Acupuncture for RA

Hi everyone, I started acupuncture yesterday to try and help get over the hump and off of the pain meds I have been on for quite some time now and I was wondering if anyone else has tried it specifically for their RA symptoms.
If you search for acupuncture and RA there have been several studies done showing. Very promising results for a large body of people who are affected. I am hoping that it helps.
I also take orencia and mtx and they really help so I hope that in addition this will get me through the day without relying on pain meds.
We will see. -Don

I've also considered this as well as diet modifications...of course I still have to leave chocolate in my diet...
Keep us posted on how good this helps you and let us know as time goes by if your getting better...
I'm interested!

Keep us posted, okay...

I had my second visit for acupuncture yesterday. I must say that I do think it is helping and has brought my pain level down a notch which is promising. Also I should have added that part of my treatment is also relating to stomach issues I have had. Kirsty (the wonderful lady who pokes holes in me) has me adding some things to my diet to help introduce good bacteria to my gut. Things like kraut and other foods that are fermented. It may take a while to see results from this and my symptoms could get a bit worse in the mean time. In addition I am taking a supplement to help rebuild the stomach lining and I can certainly use that.

She used a treatment this visit called moxibustion. This is a small stick of mogwart that is lit and placed on acupuncture points. She used these on my hands and it reminded me of lying in the sun on a warm summers day. It felt incredible. The link I found shows the person lighting them while they are placed on the patient but she did not do this. She lit them away from my body and then placed them on my hands after they were smoldering. She was next to me the entire time to make sure that there was no danger as well.

http://balfourhealing.com/?page_id=128

I find the stomach thing interesting because my Rheumy also this last visit commented that there is a lot more study going on these days in the rheumatology circle regarding the gut and bacteria being an overlooked cause for RA and other autoimmune disorders. She told me that this years convention she will be attending will be focusing on this in fact.

At any rate, I have been able to take a little less pain meds as a result and also my energy levels this last week have been better. No longer am I coming home from work exhausted and collapsing into my favorite chair. This is a pretty welcome respite considering that it has been months since I have had this kind of energy for more than a day at a time.

My next appointment is for next week so I will update this thread again after I have had that treatment. I would recommend this at this point to any of you. Make sure to find a specialist who has treated RA in the past. I was fortunate in that my Doctor recommended Kirsty and knew she had seen good results with others suffering with RA.

Thanks for the update, Don. I've been thinking about trying acupuncture and it sounds promising!

I hope you continue to improve.