple of sessions, but like London Lurker, it was too stressful for me to be lying there worried about having to run to the bathroom while I was full of needles. It didn't seem to be doing anything, so I stopped.
Posted 5/1/2015 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have seen an acupuncturist for 10 years, well before I had UC. I look at it as one of the tools in my arsenal, but used alone it doesn't help me. When I'm in an acute flare, I need meds and diet first, and then the rest is a mix of sleep, mindful exercise, stress management, and acupuncture/herbs. Acupuncture definitely has a place for me in my overall wellness strategy, but during my first flare the needles wouldn't pierce my skin- the would bend. That was when I knew I was in trouble.

I've treated allergies, anxiety, and bladder infections with it very successfully! A good acupuncturist is great to have in your corner.
Posted 5/2/2015 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your input... I guess I was hoping for a little more than acupuncture could offer... I had a miserable night last night and I have already canceled the rest of my acupuncture appointments
I will start Remicade on Thursday, May 7 and will update you with any pros or cons that will become a part of my story against the monster that is UC
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