Patients beware...I have been 'experimenting' with acupuncture this week. I did a course just before christmas (an agonising weekend might I add...a few needles in a spasmed muscle is pretty much pain free, but 50 needles all over your body in the space of 2 days is just mean! Yes we suffer for the cause of helping you guys!!). I did the course because I got bored of having patients telling me about how fabulous it was when another osteopath did it on them, and why didn't I do it? Well, I do now...but only experimentally...you are all my guinea pigs. I have to see the proof of somthing working before I believe in it. And I have to say, so far so good...we may have found a replacement for the evil elbow technique many of you have experienced. I need to see the results over the next few months to be completely convinced, but for the few acute spasmed backs I treated this week, the needles worked a treat. Just to warn you...if you have muscle and you're on my treatment couch, it's going to get a needle in it, so don't bother rocking up if you're queezy! Anyone got any experiences to share on the use of acupuncture for their muscle/joint/back/neck pain?