I do Structural integration massage (Rolfing) http://www.treatmentmassage.com/structural-integration/benefits-of-structural-integration.html No negative issues for me from the massages.

I do Qigong and Tai Chi exercises and also go to a NAET healer http://www.naet.com/ While I can not say if it helps me more than positive attitude and some physical exercise. I enjoy it and it makes me feel good about being positive and trying unconventional as well as the conventional.

I receive Reiki, while at IV-Therapy. While I don't seem to experience any long-term benefit? I do experience short-term benefit: a healing, hands-on warmth.
Sometimes? When you have chronic pain? Even just a temporary, healing warmth, flowing into your diseased or injured body - well, it can be a wonderful, supplemental treatment.

Sidenote: evidently the Catholic Church takes a dim view of Reiki.
However? I don't see Reiki - as any different from the ''laying on of hands'' - that was seen in the early church, and is often seen today, in Charismatic Christian churches of many different denominations.
- Ross

My first MG symptom was double vision and a drooping eyelid. After the first acupuncture treatment, those symptoms went away for about 10 minutes. After the second acupuncture treatment, those symptoms went away for about four hours, after the third, eight hours, etc. After the sixth treatment those symptoms cleared up. I have been going once a week for four months, to prevent a reoccurrence. The acupuncturist said it would take up to six months to completely cure those symptoms. She puts electrical stim. on the needles in forehead and cheek above and below the eye. I do not have answers, just questions as to why it worked. Good luck, and keep us updated.

The last time I had a massage, pre diagnosis, two attendants had to assist me walking to the waiting room, my legs were so wobbly. I'm sure the therapist was thinking "wow, I gave a really great massage."
My reaction was similar every time, though not always as severe.
I responded well to reflexology but my feet seem hypersensitive to touch now and am reluctant to try again.

I find active rest, reading, watching t.v, time online, has minimal to no effect on reducing my symptoms where as conscious relaxation, meditation for me, appears to offer the greatest overall benefit in terms of positivity and relaxation.

I tried acupuncture one x recently and felt I was a little worse. I do want to keep trying as I would luv my eyes to be open for our sons wedding in Oct. I will see if I go again, maybe first part o Oct. My husband goes for his lower back and he has not had any pain since going. Just can't afford both of us going at same x.

Good luck
Annette

I am curious, too. I'd have to see some research evidence of efficacy before I would pay to receive needle pokes. It could work for some conditions and not others the way most of our treatments do.

Nothing more strikingly betrays the credulity of mankind than medicine. Quackery is a thing universal, and universally successful. In this case it becomes literally true that no imposition is too great for the credulity of men.
Henry David Thoreau.

Every so often the quack medicines and treatments are rolled out on this forum. There needs to be someone who reminds everyone that if they worked, those who practice them would be long gone from this forum, MG under control.

If you substitute these treatments for evidence based ones you will surely end up in crisis if MG is allowed to progress.

If you supplement them with evidence based medicine you may just waste money and slow your progress.

Whatever you try, make sure your real doctor knows what you are doing as it may mess up the treatment you are undergoing.

Having worked in medical research most of my life, I find the gullibility of people cannot be underestimated.

I found massage therapy helped my sore neck and shoulders. No deep massage and no heat. You need someone highly trained.

I also used acupuncture. It was relaxing and cleansing. She stated right off she could not cure my MG but would work to strengthen and cleanse my core.. I chose not use any herbal meds as I was away from my neuro at the time. I also took Qigong lessons. Again, you need someone highly trained.

I am no longer using massage and acupuncture because now I am back in my small town and don't have these resources available.

If you have the resources and time, complimentary medicines can sometimes help with pain and anxiety and help relieve some symptoms. Do your homework and find someone who is willing to research our disease first.

-sherry

Sometimes alternative therapies quit being alternative and become mainstream when research supports them, but sometimes the powerful pharmaceutical industry prevents this from happening, too. Black Elderberry, for instance, outperformed Tamiflu in double blind studies in Israel, China, and one other Western European country. I think we should keep studying to see what alternatives work and don't.

That said, I could not find any compelling studies when using the search terms acupuncture and double blind. In fact, I got a lot of defenses of acupuncture and how it was not easy to evaluate in double blind studies using, as it was called, sham acupuncture. The unwillingness to put it to the test did not lend credibility, but I also know I did not do an exhaustive search.

One thing not considered by those categorically condemning alternatives is that the mainstream therapies do not work for 20% of people here. If people are not getting relief, they are often up against a wall of medical professionals who are stumped and unrelieved symptoms, in which case, where are they supposed to go?

Anyone who does a lot if physical activity will find message therapists, PTs, and chiro's are goto necessities. I only get my legs worked on, and it has never created a problem.

Finally, every new treatment existed outside the mainstream treatments at one time, and the pharmaceutical industry seems no more trustworthy than the alternative medicine folks, though they are better in general at evidence based research.

Thank you for all the comments everybody. You've all been extremely helpful and I appreciate the opposing views because its important to see things from very angle. I am aware that if unconventional treatments worked well for everyone, they would be mainstream by now. That being said, I am in a point in my treatment of mg where I am simply waiting for things to help and it is very difficult for me to go everyday experiencing symptoms and not do anything about it but wait. Maybe it's because I haven't quite come to terms with my disease yet but I think it's important to exhaust every resource so I won't spend the rest of my life wondering if a particular treatment would've worked for me.

Exactly. It is difficult.

There are MD's in acupuncture that I am told are aware of treatment for MG.

I would have tried it, but my insurance wouldn't cover it.

If your insurance covers acupuncture, I say go for it!

I could have physical therapy or speech therapy covered, but chose not to. I think they are good for us...to aid us.


Massage...not so much as mentioned.

TJ

Hi Annie , I hope you had a fun Labor Day weekend . My wife goes to a Rheumatologist who is from Taiwan . She has told us that accupuncture is great IF you find the right one to do it. She actually recomended it to my wife for Rheumatoid Arthritis, but she or we haven't tried it . Hugs to you , Charlie

Hi Annie,

Many of the major hospitals have an integrative medicine dept., that offers acupuncture, massage, etc. At MGH acupuncture is used in the oncology dept for relief of symptoms caused by chemo and radiation. I have had great success with acupuncture when treating pain, headache, and neck ache, insomnia, fatigue, and overall stress. When I was recovering in MGH from surgery, I was able to have sessions to treat the pain. Unfortunately my insurance only covers 10 sessions a year. I think it is worth a try. Unlike traditional meds we take for mg, there are no long term health consequences. There are so few effective treatments and options for mg. I've also taken many mainstream drugs with long term side effects that I have received little benefit. I would always check with your neuro before starting anything new.

Good luck!

Judith

Labeling alternative medicine providers as Quacks is over the top. Two of my close friends provide a lot of acupuncture services, and they are also anesthesiologists. Blanket statements such as that one are inflammatory and show a lack of exposure. No offense, but your remission on medical therapy alone does not mean that everyone's bodies will respond the same way. As we all can see, many people who have been following their neurologists' advice to the letter still struggle with poorly managed symptoms. I believe that there could be room for alternative therapies to supplement the medication. It is worth looking into, Annie! You are on the right track with your treatment, and I am amazed at your determination and great attitude!