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Fibromyalgia and Accupuncture?

Posted , 6 users are following.

alys97833
alys97833

Hi I am new to this forum but have found reading similar stories to mine very supportive. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around a month ago after having symptoms for about 6 months and i have mainly been taking zapain and amitriptyline, although i have stopped the zapains since my diagnosis except for especially bad headaches.

I am wondering about anyones experiences with accupuncture and if it has helped any of their symptoms?? And also how long the effects lasted and whether it is quite expensive or not?

There is a chartered or registered chinese medicine place in town I am thinking of going to as it has good online reviews.

Any help, advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, alys.

2 likes, 41 replies

41 Replies

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  • kaz_40
    kaz_40 alys97833

    Posted

    where I live in shropshire england we get 12 weeks free acupuncture and also hydrotherapy at our local hospital for so many weeks. as ke your gp what help you can get free, before paying out for anything. massages may help you also that you would have to pay for hope Ive helped you a bit do some research on line about fibro. gentle hug x take care 
  • kaz_40
    kaz_40 alys97833

    Posted

    with most things its trial and error as to what works and what doesnt. most treatments can be on going, and if your having to pay for the treatment it can be very costly. find out if our entitled to anything for free our nhs allows acupuncture free for 12 weeks, and our local hospital hydrotherapy for so many weeks. find out all you can from your gp.
  • valerie826
    valerie826 alys97833

    Posted

    Hi Alys:

    I just found this forum, which the gals R Awesome !!! Anyway, I had acupuncture awhile back & there was an initial consult fee & the average fee I believe was $180 a session. However, at my acupuncturist she did a package deal. I would ring around & ask. As far as did it help Yes for a period if time. She also worked on my anxiety attacks & sleep disturbance. They help, but again it only lasted me about a few months...Remember they R in it for $$$. But if U got it, I would suggest to try, she taught how to relax & relieve stress on several sessions.

    Well, I hope I help a bit...Good Success & keep us gals posted.

    Smiles & Giggles,

    Valerie826

  • Maggers
    Maggers alys97833

    Posted

    Hi,  Not tried the chinese route but have tried hypnotherapy and am really pleased with the results. I can't take any of the medications prescribed by the consultant/gp due to the side effects so sought alternatives. I take supplements recommended by a physio specialising in fibro.    As said in other replies it is finding that something whatever it may be that works for you. As much as fibro is individual to each of us the combinations of treatments that work are different for us all.  Good luck in the quest for pain relief and keep us posted.
  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 alys97833

    Posted

    Hi Alys;  I have tried acupuncture, but as they insert the needles into our already "upset" nerves.....it ACTUALLY made my FIBROMYALGIA (nerve pains)  a LOT worse....and had to ask the practioner to remove the needles..as I JUST couldn't take it any longer, and NO, it did nothing for me...just more pain....and I know this practioner is good, as he is part of the clinic that I go to for my physio, and he is a lovely man...very caring....as we say, we are all different, but from me, I wouldn't try that path again, sorry...............Bron
    • loxie
      loxie bronwyn97278

      Posted

      I went for a first acupuncture consultation/treatment on Saturday just gone.  Coincidentally the acupuncturist said it was important to tell her if any of my symptoms were related to fibromyalgia as she stated she has to treat those of her patients with fibro very differently and did say that some acupuncture methods she would normally use actually make fibro worse.  She spent a long while asking pertinent questions before doing any treatment.  When she did being treatment I was lying on my back and not watching and after a while wondered what she was doing as nothing seemed to be happening.  I lifted my head and looked down my body and was totally shocked to see I looked like a porcupine with needles all down the side and in my head too - hadnt felt a thing at all!  Not feeling much different following the treatment but I guess one isnt enough to know really if its effective or not.  Not in any extra pain so at least it hasnt made it any worse, which I guess is a good sign.
    • loxie
      loxie

      Posted

      sorry - typo - that should read 'begin treatment' - not concentrating i guess sad
    • kaz_40
      kaz_40 loxie

      Posted

      Hi loxie I didnt feel anything when I had my acupuncture but I did come out in bruises, I went  a few times but it didnt work for me its trial error on most things hun we can but try diferent things gentle hugs take care let us know how things go with it 
    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 loxie

