I hope that you may be help me with this. I am having physio as I have ongoing neck, back and shoulder problems that also lead to headaches. I had these before my BC treatment but they worsened as a result of the surgery etc.
As I get so much pain after the physio tries to mobilise my spine she has decided that acupuncture is the way to go to start with. I’ve had a full axillary clearance on the left side and I’ve told her about this and she has discussed with supervisor. She is putting needles down my spine but also one in my left shoulder.
I am getting a lot of contradictory information on how risky this is in terms of lymphodema risk. Does anyone know or have any further info on this?
The pain in my neck/back and shoulder is very debilitating and so I do need some treatment for quality of life so I don’t just want to dismiss something without very good reason.
I had a full axillary clearance and also suffer from back pain too but I would be VERY cautious about acupuncture. I think you need a proper medical second opinion because lymphedema is such a horrible (incurable) condition.
I’ve just had acupuncture for the first time at one of the cancer Havens and the therapist completely avoided putting needles in the side & shoulder which had the armpit surgery. He said he was following guidelines before I even raised it with him. I understand that with children (and needle phobes) therapists sometimes use alternative methods not using needles - maybe that is something you could pursue - but I’m sure you’ve probably thought of it. Sorry not much help. Hope you work something out.
Cheers
I’ve been having acupuncture for about 4 years. The first time my acupuncturist put needles in my right hand I completely forgot to tell her. It worried me a little as I also have no lymph nodes under my right armpit. When I remembered I mentioned it to her. She said it would only cause problems if the needles were not sterile and infection set in. However, it may also be that they don’t want to get sued should something go wrong. Many therapists won’t give a massage/reflexology for the same reason. One of the ones that refused me said the reason she refused was that she was not covered in her insurance.
Thanks for all your replies. I find all this quite concerning as this treatment is from an NHS senior physio who contacted her supervisor to check this was okay.
As I need treatment because I can’t function properly with the daily headaches and pain I’ve been having I think I will continue with acupuncture in the spine but ask her not to put anything in the shoulder.
Jeannie it is the potential infection risk that is the problem you’re right and this would be minimal with sterile needles (compared to say getting scratched by the cat or a rose thorn which happens quite a lot to me).
I feel quite low about all of this. It seems like whatever you want to know following the cancer diagnosis isn’t clear cut with one expert saying one thing and then another saying something different. I only hope I’m doing the right thing.
As I understand it, the sterility of the needles used for acupuncture is not the main issue regarding risk of lymphoedema.
The problem is that anything (be it bite, scratch, cut or sterile needle) that breaks the continuity of the skin, our main defence against infection, creates an opening for airborne bacteria to enter.
This is something that seems to be hard for many health professionals to take on board. When we insist that our bad arms are not used for procedures, we are not implying that the equipment used is not sterile, we are saying we wish to preserve the integrity of our skin to prevent infection entering from the atmosphere. Unless we are being treated inside a bubble of sterile air, then this can happen.
Of course, the overall risk of infection is less from a sterile needle than a piece of rusty barbed wire, but why expose yourself to any risk at all if it can be avoided?
Some advice recommends avoiding the whole quadrant at risk; ie arm, trunk, back. Perhaps acupressure might be a safer option.
It’s horrible having shoulder problems. I hope you find a way of easing them, Elinda.