I just saw an article on the major news regarding the use of alternative medicine being used more, and more by people seeking a way to control pain. I was wondering if anyone here, or someone they know of, has ever tried such things as acupuncture, meditation, etc. in our search to control the pain of PN.
I know that personally, I take Neurontin, Nortriptyline, and most days, and certainly at night, 1000mg of Tylenol, and even that doesn't conquer all. Some nights, the anxiety is too great to let the other meds work, and I have to resort to taking Xanax just to get to sleep. That works, but I definitely don't want that combination to be my daily ritual.

Anyone with any info on this, please drop us a line. Thanks:

I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).

I have tried and LOVED acupunture and chiropractic!!!!

It's the only thing that reduces my pain levels.... (I'm severely allergic to narcotic pain medicines)

I haven't done these for a while due to limited funds... but when I was having these done, I could actually feel my pain decreasing!! Relief would last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.... any amount of relief was heaven to me!

I highly recommend giving it a try.

Acupuncture doesn't hurt--at least I don't think it does... most times I didn't even feel the tiny needle going in.

While I was having chiropractic adjustments being done... I had better movement and it kept my joints from locking up.

I will try these again once I am in a better place financially.


Abbie

I always kind of pooh pooed acupuncture. How was sticking a few needles somewhere going to help anything? But let me tell you a little story about my 14 yo dog. He has severe spondylosis, a condition in his spine. He had gotten to the point where he couldn't get up by himself, was staggering when he did, and crashing into things. I was ready to put him down. I took him to a vet who does accupuncture. She did a brief exam, stuck 6 needles around his spine, and 2 in his shoulder. Three treatments later, he is a different dog! He still has a bit of trouble getting up, but his pain is soooo much less. He is more alert, moves more easily, just better overall.

I am convinced it works, seeing the results from him. I will be looking for someone to do it for me soon. I refuse to have a chrio touch my back, too much metal in there.

Can i ask how many mg's of Neurontin and Nortriptyline you take per day?

Also,do you take them at the same time or twice per day,etc?

Have you tried Lyrica yet?

Thx...

Many have tried and found these methods to be as mentioned earlier, relief on a temporary basis from a few hours to a day or so.
If you can afford the treatments 3-4 times a week for an indefinite period,
try it. I don't believe most med. ins.l covers much, if any of it. (acupuncture, re-builder, TENS therapy, etc)

I did biofeedback which I found helpful to relax,mental therapy,fluidtherapy, and saw a holistic doc with supplements. I am still thinking of doing HBOT. I too have rsd and pn. I was suggested by my current pain doc to do acupuncture and for myself I chose not to since I can't have anyone touch me. I was told by the acupuncture person that they don't have to put the needles in the area that hurts. So for ex with my condition it is legs but they could put it in my ears. She made it seem like it helps one to relax which in turns helps one to eat better,sleep better,in turn helps with pain. In the past not for this condition but have done meditation and guided imagery. That is very hard for me to relax and I think takes practice though I was trying to find something similar now.

I have used a meditative form of self-hypnoses, at times of stress and over exertion, to help regulate my rhythms and get me back to a resting state which, in turn, helps with pain control.
But I rely primarily on meds for 24/7 control of symptoms & pain,
on a regular basis.

I take Neurontin, 600 mg three times a day, morning, noon, and night. I take Metanx with my mornig Neurontin, and I take Nortriptyline HCL 25 mg at night with my Neurontin. I also take 1000 mg of Tylenol as needed to help with the other pain meds. If I am extremely agitated, I will also take a .5 mg Alprazolam (xanax) just to get rid of the anxiety. Thanks for the inquiry.

I am not sure if you are able to finance wise but could you try alternative methods? Before my rsd and pn I had severe anxiety and before I went to a psych 4 months ago again I really should of been in a psych ward. I was loosing my mind. Through the past 2 plus years of this my mom was pushing me to go back to a psych because of my mental state and I just felt if someone could fix my pain I would mentally be better.Well that was not happening even with the best specialist and treatments. So I finally went back and got on meds for the mental and let me tell you there is a huge difference. I am still anxious but no where near and I also have a better outlook even on my crying pain days and the fears around my health are better as well. So I really encourage people to have some kind of mental treatment. It won't take away the physical but does help with coping with it. Even my pain doc siad one can't be in pain for so long and it not effect you mentally.

how much tylenol???