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PMR - Is anyone using Homeopathy treatment rather than steroids?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Healingjan
Healingjan

Hi,  I was diagnosed with PMR 2 1/2 years ago.  I wanted to avoid the permanent side effects of steroids, and chose homeopathy.  I would say I'm 85% improved and would like to hear of any others who have avoided steroid treatment.

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • denise____84544
    denise____84544 Healingjan

    Posted

    Hi,  I have ankylosing spondylitis and have started on using homeopathy to help fight severe inflammationin spine and peripheral joints.  I have to cut down on pain medications so giving homeopathy a try.  So far my pain has lessened - not completely but a good improvement.  Hope it works for you.  Best wishes.
    • Healingjan
      Healingjan denise____84544

      Posted

      Hi Denise,

      I hope the homeopathy does work for you!  I have learned that there are different types of homeopathy, those who prescribe for the condition, and then those who are 'classically trained' who diagnose your type and prescribe based on extensive information about you.  In the latter, the remedy for one person with AS may be completely different than the remedy for another person with the same condition.  My homeopathic physician (who is also an MD) is classically trained.  Another homeopathic physician I had seen for a while was not, and my symptoms did not improve with her treatment.  My symptoms have lessened by about 85% and some days, like today, I barely feel them.  My remedy aims at strengthening my own immune system so it can heal my muscular pain and inflammation.

      I have also employed many other kinds of non-drug treatments, including myofascial trigger point release therapy and relaxation techniques.  Everything helps. 

      Very best to you!

       

    • denise____84544
      denise____84544 Healingjan

      Posted

      Hallo there!  Thankyou for the reply.  Im really happy that the homeopathic treatment you are having is working for you.  My pain levels have lowered somewhat so now I am starting to take less pain medication - I have been on high doses of tramadol for over 2 years now so to take less is a good thing. I still have my more painful days so I use the TENS unit and heat pad especially when Im at work - that seems to get me through the days.  Relaxation techniques certainly help as well.  I will look into myofascial  therapy as well - sounds interesting.  Thankyou for your help. Best wishes!
  • ricky37347
    ricky37347 Healingjan

    Posted

    Hi I was diagnosed with pmr in march after 3 months of blood tests etc l was put on steroids for three weeks in march and l was much improved .Scince then I have not had any treatment of any sort I do get pain in my arms and hands but nothing I cant live with . I am 61 and retired so l can take things easy when I need to .if I had a flare up and symptoms return I would go back togp with a lot more knowledge that I have learnt from others on this forumbut at the moment I will carry on with hope and no steroids
    • denise76179
      denise76179 ricky37347

      Posted

      Hi ricky.  Can you tell me what strength steroids you were given for the 3 weeks - I find this quite interesting as my mother was on and off steroids for gca pmr and heamolyptic aneamia - usual doses.  Then one Dr gave her massive amounts for 2 weeks only (75mg) and it seemed to solve the problem - she has had no more problems with anything and it improving every day she is 88+.  Even her mind is getting heaps better and we sure thought the steroids had done some damage there,, What was your experience
    • ricky37347
      ricky37347 denise76179

      Posted

      HiI was given 30g each day for 1 week 20 gr each day for second week 10gr aday for third week by second week I had gone from not being able to get of sofa to no pain and walking properly instead of shuffling ahout after third week my legs were better but it had, spread down tomy hands which is where iam today lhave no problem walking just abit of pain in arms but I would rather put up with ablt of pain than go on long term steroids .best wishes
    • Healingjan
      Healingjan ricky37347

      Posted

      Hi Ricky,

      So glad you didn't have to do long-term steroids.  Fom what I read, they shut down your adrenal glands within 2 weeks of beginning treatment and it's hard to get them started again.  They are a major player in the immune system.

      One of the providers I've been helped by is a D.O., or osteopathic physician.  She uses hands-on osteopathy (also called 'ten finger' osteopathy) and for my arms and hands, she had me do something called a 'contrast bath' which is to put your hands into alternating icy water and then very warm water.  There are websites which explain how to do it and YouTube has several versions.  My massage therapist has also been great for releasing pain in my shoulders, arms and hands, as well as my myofascial therapist.

