Acupuncture and PMR

You might be interested to know that my husband has been invited to a seminar/workshop in South Korea in September (hence my visit then!) with a scientific group who believe they have found a third circulation, i.e. in addition to blood and lymph, which responds to acupuncture and want his advice on further measurements to confirm it. He is very down to earth about alternative medicine so I am very much looking forward to what we find out then as the proceedings are to be published as part of a reputable series and I will be involved in that work.

Often it is possible to be referred for acupuncture by your GP as many physio departments have trained practitioners. It doesn't hurt to ask.

And about your \"bio-energy healer\": a psychiatrist who blogs was rather disgusted by an article he'd found where someone in the States was referred to a psychiatrist (she had quite serious mental issues) and had her first assessment by the office's energy healer! To make it worse, she was later assured she wouldn't need ever to see this person again - so the most important part of developing a relationship with a psychiatrist, the pouring out of your unbared soul, had been done to someone not qualified in the field who would not be there to interpret their comments at a later stage!! I echo MrsK's comment on her post elsewhere \"I don't believe it!\" Whatever the state of the NHS we haven't got there yet.

So glad you're feeling better though - and how funny, it's walking slowly and standing that I find worst. Not that walking quickly is an option!

EileenH

I was interested in your acupuncture report as it is something I intend to try at a later date I did start reading about the adrenal glands a while ago ( when I was on a lower dosesage !!) as it said accupuncture could kick start the adrenal glands Now I am on a higher doseage again I have left it alone

I do intend to try it at a later date but I will discuss it with my Doctor first

Have been doing quite a bit in my field this weekend Cleaning the stables and yard ( now spring seems to be here to stay) I am very happy with a hose and lots of disinfectant !! So I am hoping I havent done too much

Off to lunch with friends now so at least I will be sitting resting then Enjoy the spring sunshine !!

Love Mrs G

I'm so pleased that you appear to have discovered some pain relief by way of Acupuncture. In fact, just a few days ago I was talking to a lovely lady (MsK) I met up in London following the Charity launch, and she mentioned that she, too, is finding relief from this treatment. I have often wondered about it and did mention it to my rheumatologist at the outset of my treatment but he was quite negative about it. However, you and Mrs G have today re-aroused my interest, particularly Mrs G mentioning that she had heard it could kick-start the adrenals and as I'm struggling on 2mgs I might raise this with my GP and see what reaction I get from him.

When you referred to the problems you encounter with slow walking and standing, I do so know what you mean and if that problem didn't appear following your last Acupuncture session, then that sounds very encouraging indeed.

Glorious sunshine here today again and do hope it's the same for everyone and that you're having a comfortable and happy weekend.

MrsO

I've had pmr for almost 3 years now, previously 100 percent healthy, so I was devastated by this.  I have tried everything under the sun and nothing worked until I tried accupuncture.  It definitely works for me.  I see a huge difference in my pain level.  It's crucial to find the right one though.  I've tried two others.  The needles were painful and I didn't see any change, maybe more energy but still in pain.  The woman I have found now is great.  She combines the treatment with Chinese Herbs.  I also take 4 Zyflammend tablets a day.  I tried Zyflammend in the past with not much of a difference but doubled the dose on recommendation of the woman at the health food store. 

I can't have the accupuncture treatments often because of the expense, but when I go I feel much better.  This Monday I limped into the office, could barely get up on the table, and hours later I was already better.  She told me that if I went twice a week for three or four weeks, I could turn this thing around. I tend to believe her. Unfortunately, I don't have the money for that but I do have sustained relief after treatments which has helped me lower my prednisone intake. 

I was having trouble weaning off prednisone, stuck at 4 mgs.  At my rheumatologist visit a couple of months ago,  she asked if I was ready to go down a mg and I said no.  I was in too much pain already.  She's been urging me to take Plaquenil but I don't want to add one more toxic drug to my system so I refused, to her displeasure I might add.    That day I went directly from her office to the accupuncturist and two hours later I was seeing a huge improvement.  I probably went from a pain level of 8 to 4 that day.  After feeling good for a few days, I dropped down on the meds and did fine.

I'm currently down to 2.5mg.  What also seems to work for me is decreasing the dosage by half a mg. instead of a whole mg.  It's a more gradual taper.  When I was first diagnosed, the dr had me on a fast taper.  I ended up starting on 15 all over again three months later.  A friend told me that her father was a pharmacist and recommended a half mg taper to get off a drug like this so I tried it and it seems to be working.  Maybe the body is less affected and doesn't notice that sneaky little change.

So in a nutshell, a gradual taper, good accupuncturist and supplements has worked for me in this long struggle.  If you try a practicioner and see no results, try another one.  Best of luck.