Acupuncture

I went to an Asian accupuncturist.  He wanted to see me three times a week at $50 a treatment.  That was $300 a month.  I did it for six months in hopes it would help.  The only thing it did was empty my wallet. 

 

Sherrine

I am a chronic pain patient and my HMO sent me to their pain clinic to try everything before giving me pain meds.  I can honestly say that I gave everything a try and acupunture was one of the things I did for approximately two years and nope, didn't do anything for me.  I really liked my doctor, went weekly, it was relaxing, dark room, heat lamps, but did it "cure" anything, no, and did it make my pain go away, no.  I'm pretty sure if acupuncture "cured" anything, cancer patients, diabetics, the kidney diseased, the heart diseased, etc. would have discovered it.

Did you read the Fibro 101 thread and the link about malic acid/magnesium supplements?  They have helped me a lot and have helped others too.  But, they don't help everyone.  They are inexpensive where I get them.  I order them on line at Puritan.com.  Right now they are having a buy 2 and get 3 free program.

Also, see if you are deficient in vitamin D.  That supposedly can cause pain and fatigue.

Other than the malic acid/magnesium supplements and the vitamin D, I take ibuprofen with food and extra strength Tylenol for pain.  My doctor wanted me to try Lyrica, antidepressants, etc. but I am not willing.  Medications affect me a lot and I want to be alert so I can drive and think clearly, so this is the route I have taken.  I also walk and do stretching exercises and have been able to control the fibro pain this way.  Talk to your doctor about this.  Remember, it is your body and you have to feel comfortable with what you take.

Sherrine

2boyzmom - Hang in there, sorry you're having such a rough time. I'm at that point myself where I don't know what's next. As for the accupuncture, I've been doing it for years. There are some things that it helps with (IBS, sleep, stress), but I haven't found it help with the pain. My accupuncturist is a lady from China and she's very good. Chinese herbs can also help with some things, but again, not the pain.

I am doing fine.  I have had fibro for 22 years and I have had a good and enjoyable life with fibro.  Now, I know everyone's pain is different but I've had plenty of times where I could barely move.  Yesterday I felt pretty good so I went outside and washed down all of my patio furniture.  By evening, good old costochondritis hit and it was so hard to breathe.  I took ibuprofen with food and headed to bed.  By morning I was much better.

 

I have accepted the fact that pain is a part of my life.  I am fortunate that ibuprofen, Tylenol, and supplements have helped me manage my pain...not get rid of it.  I'm not willing to take a lot of medication because, for me, I want to be in complete control.  I would be nervous about driving with a lot of the meds because they affect me very easily. I don't want to be in an accident and be charged with DUI so I don't take it. 

 

I have found that stretching exercises, walking, and swimming when possible have helped me.  I am still flexible and am able to do most things.  I do have a prescription for Vicodin in my medicine cabinet but I have never taken one.  It's like my security blanket.  LOL  There have been plenty of times when I would have been justified to take it but decided to head to bed and pray that the rest would help.  It usually does.

 

I don't take naps.  I have myself on a sleep schedule.  I head to bed aroud 10 PM and I get up by 7 AM.  My body is so accustomed to this that I usually fall asleep within 15 minutes of going to bed.  (I go to bed with the television on.)  It knows when I lay down it's time to rest.  There are times when I don't adhere to this like when I'm out with friends, but 98% of the time you know when I'm heading to bed.  The rest really helps with fibro.  If I took a nap I'd never be able to fall asleep at night, and that can be not only aggravating but stressful so I avoid that.

 

As far as doctors, many use a rheumatologist.  I use a board certified Internist.  He takes care of all of my health problems.  Be sure they believe in fibromyalgia.  There are still doctors out there that don't.  Ask if they treat fibromyalgia patients.  My doctor has "fibromyalgia" printed out on the papers he turns in to insurance...just like diabetes is printed on it.  You do want a good working relationship with your doctor.

 

Anyway, I'd try the non-prescription approach, since you aren't comfortable with meds, and see how your body responds.  It just might work for you too!

 

Sherrine

I found that acupuncture helped my pain greatly, but it is a treatment for pain, not a cure. I stopped going when I realized I would need to go twice a week at $60 a visit in order to really feel better. I do miss going though, I have to deal with a higher level of pain than I did when I got acupuncture.

I think that a big part of the treatment for me is that I got used to it very quickly. I would go in, lay down, and as soon as she finished putting the needles in I would fall asleep. The best sleep I ever got was on that table, let me tell you. For the next couple of days I would feel fantastic, then it would go downhill.

My doctor hasn't tried any pain medications with me, she's convinced that antidepressants are the way to go. If you can find an affordable place to get acupuncture treatments, they can be helpful. They are designed to make you better, but I just don't think it works that way for fibromyalgia and other chronic problems. However, acupuncture can help you with other issues too. My acupuncturist had my IBS totally under control and gave me my appetite back. I've missed those improvements.

The most important thing about acupuncture is finding the right practitioner.

I eat everything in moderation...including carbs.  I try not to eat a ton of them because I gain weight easily.

 

Sherrine

I tried it years ago.  The problem was, I had to lay still.  Can't do.  Needles keep coming undone.  It really did not help.

Puppylover

I am glad to see this post today.  I have never tried acupunture, but I was going to ask if anyone had.  I think the posts are pretty much what I expected....that acuputure helps for awhile, but is not a cure.  But I agree, that if there were a cure we would all know about it.

One of the things that I struggle with as a fibro victim is the flares I have when I do something a little out of the norm (like wash patio furniture).  The activity seems so normal and not necessarily stressful (to the body) but then I spend the next day in pain and often in bed.   

I also tried acupuncture, and it did seem to calm me after I cried alot on the table from having to lay there on all of the points of my body that are in pain. (ps-crying helps release pain, as our neurological pathway for emotional pain is the same pathway for physical pain.) For me, I allow the tears to flow as often as needed. It may not cure anything, but I feel a release for a period of time, anyway.

I realize we would all like a natural method of pain management, but after all the creams, sprays, prayers, meditations, gabapentin, lyrica, various muscle relaxers.... the things that work FOR ME are in the narcotic family, and nothing else. I was sooooo dizzy on the nerve pain medicine that I could not function, I just wanted to fall over and sleep. But after 4 years (unfortunately) and a deal of tolerance to narcotics, my liver is testing well, and my stomach is doing great with my pain management plan. I use MS Contin 100 mg that are time-released, and that means that I am not walking around high. It addresses a good portion of the pain. I then use Vicodin or Percocet for the breakthrough pain that comes during sleep or in times of great stress during the day. We are all different, and I realize that narcotics are not for everybody. This journey is about trial and error, listening to your body, and hope. I hope the best for you all out there who are all suffering. This is so difficult, especially since we may look fine but feel like we are just about dying inside at times. Hang in there, and keep trying. :o)