Has anyone found a alternative therapy work. i.e. Reflexology, acupuncture, reikie or even pysio. After six years with PMR i am willing to try anything.
angelone2: Has anyone found a alternative... - PMRGCAuk
angelone2
Written by
angelone2
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
•
CelticPMRGCAuk volunteer
Angelone2, I only tried one of the therapies you mentioned and that was some physio to tackle lingering upper arm and shoulder-blade pain when on the very low steroid doses. I was lucky to find a physio at our local community centre who understood PMR and the need for a gentle approach (the usual manual physiotherapy techniques are contraindicated in PMR). He used gentle massage, heat treatment and ultrasound on the knots he could feel in my shoulder blade area, and I found just a few sessions dealt with the problem.
I also joined an 8-week Nordic walking class run by Age UK once into the lower steroid doses and was amazed how much it helped to restore my balance (probably affected by many months spent in bed during my year of non-diagnosis). One of the teachers told me that she had a member in another class who had joined due to osteoporosis following which further scans had revealed improvements in her bone density. A plus for anyone at risk of steroid-induced osteoporosis.
I also took up Tai Chi when I was still on a fairly high steroid dose and at the stage where I still couldn't raise my arms very far. I used to sit down during the early classes if back or leg pain intervened. But it was such a revelation when I suddenly found that my arms were raising higher and higher at each Tai Chi session. Again, this class took place at my local community centre.
I have experienced Reflexology before and after PMR/GCA - I can't see that it would have any effect on PMR itself but the relaxation involved could help with general wellbeing.
I'm sure others will be along with their experiences of acupuncture etc.
Thank you for your very helpful advice, I am on a list for physio so maybe that will help. As to walking it takes me all my time just to walk around my flat but will enquire if Age UK have anything similar in my area.
I have tried both acupuncture and Bowen and they both worked for me very well. I've tried some of the more 'far out' therapies - Reiki, crystals, aromatherapy, etc - but I think I must be too 'far in' for them to work. I got no benefit from them. I know heat treatment plus gentle massage works very well.
I think you have to try them to see. We are all individuals and what has worked for me may not work for someone else. I would suggest you pass by any kind of vigorous massage, though. Before I was diagnosed I went for a deep Swedish massage and it landed me in bed for almost a week. My poor PMR muscles didn't like it at all and gave me the flare to end all flares, although I didn't know at the time what it was. I do now!
Like polkadotcom I derived a lot of benefit from Bowen therapy. I haven't had the opportunity to try acupuncture - but Bowen therapy does work indirectly on trigger points that coincide with acupuncture.
The problems encountered with heavy duty massage are because it often releases cytokines from these trigger points - the same substances that actually cause the pain and stiffness in PMR, just concentrated in the trigger points - and that causes something akin to a flare. I find the longer term effect is good so I accept the couple of days of feeling bad.
But as has been said - we are all different and you have to try and find what suits you. The very esoteric stuff (Reiki and angels for example) went over my head too.
I have tried acupuncture twice and have found improved mobility for a few days after it and then back to square one. I have not asked if the benefits will improve, I will at the next session and will let you know
Hi angelone2. I have had PMR for a couple of years now and for the last 8 months l have been having reflexology once a month and back neck and shoulders massage in-between. The massage can only be a light relaxing massage not a deep massage (the lady who does this for me read up about pmr before she could do it) but l feel that relaxing and switching off for an hour helps me. I have had a good summer and managed to get down on my steroids very slowly to 5mg (admittedly l have just had a flair up and am now on 8mg so l am going to stay there a while) This routine has suited me and helped me l hope you can find something that suits you.
Hi, I have been having acupuncture fortnightly since spring this year, and am steadily improving with regard to pain and movement, the best improvements seem to come after the needles have caused nerve pain while in place or during removal, obviously stimulating something! It is quite expensive and I have only my state pension, but I feel it is worth it to get some quality of life back! I am thinking of trying Bowen therapy after reading some of the comments on this site as I still have a lot of pain in the neck and shoulder area.
Cherry
I had four sessions of acupuncture but as the treatment room was at the top of a flight of stairs, I found it too distressing to climb them. I also found it too expensive it should be on the NHS.
It is available on the NHS,but only couple of sessions and so not that beneficial, I found it took at least 4 before improvement was really noticeable. Can you find one that is not upstairs! Glad to say I can now get up stairs, not yet running up them like I used to but it was certainly acupuncture which improved mobility and pain in my legs. I pay about £60 a month and although it is a struggle I don't want to risk slipping back to the nightmare of untreated pmr! Very best wishes,
Cherry
Thanks Cherry I will mention to my doctor and take it from there
