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Neuropathic pain just plain hurts!!! Accupuncture anyone?
Good day to all! Hope everyone is having a good day!
I was diagnosed with MS in 1993...seems like a LONG time ago and I guess it is considering I haven't really started having symptoms until 2007.
Now I have joined the group that are dealing with Neuropathic Pain and man is it painful! I am having a whole lot of burning on the outside edge of my left foot and under that little bone that pokes out from the outside of my right foot. Today it seems as though I may be getting it in my left hand as well. I feels as though someone is holding a hot piece of metal against my feet in the painful area and the back of my left hand seems to be affected.
I relayed this information to my neuro and he said that since I am on 40mg of Amitriptyline daily and 900mg of Tegretol daily that he really doesn't want to increase it. He would like me to try accupuncture to see if that might help before adjusting my meds. Has anyone here tried Accupuncture as an optional treatment for Neuropathic pain? I have had a lot of pain in my legs and continue to do so daily and the odd feeling of a hot needle in my heels a few years back but it dissipated on it's own. This is different though and it is really embarrasing when I have to take my sock and shoe off in public cause I can't stand the pain of have them rub on my foot! I live in Northern Canada so flip flops are not an option in the winter obviously! hehe
I would be very interested in any input about accupuncture for this Neuropathic pain and I hope that not everyone has to deal with it cause it ain't very nice at all!
Lots of Hugs,
Rena
I was diagnosed with MS in 1993...seems like a LONG time ago and I guess it is considering I haven't really started having symptoms until 2007.
Now I have joined the group that are dealing with Neuropathic Pain and man is it painful! I am having a whole lot of burning on the outside edge of my left foot and under that little bone that pokes out from the outside of my right foot. Today it seems as though I may be getting it in my left hand as well. I feels as though someone is holding a hot piece of metal against my feet in the painful area and the back of my left hand seems to be affected.
I relayed this information to my neuro and he said that since I am on 40mg of Amitriptyline daily and 900mg of Tegretol daily that he really doesn't want to increase it. He would like me to try accupuncture to see if that might help before adjusting my meds. Has anyone here tried Accupuncture as an optional treatment for Neuropathic pain? I have had a lot of pain in my legs and continue to do so daily and the odd feeling of a hot needle in my heels a few years back but it dissipated on it's own. This is different though and it is really embarrasing when I have to take my sock and shoe off in public cause I can't stand the pain of have them rub on my foot! I live in Northern Canada so flip flops are not an option in the winter obviously! hehe
I would be very interested in any input about accupuncture for this Neuropathic pain and I hope that not everyone has to deal with it cause it ain't very nice at all!
Lots of Hugs,
Rena
Best Answer
My PT tried acupuncture, as well as more conventional methods, to help fix up my strained rotator cuff last year.
Only 2 needles. The first one, in the back of my hand hurt like the dickens! I sucked it up and didn't say anything...till she wiggled it around a bit... OMG ouch!
I broke into a sweat, thinking if the one in my hand hurt that much, how much will one in my shoulder hurt???
Apparantly not a bit. I didn't feel it at all.
I don't know if the needle hit something in my hand it shouldn't have hit, or what. My hand still ached the next day.
She never suggested acupuncture again, and I don't know if it did my rotator cuff pain any good or not, I was too busy worrying about my sore hand ;)
If I ever try it again, which I doubt, I'll keep my hands in my pockets.
As far as neuropathic pain relief, like DV, I use Gabapentin, although a much lower dose, 1200mg daily, with an additional 300mg at bed time if needed, and 1 or 2 tramacet for head ache pain when needed.
Mike
Only 2 needles. The first one, in the back of my hand hurt like the dickens! I sucked it up and didn't say anything...till she wiggled it around a bit... OMG ouch!
I broke into a sweat, thinking if the one in my hand hurt that much, how much will one in my shoulder hurt???
Apparantly not a bit. I didn't feel it at all.
I don't know if the needle hit something in my hand it shouldn't have hit, or what. My hand still ached the next day.
She never suggested acupuncture again, and I don't know if it did my rotator cuff pain any good or not, I was too busy worrying about my sore hand ;)
If I ever try it again, which I doubt, I'll keep my hands in my pockets.
As far as neuropathic pain relief, like DV, I use Gabapentin, although a much lower dose, 1200mg daily, with an additional 300mg at bed time if needed, and 1 or 2 tramacet for head ache pain when needed.
Mike
Hey, Rena! I get Acupuncture fairly regularly, and I find it helps moderately for spasticity and neuropathic pain. You may look into Gabapentin/Neurontin, too, like DV takes. I just hate the idea of taking one more med (grrr), when acupuncture is harmless. It can't hurt, and it may help!
Good luck!
Good luck!
I am not real sure girl! I haven't been told that I have lesions in my spinal cord and didn't know this is what caused the pain...you are just my personal walking dictionary girl! he he If I ever find an accupuncturist I will ask them this question. I am leery about this accupuncture thing though...how do I know that they know what they are doing? I am going to call Grant MacEwan College tomorrow where they train in accupuncture and see if they can refer me to someone.
Meg...are you on any anti-seizure meds or anti-depressants? These are the meds they apparently use for this sort of pain. I am on Tegretol 900mg/daily and Elavil/Amytriptyline 40mg daily. If you are not, you need to contact your Neuro and get some help honey. This pain is excrutiating and I know what you are going through. I hope you get some relief soon!
Lots of HUgs,
Rena
Meg...are you on any anti-seizure meds or anti-depressants? These are the meds they apparently use for this sort of pain. I am on Tegretol 900mg/daily and Elavil/Amytriptyline 40mg daily. If you are not, you need to contact your Neuro and get some help honey. This pain is excrutiating and I know what you are going through. I hope you get some relief soon!
