Sinusitis FAQ

Acupuncture update

Question:

Aaron Fox <a…@u.washington.edu> writes: >Acupuncture report, 2d session: >Well,  three weeks after my last acupuncture treatment (about a week after >the last ghost of an effect from the last one wore off) I went back to my >pin doc.  My sinuses were feeling pretty lousy and my energy and pain >problems were creeping back and I was exhausted from work and stress.  She >stuck me full of pins and did something called "pachi-pachi" which >involved a wire connecting two pins, one in my head and one in my neck, to >which she applied three small jolts of electricity,  thrice in the hour.

I had this done years ago but not for sinuses – reminded me of jumper cables! >I woke up this morning (after the best sleep I’ve had since the last >acupuncture session) with my sinus swelling so significantly reduced that >for the first time in a year and a half I couldn’t make a gross trumpeting >sound no matter how hard I snorted  – usually I can make it by breathing >even slightly hard through my nose.

This reminds me of the day I got out of bed and blew my nose, and the sound was so horrendous, all the cats (who were standing around hoping to be fed soon) went running!   The effects of your acupuncture sound wonderful.  I’m considering looking into it locally for myself now, even though I’ve scheduled surgery. Thanks for your posts, Aaron. Jill

Response:

I would be interested in finding out more information about acupuncture treatments for chronic sinusitis. Which acupuncturist did you see? (I assume it is in Seattle) After the first treatment, how long did it take to notice some improvement? How much are the treatment costs? How do you find a qualified acupuncturist? I would greatly appreciate you sharing these answers. Thanks, Michael M.

Response:

Jay wrote: > Aaron, > Would you mind sharing the cost of the treatments, and also mentioning > a little bit about how you went about finding a "qualified" > acupuncturist. > Thks much, > Jay

Well, mine was a recommendation from 2 friends, and she had a long waiting list but allowed me to jump in because my friends were long-time patients and they convinced her I was desperate.  She teaches at the Northwest institute of acupuncture and oriental medicine.  I posted their tol-free number a few weeks back, but it should be in the 206 directory information too. I don’t have it in front  of me.  NWAOM makes referrals. Word-of-mouth from people you know and trust is as usual the best way. Someone experienced and witha  lot of patients is also worth looking for. There are a lot of fly-by-nighters out there. (There are also plenty of useless ENTs, though.) My person charges $50 for an hour, which is *really* cheap for Seattle, where $65 for half an hour is not unheard of.  One reason is that, while Washington State now requires some acupuncture to be covered by health insurance, she doesn’t participate in the billing system and therefore doesn’t need to pad her charges.  I would happily pay much more out of my own pocket for the kind of incredible relief I have had from this.   She also practices  a specifically Japanese variant of acupuncture (compared to the more popular Chinese) called "Meridian theraphy."  She is certified as a Master acupuncturist by NWIAOM and  is (as any acupuncturist must be) licensed by the state.  She uses disposable one-time sterile needles and a lot of manipulation and massage in her method.  She has also had very helpful things to say about other aspects of my health and she has helped old problems too (like my bad back).   One "side effect" of acupuncture for me is an intensification of normal and deep sleep patterns.   Some may find themselves too sleepy for several days and be bothered by it; but when you’re awake you are full of energy.  Other than that there’s no "downside" at all, so far.  The needles are totally painless and leave no marks once removed.   Aaron ______________________________________________________________________ Aaron A. Fox                             Assistant Professor of Anthropology Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music The University of Washington  Box 353100, Seattle WA 98195-3100 FAX: 206-543-3285, TEL: 206-685-1811 EMAIL: a…@u.washington.edu    WWW: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~aaf/ ________________________________________________________________________ "A language consists of myriad tropes that have passed into its structure and content; but they are only playing possum and can be brought back to life at any time."           Paul Friedrich, "Polytropy" "Well the racoon up that ’simmon tree, And the possum down on that ground. Well the possum says to racoon, ‘I want you to shake me some ’simmons down.’ Aw me, aw aw my, Do Lawd, remember me."         Mance Lipscomb,  "Willie Poor Boy" (trad)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Aaron Fox <a…@u.washington.edu> wrote: >Acupuncture report, 2d session: >Well,  three weeks after my last acupuncture treatment (about a week after >the last ghost of an effect from the last one wore off) I went back to my >pin doc.  My sinuses were feeling pretty lousy and my energy and pain >problems were creeping back and I was exhausted from work and stress.  She >stuck me full of pins and did something called "pachi-pachi" which >involved a wire connecting two pins, one in my head and one in my neck, to >which she applied three small jolts of electricity,  thrice in the hour. >This was supposed to help my sinuses, long term, after the immediate (and >pronounced) effect of the needles in my cheeks and her massage of my >face wore off.  I was dubious even given the remarkable improvement she >had provided on my first visit.  She has been nearly promising me that I >won’t need a revision surgery as recommended by my ENT, and this was >supposed to be the direct treatment of my main problem. >I woke up this morning (after the best sleep I’ve had since the last >acupuncture session) with my sinus swelling so significantly reduced that >for the first time in a year and a half I couldn’t make a gross trumpeting >sound no matter how hard I snorted  – usually I can make it by breathing >even slightly hard through my nose.  I’ve had a stellar day of almost no >sinus pain until I sat next to a smoker in a Vietnamese restaurant >tonight.  I am bouncing off the walls with energy even after a hellish >week at work.  And my weird muscle pains have subsided further than they >already had  after the last treatment.  The only drugs I took today were >a multivitamin and 2500 mgs of vitamin C on top of that, and some >acidopholus powder.  No naprocyn, no steroid spray, no decongestant.  I >haven’t even had time to irrigate in 2 days because work is so hectic I am >coming home and dropping into bed.   >I see her again in a week and am counting the hours. .  Y’all have got to >try this stuff.  I am, as a scientifically educated person,  simply   >stunned. >Aaron >______________________________________________________________________ >Aaron A. Fox                                 >Assistant Professor of Anthropology >Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music >The University of Washington  Box 353100, Seattle WA 98195-3100 >FAX: 206-543-3285, TEL: 206-685-1811 >EMAIL: a…@u.washington.edu    WWW: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~aaf/ >________________________________________________________________________ >"A language consists of myriad tropes that have passed into its structure >and content; but they are only playing possum and can be brought back to >life at any time."   >    Paul Friedrich, "Polytropy" >"Well the racoon up that ’simmon tree, >And the possum down on that ground. >Well the possum says to racoon, ‘I want you >to shake me some ’simmons down.’ >Aw me, aw aw my, Do Lawd, remember me." >    Mance Lipscomb,  "Willie Poor Boy" (trad)

