I have not been on in awhile, so hello to all and Happy New Year. Well it has been just over a year since my first surgery, and still have some issues, but finally seeing some real progress. My meds for MS have been changed, which my ms symptoms included muscle tension, great for TOS. I continue to take gabapentin, which ms patients are given for the muscle problems as well as TOS for pain. They also put me on cymbalta which has also helped greatly. I did find a new acupuncturist who is absolutely amazing. It is not your traditional acupuncture, where you sit there with a bunch a needles for 20-30 minutes several times over weeks. This guys is a MD and he used a total of 6 needles for maybe 2-3 minutes and all these little bandaids with little pieces of metal. I walked out of his office feeling so much better in November and I have a follow up next week. I also started see a new massage therapist, who also does isolation stretching. I have seen her three times since early December and have had great results. For the first time since this whole TOS started, I have had no numbness and tingling in my left arm and hand. My family and friends have noticed such an improvement in me, and I am able to do so much more. I do overdo it some days, which is just my nature, but overall it has been such a great few months. I still don't work, but last week I went to a dinner function from my former job as a police officer and really enjoyed seeing the guys I worked with for 18 years. I was treated so well and it was the first time I seen some of the guys in almost 2 years. I have finally taken back my life and on the road to the new me!!

Happy New year and happy for you!

That is great news !!

[ little bandaids with little pieces of metal]
I wonder if those were little magnets?

I used magnetic wrist bands when my wrists were really bad from RSI's.

I don't believe they were magnets. I thought he said they were all different types of metal and sizes. I go back on the 18th and will ask. He had me leave those on overnight and remove them first thing in the morning.

Great news. I am glad things are looking up for you. When you see the accupuncture Dr., can you please ask him if there is anyone in Califronia who does that and what is it called. Thanks so much.

Its great that it is helping you-

Is your Dr. on this list?
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/index.html
This is an Organization called AAMA which are Medical Dr's that do acupuncture.Is what your Dr does called Dry Needling? My GP is on the list and he has never mentioned doing acupuncture to me, but I am going to ask him when I see him.

I have had something like that done by an acupuncturist. it is like a little metal stud which prolongs the acupuncture.

Yes he was on the list, but so was my first acupuncturist.

Hi brmr,

You said you have been going to a massage therapist, and just wanted to ask how you chose that masseuse? I had bilateral rib resection surgeries in Feb and May of last year, and my back/neck are so tight its painful. My surgeon does not want to give me muscle relaxers because I'm already on Gabapentin and struggling to stay awake as it is. I have been trying ice and heat but it doesn't relieve the tension for the long term. I'm am hesitant to go to any masseuse - I have come so far and its been a long haul. I don't want something to get worse again.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks!

ladylaura, I have had massages for years and have tried numerous therapists but stopped several years ago. Recently I began a search for the new therapist and specifically looked for a therapist that included active isolating stretching with trigger point therapy. I happened to find one that is fantastic. She uses all types of techniques and was familiar with TOS. I called several in my area and questioned them prior to making my first appointment. I guess that I have been lucky finding a great one.

So good to hear from you again. Cymbalta was great for me (after I got over the initial side effects), I was so disappointed to have to discontinue it due to tachycardia and hypertension. I have to stay at a very low dose of Pamelor due to the same issues.

The acupuncturist at UC Irvine uses these "bandaids". I was told they are called acupuncture seeds or tacks.