Question 1

my toes swell in humidity and never go down. the only things that help are cortisone shots and acupuncture. no rheumatic conditions - any other ideas?

Accepted Answer

Circulation/arthriti: Could be a circulatory condition. It can still be a form of a an arthritity as well. See physician for examination and testing to find out and get treatment.

Question 2

after having p. fasciitis for years, i got cortisone shots 3 weeks ago.  made it much worse than it's ever been.  will continuing to r.i.c.e. help?

Accepted Answer

Yes: And call the doctor and let them know it is worse.

Question 3

can you tell me how the cortisone affects on virus c test result?

Accepted Answer

Should be minimal: An immunosuppressant like cortisone may raise or lower the number from the quantitative virus assay, as may many other things.  It won't make a false-positive or false-negative for the diagnosis

Question 4

is acupuncture a sham?

Accepted Answer

No: Acupuncture has been practiced for more than 3000 years.
Now it enjoys a revival and is spreading out through many advanced
economically and  culturally countries.The existence of the acupuncture points and energy channels was scientifically proven- points and pathways with low electro-magnetic resistance. They create a complete functional network like the nervous system for example.

Question 5

is acupuncture effective?

Accepted Answer

See below: See the cochrane collaborative. It lists the areas in which acupuncture is effective and where it is not.

Question 6

how effective is acupuncture?

Accepted Answer

Very: I tell people that acupuncture isn't magic. It has been around since the second century bc in china. It's very helpful for pain, depression, anxiety, and morning sickness. It does seem to augment treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure. It also seems to help addictions such as stopping smoking and recreational drugs usage.

Question 7

is acupuncture really painful?

Accepted Answer

Hardly: I have several patients who are actually phobic of needles who regularly get acpuncture. Why? Because it works & usually is  painless. In the hands of a gentle needler - insertion are not usually felt. Using a "push the finger" technique- penetration of the skin is generally not felt. There are some specific points which can be uncomfortable (so i generally use alternate sites for these). Enjoy!

Question 8

why might acupuncture not work?

Accepted Answer

Several reasons: There are those that believe acupuncture is junk science(I'm not one of those).  Others believe that you must first correctly asses the energistic imbalances before you can appropriately determine where needles need to be placed; if you can't identify the problem, just placing needles won't fix the issue.  Then you must also be able to determine which points and how to stimulate them.

Question 9

is acupuncture safe for teenagers?

Accepted Answer

Acupuncture: Studies have shown that it can be safe even for children.

Question 10

is there an alternative to cortisone shot?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It really depends on the condition being treated.  In general terms, cortisone injections relieve inflammation and pain.  Other modalities that can sometimes achieve this are: ice, oral medications such as Ibuprofen or steroids, rest, and splinting.  Physical or occupational therapy can also sometimes be helpful for musculoskeletal conditions and there is always surgery too.

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Doctor answers about:

Cortisone vs acupuncture

A member asked:

My toes swell in humidity and never go down. the only things that help are cortisone shots and acupuncture. no rheumatic conditions - any other ideas?

A member asked:

After having p. fasciitis for years, i got cortisone shots 3 weeks ago. made it much worse than it's ever been. will continuing to r.i.c.e. help?

A member asked:

Can you tell me how the cortisone affects on virus c test result?

A member asked:

Is acupuncture a sham?

A member asked:

Is acupuncture effective?

A member asked:

How effective is acupuncture?

A member asked:

Is acupuncture really painful?

A member asked:

Why might acupuncture not work?

A member asked:

Is acupuncture safe for teenagers?

A member asked:

Is there an alternative to cortisone shot?

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