A relative was getting acupuncture at the Mayo Clinic and there was a plan for returning for more sessions for a set of time. Results did not last more than a day or so but if you are in constant pain that may feel like heaven for that day.
No herbal pills were given.
Some acupuncturists will tell you it takes time to see results. Or, to build up the effect over multi treatments. I basically think that’s both possible and fair. But of course, one doesn’t know if any particular treatment plan will work until they get far enough into it.
@lookingforward yeah that makes perfect sense. It was the same when I started with my chiropractor. But it just seems strange to me that I was left with “you can make another appointment if you want.”
Snowball, I am looking into going to one of those pain clinics (Johns Hopkins has one too) over the summer while I’m out of classes and “just” preliming (reading for prelim exams). I think I can even get support from my department to help cover costs.
I agree that was odd.
A pain management clinic is a good idea. Some are so cutting edge. You don’t always need to travel far, but it would be good if some choices are particularly familiar with your full syndrome.
Gentle hugs.
Yes, there should be a plan. I think a good acupuncturist is trained to would know how many times and how often. My initial plan was 7 visits. Once a week (do that twice), then skip a week. Then skip 2 weeks (do that twice), then 3 weeks…etc. until no pain. I asked for once a week 3 times and every 2 weeks 3 times. Obviously, pain management is tweaked per user. I felt better after 3 visits, and no pain at the end. You can’t go once, then go back in 3 weeks. What a quack yours was.
A good one will also tell you if they can help you or not. I asked mine about tinnitus, and she says no. Ask yours if they have ever worked on someone with your pain.
http://www.naturalhealers.com/acupuncture/acupuncture-licensure/
It’s interesting to read the different requirements in different states. Your experience may vary as an acuin one state will possibly have had a lot more education and hands on learning. Also testing requirements and licensing varies.
I have a good friend who went back to school at 38 to become an acupuncturist. She spent 4 years studying. Her coursework also consisted of hard science classes in addition to her Chinese medicine classes. She studied her butt off. She also was required to have clinical hours and to pass a state of Ca license exam which she said was extremely difficult. She also took another exam to be licensed in other states. I remember her telling me that one of her classmates was moving to a state that had no exam requirement.
I think like any field you find good and bad practices. In my area we have a lot of acupuncture practices to choose from. Where my friend settled there are so many acupuncturists that she drives 45 minutes to another town for work.
I have had her work on me for my sinuses. I wasn’t so sure about it but I gave it a try. I felt my sinuses drain as I laid on the table. I have also had her work on me for my chronic UTI. I have a friend with Psoriasis arthritis who has found some pain relief through acupuncture. She had to try a few different people. The first one she went to was through an orthopedic MD. The acupuncturist only left the needles in for a short while and my friend felt it didn’t help. She found an independent practitioner and that person spent more time with her. She was able to reduce her dependence on pain meds.
I would suggest asking around and finding someone who is recommended. Granted I live in a state where Acupuncture is not seen as out there but just another part of the health care system.
@romanigypsyeyes I hope you find something that works for you. My sister has battled RA and other autoimmune diseases for 30 years. She struggled in her early years of the disease. Due to better drug options she had a lot of years of good mobility and less pain. Unfortunately the last couple of years she has struggled with increased pain and it has severely htaken a toll on her quality of life.
Thanks, lf, conmama, and mom60.
The only thing that sucks is that my insurance won’t cover acupuncture (at ALL). But I am willing to pay decent money if I get even some relief.
I’ll start asking around once classes are done in a few weeks and I have more time to devote to this.
Thank you all for your support 
Definitely, that guy is a dud. I hope you find someone who is more effective.
That Mayo Clinic video was very enlightening. I may send it to a couple of friends of mine, one of whom has lupus, and the other fibromyalgia.
Adding another update: I am going to try and go a different route and try massage therapy. I have a consultation and massage next Thursday with a massage therapist who has (so she says) worked with individuals with connective tissue disorders before.
