Glad you went with the acupuncture. I too am very leery of those arthritis meds and when my horse had a bad injury to her feet and back I chose the acupuncture---- the vet happened to watch my dog and said the poor guy has pain in his back, told her yes but I didn't want to put him on anything--long story short she offered to do acupuncture on my dog also and a back placement -- after less than 2 months the horse was again able to compete and my dog became his old self after a few treatments..and was like a new dog, pain totally gone. He lived to 16 which is old for a GS.
So I'm one for herbs and acupuncture, just hate pumping any kind of pain med in an animal.