I can’t tell from your post if it was the RLS or the frozen shoulder that the acupuncture helped. The National Institutes of Health are studying acupuncture for a number of different conditions. Several thousand years of Traditional Chinese Medicine can’t be all wrong! But I’ve had frozen shoulder myself–twice–(not due to kidney disease), and did try acupuncture. It didn’t do a thing, although it was very relaxing.
Anyone who has kidney disease and is thinking about trying alternative therapies may want to check out the Alternative Remedies module of Kidney School, at http://www.kidneyschool.org. We strongly recommend that folks not use Chinese herbs, which have, on occasion, caused kidney failure. Acupuncture or acupressure are in the “can’t hurt, might help” category, but the herbs can really harm you.