Has anyone tried acupuncture for pain related to multiple myeloma? I've wondered if it might be worth pursuing not just for bone pain, but also for peripheral neuropathy.
If you have tried it, did you discuss it with your myeloma doctor first, and what sort of guidance did you get? And also, of course, what sort of experience have you had? Did the acupuncture help?
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Re: Acupuncture and myeloma-related pain
I have been treated weekly with acupuncture for severe peripheral neuropathy induced by Velcade for eight months. Prior to the start of my acupuncture treatments, I was prescribed a high dosage of morphine 24 hours per day for my severe pain. I am now morphine free and my pain level has been reduced dramatically. The improvement in my pain level was gradual over time with each weekly treatment. I would recommend trying it out.
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Myeloma-Mike
Re: Acupuncture and myeloma-related pain
I had a MRI done on my neck in 2012 to find the reason for my on going pain in my neck and shoulders. What it told me was that it wasn't active myeloma lesions. The lesions on my neck bones at C2 and C5 actually showed some healing. The report did note arthritis in my neck and some pinched discs-mostly due to posture. The neurologist who interrupted the MRI had nothing to offer me. So ... I had to find different help. Pain meds were not the answer. I can only take oxycodone and that wasn't something I wanted to use long term. Aspirin and Ibuprofen don't work that well. Stretching, neck strengthening exercises and heating pads helped, but did not resolve the pain.
I struggled with pain on and off for most of a year and then found a deal for a Shiatsu massage. I had my massage the last weekend of February of this year and it changed my life. This office also offered acupuncture, so I figured I could talk to him about that. What I found out is that he is a Chinese medicine doctor (CMD) and could offer a range of services. He is now part of my support system and is as necessary as my oncologist.
I had to start subcutaneous Velcade and dex. this weekend and it is easy compared to the first time around with Revlimid and dex. My CMD has worked out at plan with herbs, moxibustion, acupuncture and plain old listening. He gives me advice for things I can do for myself at home during the week. He balances his treatments so they compliment the treatment I have to go through now. I have a lot more tools in my tools box than ever before.
My initial diagnosis was ISS stage II IgG kappa multiple myeloma, standard risk in January of 2011. I have lesions on my skull, neck, both upper arms and back of right hip. July 2013, my numbers had risen to a treatment level, but I am still the same as far as diagnosis. I am much more optimistic than I was at the first of the year when my numbers were slowly climbing and I still had pain in my neck, back and hip and it was getting more frequent. I actually have felt better in the last 3 months with my numbers rising than I did last year when everything was in a "normal range".
And yes, I did discuss this with my oncologist and he is fine with what I am doing. In fact, he said helping myself makes his job easier.
I struggled with pain on and off for most of a year and then found a deal for a Shiatsu massage. I had my massage the last weekend of February of this year and it changed my life. This office also offered acupuncture, so I figured I could talk to him about that. What I found out is that he is a Chinese medicine doctor (CMD) and could offer a range of services. He is now part of my support system and is as necessary as my oncologist.
I had to start subcutaneous Velcade and dex. this weekend and it is easy compared to the first time around with Revlimid and dex. My CMD has worked out at plan with herbs, moxibustion, acupuncture and plain old listening. He gives me advice for things I can do for myself at home during the week. He balances his treatments so they compliment the treatment I have to go through now. I have a lot more tools in my tools box than ever before.
My initial diagnosis was ISS stage II IgG kappa multiple myeloma, standard risk in January of 2011. I have lesions on my skull, neck, both upper arms and back of right hip. July 2013, my numbers had risen to a treatment level, but I am still the same as far as diagnosis. I am much more optimistic than I was at the first of the year when my numbers were slowly climbing and I still had pain in my neck, back and hip and it was getting more frequent. I actually have felt better in the last 3 months with my numbers rising than I did last year when everything was in a "normal range".
And yes, I did discuss this with my oncologist and he is fine with what I am doing. In fact, he said helping myself makes his job easier.
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Riza43 - Name: Ranetta
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Acupuncture and myeloma-related pain
Thanks, Mike and Ranetta, for your feedback about acupuncture. It's very helpful.
Mike, have you ever tried stopping the acupuncture to see if your neuropathy comes back?
Also, have either of you come across cases where acupuncture actually seemed to have a negative effect on the patient? Or is it mainly the case that acupuncture either works, or it doesn't, but there aren't usually any negative side effects?
I guess the final obvious question is: Is the acupuncture painful at all?
Mike, have you ever tried stopping the acupuncture to see if your neuropathy comes back?