Lots of HUgs,
Rena
I have the same pain in my feet and hands but I never get treated for it, let alone get acupuncture. It started in my feet and hands before I was dx and has got much worse. My whole body seems to hurt now especially upon wake up.
I actually just figured out what is was recently..I just wasn't sure if it was nerve pain.
meg
I actually just figured out what is was recently..I just wasn't sure if it was nerve pain.
meg
What is thought to be the mechanism responsible for neuropathic pain relief from acupuncture? This pain in MS is caused by MS lesions in the spinal cord which affects the nerve pathways for sensation that run through it. Acupuncture doesn't make these lesions heal...so how is relief for the pain caused by them accounted for?
Yeah I know honey...I kind of hope they don't compare notes...I don't want that bonehead involved in any of my care! hehe I will let you know if the accupuncture works for sure!
daisy...thanks for the words of encouragement...I will let everyone know if it works for me!
Hugs,
Rena
daisy...thanks for the words of encouragement...I will let everyone know if it works for me!
Hugs,
Rena
I have in the past had acupuncture for neuropathic pain and I found it excellent
I went once a week for almost two years until the pain went away totally.
While having the acupunture i found the relief from the day following the treatment.
I was very interested to read Lulu54's post about the spasticity i'll probably go back for more sessions to see if I get some relief from that.
you should certainly try it Rena best of luck with it
Tracy
I went once a week for almost two years until the pain went away totally.
While having the acupunture i found the relief from the day following the treatment.
I was very interested to read Lulu54's post about the spasticity i'll probably go back for more sessions to see if I get some relief from that.
you should certainly try it Rena best of luck with it
Tracy
interesting that he recommended acupuncture for this symptom; I asked my neuro about trying it for my pain and he said no, it won't help. I wonder if they ever compare notes? )
I'm on amitriptyline now 100mg and 3600mg gabapentin. Modest relief given the high dose but better than nothing. I had been 75mg on the ami but upped it to 100mg divided into 2 doses esch day. It is giving me a little more relief in the afternoon when the pain usually intensifies.
If you have any luck with the acupuncture please let us know! I am more than willing to try.
Cesamet or Sativex may also be options for you. For me they were too intoxicating but we're all different and you might have more luck than I did.
I'm on amitriptyline now 100mg and 3600mg gabapentin. Modest relief given the high dose but better than nothing. I had been 75mg on the ami but upped it to 100mg divided into 2 doses esch day. It is giving me a little more relief in the afternoon when the pain usually intensifies.
If you have any luck with the acupuncture please let us know! I am more than willing to try.
Cesamet or Sativex may also be options for you. For me they were too intoxicating but we're all different and you might have more luck than I did.
Thanks Lulu...I will give it a try and see what happens and I will let you know my results of course!
Lots of Hugs,
Rena
Lots of Hugs,
Rena
I find the spasticity is better almost immediately. I try to go back regularly for more treatments but here we have to pay to tx. Give it a try again and see if it helps this time.
hugs, L
hugs, L
Hey lady! Thanks for getting back to me girl!
I really didn't know what this pain was but I figured it HAD to do with the STUPID MS!! he he I tried it back in 2007 when I first got really sick with the ice pick and all the TN pain and had the neuro that didn't know what the heck he was doing. It didn't do anything for my TN pain but it was students doing the procedure too so I don't know if that was a problem or not. I have put in a request for an accupuncturist that my Neuro told me about and am just waiting for a reply. I am think that if there is any chance it will help even a little would be a big help.
How long were you being treated before you noticed a difference?
Rena
I really didn't know what this pain was but I figured it HAD to do with the STUPID MS!! he he I tried it back in 2007 when I first got really sick with the ice pick and all the TN pain and had the neuro that didn't know what the heck he was doing. It didn't do anything for my TN pain but it was students doing the procedure too so I don't know if that was a problem or not. I have put in a request for an accupuncturist that my Neuro told me about and am just waiting for a reply. I am think that if there is any chance it will help even a little would be a big help.
How long were you being treated before you noticed a difference?
Rena
Come on Rena,forget the flip=flops and just go barefoot! The snow banks will numb your feet to the point you can't feel anything. LOL
Seriously, I go for acupuncture and appreciate that it works for me, but I don't have neuropathic pain. I am sorry you have this new problem - don't hesitate to think outside the box and try something new, Who knows, it might be perfect for you. And the needles really don't hurt - promise!
Seriously, I go for acupuncture and appreciate that it works for me, but I don't have neuropathic pain. I am sorry you have this new problem - don't hesitate to think outside the box and try something new, Who knows, it might be perfect for you. And the needles really don't hurt - promise!
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Whenever trying out a new treatment, one should do their homework in order to make an informed decision about whether it's right for them and worth thre risk involved, however minimal. Just because a treatment is deemed 'natural', 'homeopathic', 'complementary', etc. does not guarantee it is without risk.
Here's an excerpt from Mayo on possible risks of acupuncture:
Acupuncture Risks
by Mayo Clinic staff
The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner. Possible side effects and complications include:
Soreness, bleeding or bruising at the needle sites
Internal organ injury, particularly to the lungs, if the needles are pushed in too deeply
Infectious disease, such as hepatitis, contracted from reused needles
Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture or for particular types of acupuncture. Conditions that may increase your risks of complications include:
Bleeding disorders. Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needles increases if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin).
Having a pacemaker. Some types of acupuncture involve applying mild electrical pulses to the needles, which can interfere with a pacemaker's operation.
Being pregnant. Some types of acupuncture have been known to stimulate labor, which could result in a premature delivery.
And here's a thread from the Neurology forum on this topic:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Complementary-Medicine/acupuncture-causing-nerve-pain-damage/show/991000
Caveat emptor.