Is Acupuncture for Vestibular Migraine Good?

Is Acupuncture for Vestibular Migraine Good? The answer is: It depends on the practitioner, your personal triggers and response to treatment and external factors at the time you are having the experience. While there is no cure for vestibular migraines, increasing studies indicate that acupuncture can be used for treating vestibular migraine (VM), but current evidence remains inconclusive.

Steps of Acupuncture Treatment

1. Initial Consultation: During the initial consultation, an acupuncturist will discuss your medical history and symptoms, including the frequency and duration of your vestibular migraines. They will also perform a physical examination and ask about your lifestyle and dietary habits to determine if there are any triggers for your migraines.
2. Diagnosis: Based on the information gathered during the initial consultation, the acupuncturist will make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. They will also discuss the number of treatments required and the expected duration of treatment.
3. Acupuncture Treatment: During the acupuncture treatment, the acupuncturist will insert fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body. The needles are inserted to stimulate the flow of energy, or qi, throughout the body and alleviate pain and discomfort associated with vestibular migraines.
4. Aftercare: After the treatment, the acupuncturist will remove the needles and provide instructions for aftercare. They may also recommend additional lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications, to help prevent future vestibular migraines.

Effects

• Reduced Frequency and Severity of Migraines by regulating the flow of qi and alleviating pain and discomfort.
• Improved Balance and Coordination by stimulating the inner ear, which is responsible for regulating balance and stability.
• Reduced Stress and Anxiety.

Duration

The duration of acupuncture treatment for vestibular migraines varies from person to person, depending on the frequency and severity of migraines. In general, most people require between 6-10 acupuncture treatments to see significant improvement. The acupuncturist will monitor your progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Common side effects of acupuncture treatment to be aware of are:

• Pain or discomfort at the needle site
• Bruising or bleeding
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache

It is important to note that these side effects are usually mild and temporary.

For me personally it was tough, even though the practitioner caution me that at the beginning I will experience increased symptoms, I did not expect it to be so severe. I was not able to walk after each session due to severe dizziness. Also made me very tired and had to sleep for the rest of the day, after each treatment. Even after resting the severe dizziness would last for at least 2 days. I was completely impaired during those days.

Since I could not sustain it longer I decided to drop the treatment after few weeks due to the severity of the symptoms. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t provide the expected benefits. Maybe I dropped it off too soon before seeing any benefits. I also wonder also if the practitioner was not adequate too.

But I will stress the importance of not being discouraged, if it didn’t work for me does not mean it won’t work for you. The most important step you can take towards managing your symptoms is try new things. It may work wonderfully for you!