      Posted

      Hi Loxie; thankyou for that....sounds very different to my experience.....and very pleased that your Acupuncturist seemed to know that there is a difference.....the person whom I tried didn't ask any questions re Fibro....but to give him credit, I hadn't had my official diagnosis at time.....also my needles went into back....it will be interesting to see how your treatment/s go.....if successful, we may all like to trial, as I'm open to anything that helps.........thankyou again....xxBron
    • loxie
      loxie kaz_40

      Posted

      very true Kaz.  Theyre very expensive treatments, £50 a time and recommended at once a week, which really is way out of my budget.  I'll go for one more and if there's no noticeable effect I'm afraid I'll have to give up.  I forgot to mention acupuncture to my doctor last appointment, as I believe some health trusts will offer a short course on the NHS - she was rushing me so much and not actually listening that I didnt get to say half the stuff I wanted, even though I wrote it all down sad
    • kaz_40
      kaz_40 loxie

      Posted

      Our nhs where I live offer it for 12 weeks also our local hospital offers hydrotherapy for so many weeks. its not on your gp rushing you like that, what I do is write down everything I want to say to her then go through the list haha when I get their. Im lucky my gp never rushes me she sits their and listens she never ever rushes her patients. before now Ive handed the paper to her with what Ive wrote down. give her the paper let her read it for herself thats what Ive started to do gentle hugs thinking of you here for you
    • kaz_40
      kaz_40 loxie

      Posted

      I dont think theirs many things that do work for us I agree with you give it another go but if you dont feel any benefit dont waste your money let me know how thursday goes I will be thinking of you gentle hugs x
  • kaz_40
    kaz_40 alys97833

    Posted

    I tried acupuncture it didnt work for me either but what doesnt work for one person may work for another. its trial error its a case of trying things and seeing what works for you and what doesnt. we are all different as to what suits us and what doesnt. take care gentle hugs x
  • alys97833
    alys97833

    Posted

    Hi, thank you all so much for all your helpful replies, I'm afraid I completely forgot that I had posted my question until I checked my emails, then turns out Id forgotten my password so had to change that too, *sigh* I'm pretty sure you all know what I'm talking about  though ay!! haha,

    It such a shame that accupuncture hasn't been very helpful to the majority of people, it seems. As everyone has mentioned though it is trial and error but at least now I'm not going there with overly high hopes huh.

    And thanks! hydrotherapy is a great idea, I hadn't thought of hydrotherapy, that definately seems worth a try.

    Also my close friend is a qualified massouse so I'll hopefully be able to try a massage from her a bit cheaper than normal, which is always helpful innit,

    I am thinking of stopping the amitriptyline that I am taking as Iv kept going up and up in dose and am now taking 75mg but I really don't think its helping very much, it takes the edge off I think but no one wants to taking tablets for ever do they and the side effects are getting worse. I think the none pharmaceutical is definately the way forward and Im going to ask my dr at my appointment this week about referring me for some accupuncture and if there is hydrotherapy locally.

    Also does anyone find physiotherapy helpful? Its been mentioned I think, has everyone been referred there straight away? My dr has just seemed to want to just prescribe me medication thus far to be honest, but I'm going to definately ask for a referral somewhere now though.

    Thanks so so much every one for being so helpful and supportive, I didn't really expect any replies to be honest but Im really very grateful for the advise. Its really good to know your not alone!! Thanks everyone, I'll try to remember to keep you posted, gentle hugs all round x x x x

    • kaz_40
      kaz_40 alys97833

      Posted

      Hi I had a physiotherapist come out to help me with my mobilty as I had spent 6 months in bed unable to walk and very ill. he came out a few times and gave me exercises to do and got me up walking again but he told me my mobility wouldnt get any better and that was it. he got me some walking aids walking frame walking stick and left me to it. my mobility has got worse I have to use a wheel chair now. but all of us are different what works for one person may not work for another. its trial error on so many things with fibro. I would love to try a massage when I feel up to it and see if that helps any. try different things and see what works for you take care gentle hugs
    • kaz_40
      kaz_40 alys97833

      Posted

      Hi how are you doing have you tried acupuncture yet, let us know how you get on if you. Im thinking of trying a massage see how I get on with that take care gentle hugs
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