Hello.....I have a number of problems and ME (CFS & FM) are among them. Years ago I tried dry needling for my FM...I had no relief whatsoever. I also had trigger point injections with the same result.
I've had at least 3-4 (I've been sick for well over 35 yrs., one forgets how many attempts were made) rounds of acupressure. The full onslaught where I did everything possible for the entire length of treatment. I had no relief from that even though each practitioner worked overtime and didn't make one cent on my spine. I've also not had success with TENS machines or infrared therapy. I have discovered this: The more my body is worked on, the worse off I am.
Cupping had the same result....nothing. However, having said that I would encourage any one who wants to, to try any of the above methods. You never know what will work.
The best help has been gabapentin or later, lyrica. That reduced my pain levels considerably. However, since I still had the well-know burning nerve pain, I also went on fentanyl. I was on it for probably 4-5 yrs. I was fortunate in that I never had problems stopping the use of it, but I would take vacations anyway...just had to prove that I could manage without it. I reduced it slowly...please don't ever go off any opioid quickly.
I'm no longer on fentanyl but it must have done something b/c my pain levels are not at the same screech they were before I was on it. The difference? I don't know, but I know that either a compound cream prescribed by my neurologist or even Aspercreme (buy the 4% Lidocaine roll-on) are enough to hold me, with the nightly use of 800 mg. of ibuprofen. More than that, I'll have tinnitus. I may have to put on more during the night, but it's a small price to pay considering where I began. The pain never left...and it was always that dreadful burning pain that indicates nerve damage.
I can't stay up longer than 10-12 hrs. because my back won't support me for longer than that and the pain returns. We have a mechanical bed (much like a hospital bed) and we'll watch TV during the evening. I'll often read for 3 hrs. or so after that. Interestingly enough I have had problems with insomnia for almost the entire time I've been ill. The usual ME sleep in the early beginning made me tired, but was totally unrefreshing. Not really sleep even...I could repeat every word being said in the room. Then followed years of insomnia.
Oddly enough I've been getting better sleep in the past 2 mos. than in all the years of my illnesses. I recently read where lidocaine can make one sleep. So whether that's part of the answer or not, I couldn't say, but I do want to pass it along to you. Like I said, different things work for different people. I hope you'll find some relief as soon as possible. Certainly faster than I did. Yours, Lenora. P.S. Myofascial pain is caused by the so-called skin under the skin known as fascia. If you look that up, you'll find a whole description of what the fascia is and it's part in pain.
