pins n needles

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sticher

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This is a good news moment! I've posted off and on over the years here. I've riden the hydrocodone pony too many times. I have been to rehab in the past. And just like everyone, I thought I was soooo done with this crap.

Last Noveraber, I hurt my shoulder--and NOT that bad. And old Mr. Addict reared his head. And before I knew it, I was back on the damn drug. The shoulder pain was long gone, but I kept getting the hydro's--Everytime I would start to get off, I'd start WD's and drug brain would say, "just one more day."

I was ready to go to detox--as much as I HATED that place. 2 days ago I started talking to someone about accupuncture--and a light went on. I went in yesterday. He's a REAL Chinese accupunctuist. He has worked in US hospitals for several years. I wasn't sure if he totally understood what I was talking about. I was asking for help getting through the WD phase. I know I should just be able to gut it out and get through the WD, but it's been 3 months and I haven't been able to get the job done.

We talked about the symptoms I get with WD: aching, insomnia, diarrhea, cold sweats, severe depression, runny eyes and nose, yawning. He had me lie down on his couch. I lost count the # of needles. And yeah, it sort of hurt. Some of them fired off a whole series of other nerves. Then he hooked up a current to about 8 of the needles. He said, "Relax for about 15 minutes." The needles pulsed--and that was sort of uncomfortable. Aftward, he came in and did accupressure, and pressed and twisted the crap out of my neck and back. He said I needed 10 treatments--3 per week. He charged me $600 for the 10 treatments.

I left thinking, I've spent way more for much less. I didn't feel much of anything. 24 hours later--I cannot believe this! I've already passed the 24 hour smack down. And I feel better than I have in years! I have energy. I feel happy. I feel clear headed. And I have no desire to drug up.

I'm still sceptical. I will get through this. But man! If I can fell like this while I get through WD's I am totally smiling!
 
That is great! So glad you are feeling so good right now! I hope it keeps up for you. I tried acupuncture for abotu 6 sessions when they could not figure out what was wrong with my stomach and it didn't really do anything but in the end I needed my gallbladder out so why would it of?

I think this is very good information however, I hope it does not make it easier to relapse because the pain at the end of the tunnel is not there! You take care of yourself!

I am so glad you have taken action to get off the meRAB again! GOOD FOR YOU!
I'm Secrets, Nice to meet you!
 
Saturday update:

I went for the accupunture treatment on Friday. I the time I went on Friday I was feeling pretty crappy. I was aching, depressed, runny nose. I told the doc, and he said, "maybe you need to come every day!" Then he laughed, so I don't know if he was serious, but the way I felt, I was ready for every day.

The second treatment was similiar, but not exactly the same as the 1st. He put the needles in different places moslty in the hanRAB feet and head. I'm sorry, but some of them HURT LIKE HELL--going in, and the nerves they fired after they were in.

Someone was concerned that if this was too easy I would forgoe the "suffering" phase of getting of the hydros. Well, I'm suffering--just in a different way. I have 2 treatments done and 8 to go. This is not something I would look forward to going through again.

Oh, back to how I feel: Right after the treatment, I still felt like CRAP, achey, runny nose, DEPRESSED. I didn't sleep well Friday. Woke up alot, restless. I took Melatonin and tylenol.

Saturday morning, I popped up rested, no aches, no depression. I had to work this morning. I was able to work, stay pretty perky with some stress stuff. It's now 24 hrs since the last treat ment--1/2 and 1/2 first 12 hrs, I felt crappy. The 2nd 12 hrs I feel great. After the 1st treatment I crashed at about 24 hrs. I have the next treatment scheduled for Mon.
 
Monday update:
I'm day 5 from my last hydro. And day 5 following my 1st accupuncture treatment. I have another treatment scheduled today.

My withdrawal symptoms are managable right now. I feel somewhat low. I still have a mild runny nose. I'm a bit achy.

My using drive is the biggest challenge right now. I wanted to use last night--not because of withdrawal symptoms. But I wanted to use to get nurab. There were no stress issues at the time, but I just felt that drive to use. (I have never used the term get "high" becuase for me it is more to get "nurab.")