Aaron, Would you mind sharing the cost of the treatments, and also mentioning a little bit about how you went about finding a "qualified" acupuncturist. Thks much, Jay

Response:

Acupuncture report, 2d session: Well,  three weeks after my last acupuncture treatment (about a week after the last ghost of an effect from the last one wore off) I went back to my pin doc.  My sinuses were feeling pretty lousy and my energy and pain problems were creeping back and I was exhausted from work and stress.  She stuck me full of pins and did something called "pachi-pachi" which involved a wire connecting two pins, one in my head and one in my neck, to which she applied three small jolts of electricity,  thrice in the hour. This was supposed to help my sinuses, long term, after the immediate (and pronounced) effect of the needles in my cheeks and her massage of my face wore off.  I was dubious even given the remarkable improvement she had provided on my first visit.  She has been nearly promising me that I won’t need a revision surgery as recommended by my ENT, and this was supposed to be the direct treatment of my main problem. I woke up this morning (after the best sleep I’ve had since the last acupuncture session) with my sinus swelling so significantly reduced that for the first time in a year and a half I couldn’t make a gross trumpeting sound no matter how hard I snorted  – usually I can make it by breathing even slightly hard through my nose.  I’ve had a stellar day of almost no sinus pain until I sat next to a smoker in a Vietnamese restaurant tonight.  I am bouncing off the walls with energy even after a hellish week at work.  And my weird muscle pains have subsided further than they already had  after the last treatment.  The only drugs I took today were a multivitamin and 2500 mgs of vitamin C on top of that, and some acidopholus powder.  No naprocyn, no steroid spray, no decongestant.  I haven’t even had time to irrigate in 2 days because work is so hectic I am coming home and dropping into bed.   I see her again in a week and am counting the hours. .  Y’all have got to try this stuff.  I am, as a scientifically educated person,  simply   stunned. Aaron ______________________________________________________________________ Aaron A. Fox                             Assistant Professor of Anthropology Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music The University of Washington  Box 353100, Seattle WA 98195-3100 FAX: 206-543-3285, TEL: 206-685-1811 EMAIL: a…@u.washington.edu    WWW: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~aaf/ ________________________________________________________________________ "A language consists of myriad tropes that have passed into its structure and content; but they are only playing possum and can be brought back to life at any time."           Paul Friedrich, "Polytropy" "Well the racoon up that ’simmon tree, And the possum down on that ground. Well the possum says to racoon, ‘I want you to shake me some ’simmons down.’ Aw me, aw aw my, Do Lawd, remember me."         Mance Lipscomb,  "Willie Poor Boy" (trad)

Response:

Filed under: Chronic sinusitis

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