accupuncture for pain?

[mkh9]

Has anyone had luck with Accupuncture and pain management?
thx,
mkh9

[mkh9]

Hi and glad to hear from you. Yes, the integrative medicine doctor (who uses a combination of alternative medicine and standard medicine) who says I have myofascial pain syndrome.I have pain my my left buttock, feels like a trigger point probably, and muscle pain in my left leg and foot. I also have a couple of muscle knots in my shoulder blades and one under the chin (CT scan was negative). I  was surprised about accupuncture having the pain drop to zero from a 6. I was going to give up on it and didn't really believe in it although some say that it has worked for them but my doctor insisted I stay with it. I hurt myself (a smaller tweek which increased the pain after for about two weeks) but then I went to back to accupunture and the first time after being reinjured I just felt relaxed and then the next time I had less pain the next day. I am going today and see how it goes. I am on a muscle relaxer (Flexeril) and a plant based NSAID called Limbrel 500 and AvoSoy which is what it sounds like avacado/soy extract and a mega dose of fish oil. These latter two are to lube the joints. The Limbrel doesn't give me direct pain relief and the flexril doesn't really work much anymore but it helps me sleep and when I'm reinjured with the flare ups. Note that Limbrel 500 is very expensive as the insurance won't pay for it (it is considered a prescription food that is FDA approved for osteoarthritis). I get it at Costco for $50.00 but riteaid charges 300.00. Costco says that it is on the medicare list so they don't charge the normal $120.00 that it would cost. I don't think Accupunture is the final main treatment but if you can knock out some of the cell signaling that causes the pain that is the goal. Then I will probably start up myofascial massage. I hope this helps.
Mkh9

[Tuckamore]

Thank you for updating us. WOW, amazing that you obtained total pain relief ...even if it did not last forever...the time period was significant!  That should bring hope to many members.

May I ask what area of your body has the pain and the type of pain you are treating?

Again thanks for the update. I am so happy for you.

Peace,
~Tuck

[mkh9]

Hi I just got back on this site after a long hiatus. I have now been to accupunture for about 8 visits. I did 5 and was going to give up then they accidently gave me another person which had a different technique and my pain went from a 6 to a 0. I was amazed. The next day the pain was lower and then it came back. The next time I went to her the pain went away again and then the next day it was better and the day after that I had pain in the morning and then it dropped to 0 in the middle of the day then went back up later. I then reinjured myself ( this small type of injury happens every 3 weeks or so from a minor twist or wrong movement). So I was back to square one again and I started the accupunture over again. So, we'll see how it goes. I hope for you by now you have tried it a few times. It is expensive but it is supposed to break the pain signal for me as I have higher pain every other day. So i wanted to re-write to you to check on you but also to suggest hanging in for 5 or 6 times. Let me know how your doing. I'm trying biofeed back next week too just to see if I can relax my muscles since I have myofascial pain.
take care,
mkh9

[peekawho]

The therapist I found is around $80 first visit, $55 subsequent visits.  I'm going to likely give it 3-5 visits.  As with most things you try, you should know after a few visits if it's worthwhile.

[opus88]

yes I agree with Tuck, I've been going off and on for 4 yrs....sometimes it was as much as once a week, but than there were also long 4-6 months lapses at times too....for me it was for DDD and the nerve damage resulting in pain and numbness in my legs. I think its always worth a try depending on what you are trying to accomplish with the treatments, for me the pain relief was minimal and lasted only for a few days to maybe a week. but than maybe its also prevented this condition from becoming alot worse over the past 4 years too?
There is also a huge difference in the skill of each practitioner too, but it will not hurt and may help...good luck♥