Acupuncture for fibromyalgia-a success story

[Mandate My Ass]

For more than the past two years I've sought help for extreme chronic pain in my extremities to the point my quality of life had deteriorated significantly. At the onset, I had excellent health benefits through my employer and saw the top DRs in their fields of orthopedics, sports med, rheumatology and chiropractics. Most wanted to do surgery or invasive procedures, others couldn't/didn't believe or understand my level of pain. Finally they were convinced it was an autoimmune problem although tests were inconclusive for the most prevalent ones. I have two medicine cabinets full of half empty bottles of expensive meds that did nothing but cause uncomfortable or even painful side effects. I thought I'd be a sick, disabled person for the rest of my life.

I lost my job and out of desperation went to a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It was she who finally properly diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, and after one month of therapy I am a different person. My pain levels are so manageable I feel like someone who has been released from prison. I take one medication for circulation in addition to the supplement, OPC-3, a powdered mixture of antioxidants, including pycnogenol and red wine extract, among others.

IN addition to weekly acupuncture and massage, I have benefited from daily application of heat and sometimes a pain patch which contains Chinese herbs.

I just wanted to share this with others in case this is something other sufferers haven't investigated and perhaps were wondering about. I have to admit the acupuncture is often fairly painful. The needles have to be inserted deeply into the most painful areas and then hooked up to a TENS unit for electrostimulation.

As far as I know most insurance plans will now cover some of this with a referral. I just wanted to share this info so that others may enjoy the improvements I have to my life. Peace and good luck to all of you.

[Warpy]

1. Acupuncture was miraculous for acute pain

but I found it did very little for my chronic pain. Everybody is different, though, so it's definitely worth a try.

Scans have confirmed that needles in the extremities produce changes in the pain receptors in the brain. Nobody knows why or how quite yet, but acupuncture is real.

I'm glad you're having so much success.

[Mandate My Ass]

2. Thanks, Warpy. Of course I'm not pain free but...

I feel like my quality of life has improved dramatically and I'm not surviving day to day like before. Now when I wake up in the middle of the night I can usually treat it with a pain patch or some Aspercreme and be back asleep shortly afterwards. Before I not only had to take narcotics but I had to chew them to stop writhing in agony. I can even go to the gym now.

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. I'm so glad to hear that. I tried an accupuncturist/TCM practitioner...

and the only thing I found relief for was menstrual cramping. But hey, that's something!

[blondie58]

4. I am so gladf that you found something that works

I do know of a person with MS who uses accupuncture for her pain that she has. This clinic by me had a free day for Chinese New Year, so I went to try it. My problem is neurological and the extreme fatigue that I have from MS. I am going to try it again, I don't think that it did anything yet, but....

It was bizarre, though- I sneezed and I must have moved a muscle in my leg, as my needle down there really hurt!

[mdmc]

5. Thank you for posting this my dear friend

If I may ask, how long ago did your symptoms appear?
Just recently, I had the same thing happen to me - Your OP reads like this recent one of mine -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=7440740

I haven't seen a doctor in over 10 year. Probably even longer then that. In the last 6 months I've been to the doctor about 6 times. And the ER once.

Thank you so much for sharing your OP. It really helped me out a lot.

Peace and low stress.