Acupuncture: Small risks versus no benefit

[cali]

34. I have type II CRPS

CRPS RSD is ranked as the most painful form of chronic pain that exists today by the McGill Pain Index.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS, formerly known as RSD or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is a progressive disease of the Autonomic Nervous System, and more specifically, the Sympathetic Nervous System. The pain is characterized as constant, extremely intense, and out of proportion to the original injury. The pain is typically accompanied by swelling, skin changes, extreme sensitivity, and can often be debilitating. It usually affects one or more of the four limbs but can occur in any part of the body and in over 70% of the victims it spreads to additional areas.

http://www.rsdhope.org/

(I don't know about out of proportion to the original injury; I still have nightmare about pull myself up the dirt road with my tibia having ruptured the skin, to get help)

In any case, I've tried an enormous array of therapies from sympathetic nerve blocks in the spinal column, to fentanyl patches, morphine, lyrica, gabapentin, percocet, physical therapy, etc. And I have found acupuncture to help some. No, it's not a cure, but it does provide me with some relief- more than the nerve blocks and it's not painful and intrusive.