Complimentary therapy

[ceedy]

Has anyone used any complimentary therapies and found them helpful. Saw consultant yesterday and he tells me all I can do is keep trying different medications until I find one that helps. Feeling a bit down today.

[Dinkie]

I use hypnotherapy when I can afford it. It's great for relaxation and helps me somewhat with the insomnia and pain. Took me a while to find a therapist I could trust and felt comfortable with.

[ceedy in reply to Dinkie]

Many thanks for your prompt reply, right now I’m willing to try anything. I don’t suppose you have ever tried amitriptyline, this is what consultant wanted to put me on but I’m not sure about it.

[Dinkie in reply to ceedy]

I can't take any prescription drugs - tried most of them available to us and I react badly to them all

[Mistrylady in reply to Dinkie]

Hi Dinky what kind of reactions do you have with the prescription drugs?

I am asking since for the past 4 yrs I can’t take any conventional medication.

Also was hypnotherapy recommended to you? Since I have been thinking about this therapy but just not done anything due to expenses x

[Dinkie in reply to Mistrylady]

All sorts of problems with the meds from crippling headaches, digestive issues to being completely spaced out (I can virtually have surgery on a pre-med!) Hypnotherapy wasn't recommended by anyone but I was so desperate I had to try something. It was worth every penny. The fact that I also had an hour to myself in a calm and relaxing atmosphere probably helped as much as the hypnotherapy.

[Mistrylady in reply to Dinkie]

Thank you Dinkie, I will look into hypnotherapy and hopefully find a therapist who I can trust x

[Tomyris in reply to ceedy]

Amytriptiline is great. Sorted me out no problem. Also helps me sleep, so I take it at night.

[ceedy in reply to Tomyris]

At last a positive reply. Thanks

[Lily39 in reply to Dinkie]

I have acupuncture every 2 weeks. makes pain more manageable.

[Bemoresquirrel]

Hi Ceedy, For the last couple of years, I’ve been using Brain Hacker Brain entrainment subliminal audio tracks, every day. They are a type of self hypnosis, but you can’t hear the words. I find them very helpful and have one playing through the night. The tracks are 99p each from Amazon. My favourite is Healing Relaxation, but I also have Deep Sleep Session, Headache & Migraine Session, Focus and Concentration Session, Pain Relief Session, Mood Booster Sessionand a couple of others. It’s not instant, but if you’re happy listening to it for hours on end, I find it really helps!

I’m also using Tisserand roller ball essential oils, such as Sleep Well, Calm and Mind Clear and using their diffuser oils too.

[ceedy in reply to Bemoresquirrel]

Got the Tisserand oil and audio tracks will be here later today. Thank you for the advice.

[Bemoresquirrel in reply to ceedy]

Excellent! I hope you find them as helpful as I do!

[phlebo123]

I find reflexology very relaxing, I wasn't sure if I would like it at first, because I have very ticklish feet! However, after a session I feel like I am very calm and feel like I am "glowing" all over. I tried acupuncture but I felt very ill afterwards, I also tried hypnotherapy but didn't seem to have much benefit. If you like warm water and swimming, then hydrotherapy is lovely, I think in some places your doctor can refer you for hydrotherapy sessions.

Of course, what helps one person may not necessarily help another and the price of many therapies can be expensive.

You also ask about amytryptilline, I tried it briefly, but woke up in the mornings feeling "like a zombie!" So didn't continue with it, but once again, everyone reacts differently.

Hope you find something that you get some benefit from.

[ceedy in reply to phlebo123]

Had thought of acupuncture but not sure about it now, think I will try reflexology first.

[mistymeana in reply to ceedy]

I was going to suggest reflexology too. I'm a qualified reflexologist and really benefitted from treatments while I was training. If you do decide to give it a go, I'd suggest checking for a local practitioner on the website of Association of Reflexologists (aor.org.uk) or Professional Reflexologists (professionalreflexology.org). They both only list practitioners who have done a full diploma course which includes 100 hours of practical treatments, independently assessed public clinics and written assignments/examinations. Practitioners also need to be insured to be listed. Unfortunately some people advertising as reflexologists have only done short courses. Good luck x

[Yogabear1 in reply to ceedy]

I have deep tissue massage therapy. Salt water hot tub everyday. Yoga daily. I take boswelia and curcumin tablets daily.

I don’t eat refined sugar at all or caffeine or alcohol. My pain is definitely less without sugar in my diet. Sugar is inflammation.

I still have good days and bad though. Mostly good so far.

Hope this helps.

[M0AL61 Moderator Volunteer]

I find a hot stone massage very helpful as it helps ease my pains and relaxes me and I sleep better. I also find reflexology does the same. If you can find a hot tub or Jacuzzi near you that also helps with aches and pains too. x

[ceedy in reply to M0AL61]

Not thought about this but will definitely look into it.

[Sailingtrio]

Hi, definitely worth trying. I keep aromatherapy oils burning; lavender at night; eucalyptus during the day. Semi regular massages (groupon good for cheap ones) , mindfulness. I love to see in the jacuzzi at the leisure centre—swimming is helpful for me..

I would do more if I had the funds.

Good luck; let us know how you get on.

[rosewine]

Hydrotherapy and acupuncture have both helped to take the edge off the pain for me.x

[reikilad]

Aromatherapy masaage, reiki, reflexology all really relaxing, acupuncture did nothing for me at all.

[Springyback]

After trying numerous medications I found meditation and reiki to be the ones that work for me , I started off with short guided meditations from my physio then I turned to you tube - 10 - 20 mins, tricky at first but after a bit I liked the relaxation bubble I felt in as with me the more tense/stressed I was the more pain I was in .

With reiki, I went for a few sessions then got attuned to reiki so I could self treat as I personally found it to be very beneficial & use it daily . X

[vivdk]

I have started meditation at a local Buddhist center. I am finding this a great help, I feel very calm and rested afterwards and making new friends. . You do not have to be Buddhist to go.

It may help.

I find the adult mindfulness colouring books really good as well.