She was highly recommended by a friend (who is also chronically ill but not with lupus etc) so we’ll see. I have the names of a few others in the area if I don’t click with this one.
Stay tuned.
H likes physical therapy and massage by his physical therapist for his chronic pain issues. It’s especially nice that between Medicare and insurance all costs for this is covered!
He’s good about doing the exercises his PT demonstrates between sessions. That also helps a lot.
Unfortunately this isn’t covered at all by my insurance (I really do have great insurance so I can’t complain that they don’t cover this) but I’m more than willing to pay OOP if it works.
H has his covered as PT that was ordered by his physiatrist. We are pleasantly surprised it is covered, as we would willingly pay for his pain relief. It’s a part of his physical therapy.
The physiatrist has been prescribing PT for various parts of H’s body for a few years now. He gets the max allowed for the year, takes a break when benefits run out and then starts again when insurance covers again.
The physiatrist and PT seem to have figured out how to code things. They’ve worked on his knee, back, shoulder and now back and shoulder again.
We have offered to pay, but have been pleased it is covered by insurance and Medicare.
@romanigypsyeyes…like HImom’s H I was also able to get massage covered by insurance through my physical therapist for back and shoulder pain. Worth a try!
I agree that it’s worth trying to get it ordered by your physiatrist or other MD. I think if the practitioner is a participating and preferred PT, the PT knows how to code it to be covered. It is worth asking, especially if you end up with LOTS of sessions. H has gone to over 60 sessions over the years.
Because of the area I’m in, this place is very used to people with my insurance (through U of M). They said people had tried several times to get the massages and/or chiro covered with no luck. It’s literally about the one thing my insurance won’t cover.
If I like her though and decide to go this route, then I’ll try going through my rheum for a referral.
@romanigypsyeyes - I am so sorry you have to deal with this! You are so young to have so much pain!!! I have not read through this whole thread so forgive me if I am repeating any conversations. My Mom has dealt with debilitating back pain from severe arthritis for years now. She is now 90 but has tried everything under the sun- acupuncture, yoga, electronic stimulator, every drug out there, etc., etc.- I could go on and on. Different things worked a little bit at various times, but recently nothing has been helping and she was in pain all of the time. I finally suggested that we look at cannabis derivatives. We talked to her GP and her pain specialist, and both were fully supportive. We did the whole thing on-line and decided on cannabidiol hemp oil, or CBD hemp oil. CBD hemp oil is made from high-CBD, low-THC hemp, and is non-psychoactive. This product has worked wonders for her. After experimenting with dosages, we have settled on about 3-4 drops that we add to a few ounces of 7-Up in the morning and at night. There have been no side effects and her pain has been controlled more than at any time in the recent past. The only time she has had extreme pain has been when she was recently admitted to the hospital for an unrelated illness, and they refused to administer it. She is sleeping through the night for the first time in years, and is fully alert during the day with little pain. I know this may not be for everyone and that there are many different form of cannabis available for pain control. It is just one more thing to consider.
@romanigypsyeyes - if you like the massage therapist you might see if they offer a reduced rate if you buy a package of multiple massages.
Another thought is I know several people who have swear by being massaged with a cannabis cream.
^^^My Mom has also used the cannabis lotion in conjunction with the CBD oil and felt that it was beneficial also.
I agree that they may have package rates if you can’t get insurer to help with the cost of treatments. I was pleasantly surprised how many treatments H has received that are 109% covered.
Seeing what relief he gets, is not hesitate to work out something with provider to continue if insurance coverage ends.
Glad to read that THC may be another option for pain relief. We do have medical MJ approved in HI, so that may become an option.
@romanigypsyeyes - my SIL is a licensed acupuncturist and pain relief is one of her specialties. This is certainly a viable option for you.
If your insurance doesn’t cover massage or PT, look into covering the treatment from the Health FSA, or negotiating cash rates.