Alternative therapy: healing or hooey? | Arthritis Information
Biostatistician R. Barker Bausell tried acupuncture once, for a chronic backache. The needle pricks and the warmth from the heat lamp aimed at his sore back felt good at the time, he recalls. They didn't do a thing for his underlying pain.
But when the acupuncturist asked if the treatment had helped, Bausell said yes. "What could I say? I worked with the guy all the time," says the scientist, who was then director of research at a center for complementary medicine at the University of Maryland.
Today, Bausell is saying plenty about his five years in the world of complementary and alternative medicine (also known as CAM). He has written a book called Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Oxford University Press).
In it, he uses a broad brush to paint doubt over therapies that include acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic treatment, hypnosis and energy healing, among others. An obvious criticism is that he lumps together very different approaches.
But he argues that the differences aren't as important as what they share: an ability to make people feel better — if patients believe they will. In short, Bausell writes: "CAM recipients feel better because of the placebo effect."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2008-02-03-your-health_N.htmSo Lynn, in your opinion, is medication the only treatment for RA?
Here is an anecdote: Soon after my daughter was dx'd, I saw a health show about RA with a panel of medical of professors. People called and asked about various treatments/therapies. One of the female panel members was a doctor who also had fibro. She said acupuncture had helped her fibro more than anything else she had tried. The other (male) doctors agreed whole-heartedly - definitely try acunpuncture for fibro, it really helps.
So that stayed with me. Acupuncture might be worth a try for pain. They all were enthusiastic about it for fibro.
Then, about a month ago, I was looking around and found an old editorial by one of the male panel members. He thought people with fibro were "choosing" to have chronic pain!
Who is right and who is wrong? I guess he thinks acupuncture works for fibro because it isn't real. And she has fibro and thinks it helps her. Is she choosing to have pain, or does she have fibro that is helped by acupuncture?
[QUOTE=Suzanne]
Here is an anecdote: Soon after my daughter was dx'd, I saw a health show about RA with a panel of medical of professors. People called and asked about various treatments/therapies. One of the female panel members was a doctor who also had fibro. She said acupuncture had helped her fibro more than anything else she had tried. The other (male) doctors agreed whole-heartedly - definitely try acunpuncture for fibro, it really helps.
So that stayed with me. Acupuncture might be worth a try for pain. They all were enthusiastic about it for fibro.
Then, about a month ago, I was looking around and found an old editorial by one of the male panel members. He thought people with fibro were "choosing" to have chronic pain!
Who is right and who is wrong? I guess he thinks acupuncture works for fibro because it isn't real. And she has fibro and thinks it helps her. Is she choosing to have pain, or does she have fibro that is helped by acupuncture?
Thought provoking!.....makes you feel a little dizzy...I guess a person who tries to get better and is willing to use what ever is safe and available...It's worth a try.....So doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong, with so many different treatments available.....I would love to see a cure!
[/QUOTE]
inflamedOnline2008-12-07 08:38:54I've felt that accupuncture is a muscular relief.. not a bone or organ assisting procedure.. therefore it would be soothing and helpful to a fibro sufferer....
Like I said in another thread.... dont discount ALL of one for ALL of another when there can be alternative options that work best w/ conservative programs....
No one thing is the end all to beat all..
Thanks, Lynn!!
(ETA: why must you post a provocation to Lynn? she posts ALL kinds of informational topics.. and does not post her opinions with them.. this is providing information for all of us to make better choices for ourselves!)
babs102008-12-07 12:31:14[QUOTE=babs10]I've felt that accupuncture is a muscular relief.. not a bone or organ assisting procedure.. therefore it would be soothing and helpful to a fibro sufferer....
Like I said in another thread.... dont discount ALL of one for ALL of another when there can be alternative options that work best w/ conservative programs....
No one thing is the end all to beat all..
Thanks, Lynn!!
(ETA: why must you post a provocation to Lynn? she posts ALL kinds of informational topics.. and does not post her opinions with them.. this is providing information for all of us to make better choices for ourselves!)
[/QUOTE]
Thanks Babs
[/QUOTE]
Suzanne, while I do not believe people choose to have pain, in general, there is a group within our population that definitely benefit in some way from staying sick, or staying in pain, or staying debilitated. I recently took care of a lady in her mid 50's who actually informed me that she was a professional patient. She told me that when one problem resolved, she was on to another symptom or multitude of symptoms and was right back to the doctor. I thought it a bit strange that anyone would want their whole life to be one health complaint after another. But staying sick...and staying in pain, elicits alot of attention so there is a certain amount of secondary gain going on. That is why I feel it so unhealthy for people on this forum to only discuss their aches and pains on this forum. There is so much more and sometimes getting away from that subject allows a bit of distraction away from the pain and suffering. People criticize the OT's but don't stop to think they may actually be beneficial and maybe even an alternative source of pain relief.[QUOTE=babs10]
(ETA: why must you post a provocation to Lynn? she posts ALL kinds of informational topics.. and does not post her opinions with them.. this is providing information for all of us to make better choices for ourselves!)
[/QUOTE]
???????????????
I posted a personal anecdote that pretty much illustrates the conundrum mentioned in the title of the thread - healing or hooey. My only opinion is that it is confusing. I'm sorry if it is your opinion that things that really happen to me provoke Lynn!
[QUOTE=lorster]
Suzanne, while I do not believe people choose to have pain, in general, there is a group within our population that definitely benefit in some way from staying sick, or staying in pain, or staying debilitated. .[/QUOTE]
I agree with that in general.