Also, have either of you come across cases where acupuncture actually seemed to have a negative effect on the patient? Or is it mainly the case that acupuncture either works, or it doesn't, but there aren't usually any negative side effects?
I guess the final obvious question is: Is the acupuncture painful at all?
Re: Acupuncture and myeloma-related pain
Cheryl G wrote:
Per my neurologist, I just stopped treatment last week. If my pain level increases, I was instructed to resume treatments monthly rather than weekly.
I was told that only 16% of his patients actually responded to treatment. I guess it either works for you or it doesn't. I kept an open mind and proceeded with the treatments. The first four weekly treatments provided no benefit. I was told that this was a normal response. After eight months, the improvement in my pain level was dramatic.
In my case before the start of treatments, I could not walk or hold a cup of coffee. The pain was excruciating. Now, I am fully ambulatory. My neuropathy pain level is tolerable.
The treatments are painless.
Mike, have you ever tried stopping the acupuncture to see if your neuropathy comes back?
Per my neurologist, I just stopped treatment last week. If my pain level increases, I was instructed to resume treatments monthly rather than weekly.
Also, have either of you come across cases where acupuncture actually seemed to have a negative effect on the patient? Or is it mainly the case that acupuncture either works, or it doesn't, but there aren't usually any negative side effects?
I was told that only 16% of his patients actually responded to treatment. I guess it either works for you or it doesn't. I kept an open mind and proceeded with the treatments. The first four weekly treatments provided no benefit. I was told that this was a normal response. After eight months, the improvement in my pain level was dramatic.
In my case before the start of treatments, I could not walk or hold a cup of coffee. The pain was excruciating. Now, I am fully ambulatory. My neuropathy pain level is tolerable.
I guess the final obvious question is: Is the acupuncture painful at all?
The treatments are painless.
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Myeloma-Mike
Re: Acupuncture and myeloma-related pain
Here's a case report of a patient who suffered from Velcade-induced peripheral neuropathy that was successfully treated with acupuncture:
S Mandıroğlu et al, "Acupuncture for neuropathic pain due to bortezomib in a patient with multiple myeloma," Acupuncture in Medicine, January 2014 (link to abstract)
Abstract:
S Mandıroğlu et al, "Acupuncture for neuropathic pain due to bortezomib in a patient with multiple myeloma," Acupuncture in Medicine, January 2014 (link to abstract)
Abstract:
Multiple myeloma (multiple myeloma) is characterised by an increase in plasma cells, particularly in the bone marrow but also in other organs and systems, and with the abnormal production of immunoglobulin. Bortezomib, a current treatment option, inhibits angiogenesis by proteasome inhibition and is known to be effective in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common dose-related side effect of bortezomib in patients with multiple myeloma.
We describe a case of PN due to bortezomib treatment which responded dramatically to acupuncture treatment, enabling his bortezomib treatment to continue. The patient was a 74-year-old man with pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in his hands and feet after 22 days of bortezomib treatment given by the haematology clinic. His neuropathic pain score was 8/10. There were no autonomic symptoms. Electroneurophysiological testing confirmed sensorimotor PN.
Acupuncture treatment was planned as his neuropathic pain continued. Acupuncture was administered bilaterally to ST36, SP6 and LI4 15 times (every other day in the first five sessions and then twice a week). The numbness, tingling and pain symptoms substantially decreased after the first two treatments. After the 15th session acupuncture treatment was continued once a month. At the end of the sixth month the neuropathic pain assessment score was 0/10. There was no side effect of acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture seems promising as a complementary medical treatment for neuropathic pain from bortezomib-induced PN. Clinical studies involving more cases and electrophysiological studies are necessary to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture.
Re: Acupuncture and myeloma-related pain
My family's membership did have VRD chemotherapys and acupuncture trearments for her EMP around year and half in March 2011. Under recommendations of Christian friends, a senior expert of acupuncture has treated most patients with late stage cancer, and these patients do tell me how they have a lots good results of binding chemotherapys and acupuncture with herb tea. Also one patient is a physician carrying lymphoma in relapse at Stanford.
This is reason why I make a decision to starting all wonderful and sucessful treatment for her EMP without blood transfusion and less side effects. Now, do maintenance therapy in good blood test results with abnormal blood sugar and a1c.
This is reason why I make a decision to starting all wonderful and sucessful treatment for her EMP without blood transfusion and less side effects. Now, do maintenance therapy in good blood test results with abnormal blood sugar and a1c.
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Anonymous
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