Acupuncture definitely helped me with pain control. More importantly,
acupuncture and Chinese herbs helped my intestines regain function, so
that I am totally off softeners and laxatives. My bowel function is not
wonderful like before TM, but acceptable (and still getting better
slowly).
Chi gong helped enormously with my balance and range of motion. I always
had a positive attitude and believed I would be OK again, walking, etc.
(I wasn't struck completely motionless in 4 hours, though, like some
folks--I was able to walk a few feet with a nurse on either side or with
a walker, and my TM came on over a period of two weeks.) Meditation
definitely helped with pain management, particularly for the girdle
effect I have around my rib cage.
I am excited about trying a new series of acupuncture treatments,
especially since I still see very slow progress and improvement--I want
to facilitate that improvement. I also plan to step up my exercise and
strength building as soon as I finish my thesis (in a month).
One luxury I haven't had is stress reduction. I have a stressful job and
have been working full-time (except for six months when I was on
temporary disability in 1992 with the initial onset of TM) and working on
my master's degree the last three years (but I don't have a
family/husband to take care of).
So what's the Bowen Technique? What's Magnatherapy? My acupuncturist
has some kind of magnetic pads on the treatment tables--at least I think
they're magnetic.
Aurore
================
Aurore,
I have not tried acupuncture yet have you had any positive results with
it ?. I am currently trying 'Bowen Technique' and Magnatherapy, along with
conventional physiotherapy and Osteopathy. It's a little early in process
and with so many things going on I may find it hard to attribute any
success to any one part of my overall treatment. All of these are physical
but how much of the problem can be beaten with positive attitude, Yoga,
stress reduction, diet changes and mediation ? I think that they key
probably does not lie with one thing or one treatment, more an overall
combined approach. I have only been diagnosed with TM for a few months and
am just recovering after my second attack. What is clear is that the
severity of symptoms and range of symptoms is large and what may work for
some and not for others. My attacks seem mild in comparison to some of
those I have read about in this forum, but just communicating with people
who have some understanding of how I feel has in itself been instrumental
in raising my spirits so thank you all !!
Please let me know how you get on.....
Giles Moriarty
(gilesandjo(AT)MSN.com)
----------
From: Aurore Bleck
Sent: 24 March 1997 15:00
To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
Cc: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
Subject: Re: reply to Giles
Giles,
I'm definitely interested in alternative therapies. I found another
chiropractor (mine is ill) and started treatments again, and the pain in
my left leg is much better. I don't believe that regeneration/healing
stops at 18 months--to the contrary, I believe that nerve tissue heals
for the most part very slowly, over a long period of time.
I'm trying to start a new course of acupuncture on my spinal cord, but
over the last several weeks, the doctor's had to treat me for colds and
fall injuries instead. Soon.
FYI, for guy problems--acupuncture can sometimes reroute and/or
strengthen nerve function, so it might be a good possibility for
treatment of sexual function, especially for the two cases of partial
functionality described lately.
Aurore
ableck(AT)nas.edu