Home Ultrasound for Fibromyalgia

[OneScaredBuckeye]

Has anyone tried home ultrasound to reduce trigger points?  I had ultrasound in Switzerland and it helped, but I only had it three times a week and I've read that people need to have it three times a day to really get rid of trigger points.  I have two trigger points in the hip/buttock area that aren't sore, but feel like taut bands.  And they tug on the sensory nerves, which is the worst thing of all.  I'm thinking of purchasing a home ultrasound unit (and gel), but wondered if anyone had tried this for loosening up trigger points.  It's a pretty big investment (about $300), so I want it to actually do something, though it is returnable for a full refund.

Thank you to anyone who can give me any information.

[Curls]

Thanks for sharing about this.  It sounds good, although pain spots are my major problem, I have a friend for whom it is and I'll let her know about it.  Let us know how it works for you over time....  I'm glad for you that it's helping so far!!!

[OneScaredBuckeye]

No, I'm sorry, you can't use it on widespread areas.  Ultrasound is for use on small trigger points only, but often these tiny trigger points are sending referred pain to many other parts of our bodies.  At least that was/is the case with me.  When one is cleared up, a lot of other pain and symptoms often go as well.  No guarantee, but often that's the case.

Yes, you use it yourself, ten minutes a day, three times a day.  If you have several trigger points you can clear up one, then work on another.  Ultrasound doesn't hurt at all, the only feeling is a feeling of warmth.

I bought my unit on Amazon.  It's made by MendMeShop.com.  I was very skeptical at first and thought maybe they were just trying to play on the desperation of people who can't find answers any place else.  But I finally gave in and bought a unit and a bottle of gel and it is working.  I think it will take a few months to resolve the problem, though.  It's not a quick fix, but after suffering for what will be ten years in April, I don't care if it's quick as long as it helps.  I bought my unit and gel through Amazon because it's slightly less expensive on there, but it's still a new unit and ships from MendMeShop.com.

I don't know if it will work for everyone, but ultrasound worked so well for me in Switzerland that I was finally persuaded to try it.  If you don't want to try this unit, chiropractors often give ultrasound treatments, which you might want to try first.  It's so hard to know where to go for answers because usually family doctors will tell you it's all in your head or it's stress (and I think stress plays a part, but it's not the underlying cause), PT will tell you the home unit won't work and you need myofascial release because that's what they do (and it does work for some), chiropractors will say only the professional ultrasound units work because they have those, etc.

I know Neurontin (gabapentin) helped my symptoms at time, though not always, and it's not a cure, and ultrasound certainly seems to be softening the tense, taut bands and stopping much of the referred pain.

I hope if you try it, it'll help you, too, or if you don't, you find some answer, somewhere.  Good luck.

[LLWB]

Can you use it yourself, or does someone have to use it on you? I too would be interested in where you purchased it. I'm sure we were all waiting to hear about it, and that no-one else had one.......did that make sense? Hope so. I have had myofascial release done, but by a PT, hurt like he**. Does your ultrasound hurt?  Glad you tried it if it's helping.

[anniebarry]

Were did you buy this unit and does it work on widespread pain? I'm in agony, especially at night.

[OneScaredBuckeye]

Well, so far, I can tell you, it's working fantastically.  Better than drug I've ever tried.