I did this video the other day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tE9MekfvII

I've been doing the cupping for almost seven months now, and still no major flares. I'm not pain-free but this helps a lot.

Here's a new video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h_NrAJdBn8

It was a nice run though. This sucks.

Sorry to hear that. Have you figured out a cause?

I think I just pushed things too much. I got a little bit too confident. Also, when I haven't had a flare in a while, I start to forget how painful it can be, and I get a little bit more careless. I figure a flare always sets my progress back close to a month.

I've been using these cups for nine months already? I didn't think it was that long. I'm glad I have these threads on here so I can check my facts before I make a video. Time goes by so fast.

I've been doing the vacuum cupping for close to a year now, and I still get really dark purple marks in some places. Mainly on the front side of my shoulders. A girl that seemed to know a lot about Chinese medicine, commented on one of my cupping videos, and wondered if I might have some kind of circulation, or blood stagnation problem. She didn't think the marks should be so dark purple after this long. Who knows?

I've been cupping for a couple of years now and I think it's very useful in helping to decompress the muscles, decrease pain, and increase mobility. This, combined with joint mobility exercises and self-myofascial release have helped me tremendously in the last 5 years. After more than 30 years with TOS, improvements come very slowly and require a lot of work and patience.

My PT has been using the Chinese cupping technique to help free up my fascia and I always bruise like crazy afterward. She said that one of the theories is that it's the toxins in the system from the inflammation and chronic pain being drawn out of the muscles. I'll try to remember to ask her next time if it's supposed to lighten up over time. I know some of mine have, but the really bad sore areas still turn crazy dark every time. If definitely helps though, as long as I don't overdo it with too much pressure. If it can keep some of that pain away, I think it's worth a few funky looking bruises!

The front side of my shoulders still bruise from cupping but the back side of me doesn't. I think it's because my chest and front of my shoulders are still somewhat compressed. Although it's not as bad as it used to be. I agree, it's worth the purple marks!