Hello everyone,
My first post here.
I have had a LOT of acupuncture in the past year. This was for a traffic accident I had in Aug 2007. The acupuncture helped with tightened muscles and pain relief and allowed me to do the physio exercises . I usually almost fell asleep during the treatments. Most treatments lasted about 45mins to an hour as I prefer a longer session and do get a Lot of benefit. I hadn't particularly noticed , except once maybe any "feel good' pickup. Once I had to rest for a couple of hours in a chair outside, and I know in the beginning I actually felt worsened in pain level for a couple of days..this lessened gradually during the 3 weeks post treatment.
I did have about 7 to 10 days daily sessions most;ly over about 4 periods in 2008. My last time, in January 2009 I really noticed a pickup, and muscle soreness and ability to move my neck and shoulders has greatly improved as has my memory and ability to type :-)
I have been meaning for quite some time to have a good look at LDN. Well I started yesterday and reading of all the improvements that LDN has made to those with MS, got me thinking. I too have experienced similar improvements over the years but without ldn. I had put my improvements down to a regimen of B1, B6 , B12 with balanced multivits , other supplements,as well as thyroid hormones for hashimotos.
I was wondering whether the acupuncture providing the relief was due to an increase in my bodies endorphins..in a similar way to ldn.
This posts makes me believe it did.
Apologies for this post being "muddled". My thinking is still not "clear".
My history is hashimotos /hypothyroid level diagnosed Aug 2001, but not just hypothyroid.. more an autoimmune disorder with "symptoms similar to a low level MS" I'm assuming but without the brain plaques.. MRI only showed "vague white patches". Ting was these symptoms only started about 3 days after starting thyroid replacement meds!
Both TPO and TG antibodies found, but no other autoimmune diseases on tests. Also experienced symptoms similar to Raynaulds over the years.. now gone. I had put a lot of improvement down to "chance" or perhaps the regimen of supplements I was taking. I do think partly the B1 injections did help as if I go off for a time, I feel fatigued and need to recommence.
I just felt a great lift in pain, fatigue , ability to move, better urine muscular control , better able to exercise, walk, better balance especially since this last lot of acupuncture. Every session of about 7 acupuncture sessions over a bit over a week in the past year, I have noticed an improvement.
I still have some osteoitis in the jawbone around my root canal which is why my root canal didn't settle and my root is being reabsorbed due to this.. but its been drilled out again and new antibiotics inserted. It looks like my body is still has a bit low immune system and it is definitely worsened by stress.
Trying to go a a medicolegal doc for the insurance was enough to put my health way down..everything went giddy, loss of balance and ability to dance, getting out of chair difficulties etc.. that was last June. Now its' all back to normal. 'Compared to many others I am fairly lucky if it was something like MS but at present I'm fairly confused as to whether there is just an overall "autoimmune disorder" which presents with similar symptoms.
my other biggy since the accident was a constipation with the low back pain (and originally abdomen pain in intestines as well).. also helped by acupuncture for lower back/perhaps sciatic nerve and trigger points. I'm unsure if this is also something autoimmune? but its picked up with the acupuncture
Tight muscles.. I was clenching my fists when asleep and awaking like a rigid board on my back with arms down by side and clenched fists for the fist 6 months or so.. no longer :-)
Sorry again, I guess I'm just trying to say I think the acupuncture was a great help with the improvement and after reading on ldn raising endorphins and improvements with MS like symptoms, I felt perhaps this was similar to how acupuncture also worked?
My thyroid has now almost vanished, my CRP levels are low, I haven't had a recent antibody tests but I no longer "feel " they are high..and the tests results were high when I "felt" like they were over the years:-)
Just wondering, and I think this post helps confirm what I was wondering
Jan