I have fought this last battle for 3 months. Before I started the accupouncture, I would stop, then start again because I couldn't stand the WD's. Now I'm recognizing, I really was using to get nurab.

As I've read other posts with people with chronic pain, I feel kind of small. I don't have any "physical" pain issues. So if I don't use, it's not like viscious back pain comes rwoing back. I use to get nurab. And those emotional reasons to get nurab on the surface don't look that bad. I have a great family. A dream job. Good frienRAB. All my bills are paid. Hmmmmm....
 
Hi stitcher!! I am glad that something is helping, even if that help is spotty! I think it would be nothing short of a miracle to have no w\d symptoms. We all do what we can to get through it. I took loaRAB of advil, hot baths, etc..soo if what you're doing helps, go for it. ;)
 
Heya Sticher

Good for you!

I have become a real believer in practicing Eastern and Western medicine. I have not tried acupunture as yet, but am considering it for some pain issues I have. I am willing to try most alternative practices in lieu of narcotics! If acupuncture and accupressure can help relieve some of the tension and anxiety that goes along with withdrawals, then that's a good thing. The symptoms of withdrawal make many of us fall prey to the lure of the drug again.

Work on changing the thinking about drugs as you heal from them. Wising you lots and lots of good results.

reach
 
I've heard good things about acupuncture treatments and although I didn't do it during my w/d's, I probably should have. I'm thinking about looking into it for the nerve pain that I have left over from my injury to see if it will relieve it.

Please keep us informed how it goes!!!
 
I'm day 10 after the last hydrocodone. I have had 5 accupunture treatments.Right now I feel pretty good. I don't feel any of the bad withdrawal symptoms: aching, cold sweats, yawning, tearing, severe drepression, anxiety, diarrhea, malaise. My desire to use is low. I'm sleeping pretty good.

So how did the accupuncture help? I don't know what it accually did. I did have bad days during the WD, but the needles did seem to level off the worst of it. I think it helped mostly with the achiness and sleeping. It also gave me something to hold on to. I knew I was seeing the accupuncurist every other day. After each treatment, I felt like I could hold on one more day.

Unfortunately, I someone who has detoxed several times. I done cold turkey. I've been to detox/rehab in-patient. The accupuncture was another approach. The bottom line is, there is no easy way to detox. This last time (AND I DO MEAN LAST!!!!! TIME) I kept trying to cold turkey it. I couldn't shake it. I was just about to go in patient. And I struck on the accupuncture. As I said, it wasn't "easy" it was just a different approach. At this point I'm happy with the results. Now the plan is to STAY on the clean side.
 
Update:
I go for my last acupunture treatment on Wednesday. I have been clean since April 1. I was desperate for some help in getting off they hydros. I kept thinking I could just quit, but it didn't work. I don't know and I don't care what effect acupncture had. Maybe it just kept me focused. Maybe it did something to my ying and yang. All I know is I tried for over 3 months to get clean, and the needles helped.
 
Update on the needles: I had the 1st treatment Wed. at noon. (I had the last hydros about 18 hrs before the treatment.) The next 24 hrs after the treatment I felt better than I have in years--no lie. I felt full of energy, optomistic, enthusiastic.

Yesterday--Thursday at 4 pm, things started to fall apart a bit. I was feeling some depression. I wanted to use. I was feeling a little achey. Last night I tood some Melatonin to help sleep. I didn't sleep real well. My legs ached. I took Tylenol--didn't help much.

Today, Friday morning. Slight runny nose. Mild depression. A little bit discouraged. I have another accupuncture treatment today at 1 pm. I give you an up date after the needles.
 
Thanks for the update - Something that we may have learned here of a new C/T treatment.

I'm now considering acupuncture for the pain in my arm and lower back after hearing how it helped you.
 
Hey Sticher,

That is GREAT news! So glad to hear you are doing well. Acupuncture helped my husband with his back when he tried it a couple years ago! I have heard it has helped people in many many ways! I would suggest anyone with chronic pain at least give it a shot!

Keep us posted! Your information will probably help a lot of people.

Hang in there! You can do this!
 
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