I had acupuncture in the early stages of my TM to help with pain and to
improve the function of my intestines (the nurse practitioner at the rehab
hospital was astounded at my progress when I had my 1 1/2 year follow up
visit).
Now, at 5 1/2 years, I just started a new round of acupuncture to try and
speed and improve the slow healing that's still taking place. I'm
especially hoping that the acupuncture will help with my ability to sweat,
so I can be as active as possible without worry or danger and try to get
more fit. I am sweating lightly in my knees now. I also notice that each
week after my treatment I have some interesting new feelings, like weird
feelings in my right leg or left leg, etc., so it seems like the nerve is
waking up or changing somehow. Last week after my chiropractic treatment,
my left leg felt like it would if it was having chills, but the weather was
in the sixties or seventies, so the nerves are definitely doing something.
Acupuncture is not usually very painful, with the needles usually feeling
achy for a few seconds or moments when first applied. With
hypersensitivity, however, the pain can be heightened, although it still
usually lasts only a few seconds or moments, for me at least. My
treatments range from 20 to 45 minutes, so most of the time is just spent
relaxing on the treatment table after the needles have been applied and
quit hurting. It's not like shot needles at all, because the needles are
so fine that they're felt more at the treatment point as an ache than at
the entry point as a needle entering the skin, and the punctures seldom
bleed.
I highly recommend finding a very skilled acupuncturist for TM folks, since
we're more of a challenge than someone with a back ache or sinus problems.
You might also look at tai chi or chi gong as a complementary activity.
Some other folks on the list have also tried acupuncture. It would be
interesting to hear how they feel the needles and what their outcomes have
been.
I'm still improving at 5 1/2 years, so you should definitely expect a lot
more improvement with your husband's case.
Aurore
ableck(AT)nas.edu