In February I was desperate to try anything that might help my EM, so I gave acupuncture a shot. I was very reluctant about the process, but I found an amazing acupuncturist who used to be a registered nurse. She met with me for an hour before my first session to learn about EM and other health problems.
After the first session I left a lot more relaxed, but I still felt the heat in my feet and hands. Fast forward to 2 sessions later and I saw real progress. I just had my 5th session and my EM is practically nonexistent. I only get flares when I shower or overexert myself. I am able to do normal activities with no flares. It feels like a miracle.
I know not everyone will experience the same results, but I think it is worth a shot.
I am so happy for you thisgirlsonfire! That is such good news!! I have never tried acupuncture for this or anything else for that matter. I have always been afraid of needles. Not so much anymore with the regular pokes i get from my doctors now a days. I have heard that it can help with circulation so if your EM is caused by a response to a condition causing poor circulation I could definitely see how it could. Obviously it won't help everyone but it is an option I don't see discussed much. Thank you so much for sharing your great news with us.
Hello - glad to hear acupuncture has helped you. I have thought about having it and wondered if you have to be flaring or if feet or hands can be in a more “normal” mode when procedure is done. Thanks
Jay
I have only ever had acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis pain and got no help at all with it. I had quite a few sessions and he was a good bloke actually did lectures on it. However, this EM is quite different so it might be worth a go. One thing for sure it can't do any harm!
WOW! I am thrilled for you :). Bless you , bless you , you have had such an arduous struggle to reach this point <3
What type of acupuncture is it- Chinese? Have you got a body map of the meridians and sites she needles you might be able to share with us? Was it burning(smoking) or dry needling? Is your EM mostly localised to feet? Sorry, but I have so many questions for you lol!. A friend of mine (EM'er) has just told me that she has started a similar treatment in USA for localised EM (feet) and feeling really hopeful.
Whilst the mechanism of action in acupuncture remains speculative,wih no evidence on acupuncture's use in EM. Researchers are closer to understanding how an acupuncture needle can subtly adjust the body's tissues, nerves, and hormones. The NIH and World Health Organization have both given formal approval of certain uses of acupuncture. Moreover pretty significant that positive effects are reported for its use in rheumatics and neuropathies such as RA, PN. I know many of us shy away from the very thought of needling but it may :
(1) Improve nerve conduction. SFN implicated in around 40% of EM'ers, so it really might be worth consideration.
(2) Improve the circulation and smooth flow of energy (Chi). Nerve tissues of the affected area are nourished to repair the nerve functions and reduce pain.
(3) Release endorphins, the pleasure-inducing, painkilling chemicals that saturate the brain and numb pain signals.
(4) Improve and maintain balance of various body elements by intercepting and unblocking e.g. Chi - flow of energy.
Whether it has physical or just psychological effects, who cares!!!!!!!!!!
Its helping you and my American friend. I , for one, would love to hear and learn more about this.
hank you for sharing. Your fantastic news has really uplifted me today. Yay!!!!!!
This has given me hope as well, so thanks for sharing it, thisgirlsonfire. Until I read about this I was beginning to think that I would have to suffer with this for the rest of my life as no drugs have any effect. Many years ago not the one I last mentioned I knew a bloke who practised and was qualified in Chinese medicine. It wasn't his main employment but he was good. My dad had a really bad back and he did the Chinese trick of walking on it and it was amazing the difference it made to my dad.
Thank you everyone! I don't know if it will work for all of us with EM, but it is definitely worth it to try and see. I know many of us are scared of needles, but they are SO small. With the right acupuncturist, you barely notice the needles.
@mads... thank you so much! You are always so positive and a blessing to hear from. It is Chinese acupuncture with dry needles. I will ask my acupuncturist at my next appointment if she can draw sites she administers the needles to. I do know she said when I first started that my liver meridian was very poor. It has gotten a lot better over the past few visits. She also sticks needles in the palm of my hands, which I can seriously feel the heat lift out of them (I have EM in my feet and hands).
I think the key is to find the right acupuncturist who will take the time to read about EM and listen to any of your other health problems.
I would love to hear from others who may have tried this and seen continued improved results!
I'm so curious to know if you've had continued success with acupuncture treatments. I so hopeful for you and others that might find relief from this treatment. I had an initial consultation with a good acupuncturist and she thinks she can help me. I have my fist session in about 1 1/2 weeks.
I am still experiencing very reduced flares since my acupuncture treatments have started. I truly believe my body is starting to heal and is more effective than any medicines I have tried.
Hi papermoon, I am still doing acupuncture and still find it to be extremely helpful. It’s great for helping reduce my anxiety/stress, which is a huge cause of my flares. I still experience flares, but they are not as severe or last as long. If you haven’t given it a try, I would highly recommend it! I would advise trying to find an acupuncturist that is willing to learn about EM and will work with you to find out how they can best help you.
Hello,
I’m wondering if you are still doing acupuncture? Can you give me more information about the actual treatment? I have had 3 now and I feel like it was making my feet worse. They started looking different, very purple and reacting to the cold more and turning white more often which has lead to terrible flares. Are they treating the anxiety or other? Where are the the needles going in and are they hooking them to a estim machine as well? I’m just wondering if they got worse before they got better? Any extra information would be very helpful. Thanks
Yes, this is exactly what has been happening. But did the acupuncture provoke this to happen more often? This is why I’m wanting to know more about the original posters acupuncturist protocol.
A 2014 review in Nature Reviews Cancer found that “contrary to the claimed mechanism of redirecting the flow of qi through meridians, researchers usually find that it generally does not matter where the needles are inserted, how often (that is, no dose-response effect is observed), or even if needles are actually inserted. In other words, ‘sham’ or ‘placebo’ acupuncture generally produces the same effects as ‘real’ acupuncture and, in some cases, does better.”
