Acupuncture Via The NHS (For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Back Pain) - Review By Cate

by Catherine
(Stirling, Scotland, UK)

Cate can still smile sometimes :-)

Hi, I'm Cate. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Here's my review of the acupuncture that I received via an NHS pain clinic...

The acupuncture procedure was painless and relaxing. I found that it temporarily relieved my back pain, which I am conscious of practically every waking moment. It's difficult to describe: The pain has decreased but there is no improvement in the agility or flexibility of my back.

Here's my experience of it:

You get four or five sessions. But then they stop it and you have to wait until it gets bad again before they will give you another session at the clinic.

To get to the clinic I had to get up at 7 in the morning to get myself washed and dressed to take a bus to town. Then either a train or bus for another 16 mile journey. Any other sufferer will know how much of a struggle this can be, especially because you just don't know how you're going to be feeling from one day to the next.

The slight improvement pushed me you make those 4 visits (one acupuncture session per week). But within a couple of months the pain was back, worse than ever and I gave up after a further three sessions. It was too much strain and pain to get there for too little relief in return.

If I could afford acupuncture privately I would try it but cannot afford such luxuries after not working for 10 years.

It's a wicked circle.

My opinion is that acupuncture helps the pain a bit but is certainly no cure.