      Be well!

       

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy Healingjan

    Posted

    I met someone on Monday who had PMR, she had visited a homeopath, towards the end of her appointment the homeopath admitted that he also had PMR and guess what, he was taking steroids! 
    • Light
      Light ptolemy

      Posted

      Hmmm.... good one!

      Always remember alternatives works for some people some of the time. Never dismiss them completely.

      If some people feel strongly about it and have the patience to wait, great to try alternatives first!

      The homepath would obviously have experimented with his own treatment first.

    • Healingjan
      Healingjan ptolemy

      Posted

      HI Ptolemy,

      Please read my reply to Denise 84544 above.  There are many kinds of practice of homeopathy.  My doc would be appalled; she believes that allopathic (regular - not homeopathy) medicine is not well equipped to heal chronic or long term diseases and has seen these respond well to homeopathy. 

      I'm not a risk taker and chose to do homeopathy, which has NO bad side effects, rather than take the 50-50 chance of getting a chronic, permanent side effect such as diabetes or cataracts with steroids. These statistics were quoted in a French research paper here:

      Drugs & Aging 1998 Aug; 13 (2): 109-118

      1170-229X/98/0008-0109/

  • denise____84544
    denise____84544 Healingjan

    Posted

    Just read the latest comments again - I was on Methotrexate for 1 year which really helped ease the pain in my peripheral joints and feet - unfortunately I ended up in hospital with double pneumonia for 2 weeks in a critical condition.  Drs were scratching their heads as I hadnt had a cold or flu and no cough whatsoever.  Heart Lung Specialist and rheumo concluded I had a uncommon lung toxicity reaction to the methotrexate and this was stopped.  I nearly died so there was no way the drs were going to put me back on it - Im also allergic to prednisone (go figure!) so they couldnt treat me with that one.  Hence the suggestion from my dr to try homeopathy.  My drs brother is a gastroenterologist in Australia and treats and lectures in homeopathy as well.  Hence my step again into homeopathy (I used it years ago for my kids when little and it worked well for them).  So crossing fingers and toes!
    • Healingjan
      Healingjan denise____84544

      Posted

      Denise, I am so glad you survived methotrexate.  One major reason I refused steroids is because my dear sister-in-law was treated with Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis; it wrecked her immune system and she contracted pneumonia and died.  Too late to help her, they thought to send her to water therapy and she was getting a lot of relief, then got sick.  Why don't docs try all the non-harmful methods to relieve pain before reaching for the prescription pad!
    • Light
      Light Healingjan

      Posted

      It's a tricky balance...

      MTX is designed to 'wreck' your immune system if you've got RA because RA is the result of an overactive immune system that is attacking your own body and thus needs to be brought under control.

      Of course it's not supposed to actually wreck it.

      What we RA sufferers on MTX and/or steroids have to do is steer very clear of sick or contaminated people, because we do have a compromised immune system.

      I'd be very interested to know what dosage your sister-in-law was taking and for how long... possibly something you don't know, but if you can find out, I'd be very grateful...

      As to why docs don't try alternatives first...

      The trouble is they're completely different departments of the healing industry. So, very different trainings.

      And since alternatives usually take much longer to bring on a response and have a poor track record of success for most illnesses, it's understandable that any overworked and underfunded NHS medic – or any doctor, for that matter – would do what works more reliably and more quickly.

      The other side of that story, of course, is that after 6 or 8 years of rigorous and expensive training, they are usually reluctant to admit that there's anything their expertise along with drugs from the pharmaceutical industry can't tackle... Or that there might be something you can grow in your garden that would work as well.

      Having said that... my own homeopath, a very gifted healer by several accounts, was not able to save his own mother with RA, who died under his watch.

      I still don't know the official cause of death...but he did admit to me in all honesty that he had been unable to heal her and would quite likely be unable to heal me.

      Please do share your sis-in-law's dosage if you could...

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