[QUOTE=babs10]I've felt that accupuncture is a muscular relief.. not a bone or organ assisting procedure.. therefore it would be soothing and helpful to a fibro sufferer....
Like I said in another thread.... dont discount ALL of one for ALL of another when there can be alternative options that work best w/ conservative programs....
No one thing is the end all to beat all..
Thanks, Lynn!!
(ETA: why must you post a provocation to Lynn? she posts ALL kinds of informational topics.. and does not post her opinions with them.. this is providing information for all of us to make better choices for ourselves!)
[/QUOTE]
It's okay Babs, I practice temperance...
Also we share helpful ideas on how to eleviate these problems. There are new people on this forum every day. Pain and pain relief is the whole idea. I see post of people with foot pain. Always someone says Planters Faceitis, check spelling. You can most probably have RA in your feet. If possible it would be nice to stop degeneration in them.
As for the latest post about Sjorgren's many people did not realise there sinuses could be effected as well. So the on going saga of pain and illness on this forum is likely here to stay.
It takes a certain amount of time for people to get there RA under control. Some that have been treating longer may forget this. It isn't like you just know what is going to work for you first try. Even then it can take months. Sugar coating it or ignoring will not make it any better. Sharing it with people that understand helps. Because people that do not understand can be very frustrating at times. I get angry not about the pain so much. As the damage that i have or am getting. Totally i do not like the pain. I am going to the Ortho to get pain relief but as well as to help in my diagnoses. I think more people should talk about there pain and illnesses on this forum. To educate others. To hide the truth because people are saying you want sympathy is not helpful to others. Thats my opinion and why i post my problems on this board. As well as what i am trying to do about it.
[QUOTE=Lynn49][QUOTE=babs10]I've felt that accupuncture is a muscular relief.. not a bone or organ assisting procedure.. therefore it would be soothing and helpful to a fibro sufferer....
[/QUOTE]
I for one have tremendous relief from accupuncture. She puts dozens of tiny needles into the joints in my hands and I get relief from the pain. I used to go weekly but alas, I can not afford it anymore!!!I've had good results with acupuncture as well.[QUOTE=milly]
Well the reason for posting aches and pains and illnesses on this forum is to educate. When someone first gets RA they may think it is just about swelling and pain. Many different things can manifest. Most new post say does this sound like RA? The reason to go over and over the same subject all of the time is that it is what RA is about.
Also we share helpful ideas on how to eleviate these problems. There are new people on this forum every day. Pain and pain relief is the whole idea. I see post of people with foot pain. Always someone says Planters Faceitis, check spelling. You can most probably have RA in your feet. If possible it would be nice to stop degeneration in them.
As for the latest post about Sjorgren's many people did not realise there sinuses could be effected as well. So the on going saga of pain and illness on this forum is likely here to stay.
It takes a certain amount of time for people to get there RA under control. Some that have been treating longer may forget this. It isn't like you just know what is going to work for you first try. Even then it can take months. Sugar coating it or ignoring will not make it any better. Sharing it with people that understand helps. Because people that do not understand can be very frustrating at times. I get angry not about the pain so much. As the damage that i have or am getting. Totally i do not like the pain. I am going to the Ortho to get pain relief but as well as to help in my diagnoses. I think more people should talk about there pain and illnesses on this forum. To educate others. To hide the truth because people are saying you want sympathy is not helpful to others. Thats my opinion and why i post my problems on this board. As well as what i am trying to do about it.
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This is such
an interesting discussion topic and I think it is great you posted it Lynn.
I think when you have a chronic illness with no known cure that it would be
pure folly to dismiss anything that may be useful.
I believe the only way to approach and manage RA is to explore every
possibility that may help, drawing together many different techniques that make
up a diverse structure of support.
As far as DMARD's go...it is trial and error. It's nearly four years now since
I was dxed and I am on Rituxan which is the second last drug I can try. For me,
there is probably only Orencia left. I am still not stabilised on a DMARD or
looking anywhere near remission. My three rounds of Rituxan I have had
different resuls with each.
It does get frustrating. Very frustrating without a doubt. But since I was not
dxed for over eight years, my RA had gotten way out of control before I even
started on medication.
We live in a culture that tells us – you get sick, you go to the doctor, you
are given medicine, you get better. This is called a biomedical model. People
with chronic illness do not fit into that category at all. We actually are part
of a biosocial model where the illness continues because there is no ‘quick
fix’ and the patients and doctors work together as a team.
Many around
me scoff at the drugs and tell me they are not working because I am not yet
symptom free.
What I know is this...without the anti rheumatics I would be in deep trouble.
When I was dxed I could not pick up Neve, use a knife and fork, drive a car at
night because I was night blind and the inflammation was affecting my speech. I
would wake up from a nap completely locked into place unable to move.
So while, the DMARD's have not yet stabilised me, I am not where I was back
then so they are helping and doing something. Not what I would like them to do
but I am very happy not to be in that space I was. It was scary. Very scary.
So while I
am not yet as functional as I would like to be, I am more functional than at dx
time due partly because of the anti rheumatics.
Anything,
whether it be drugs or alternative therapies , that is touted as a ‘miracle’, I
am wary of. Plain and simple.
I actually
believe that believe that God/spirit/the Universe, (whatever you call it) works
through medicine as well as alternative therapies.
You should
listen to your own body and your instincts and follow the path through RA that
is right for you.
From the
start, with this disease, my instincts have led me to a multi faceted, holistic
approach.
Some other
things I have and do use apart from DMARD’s are listed below:
- Meditation
– especially the autogenic kind.
- Massage
– incredibly helpful for dealing with pain and stiffness.
- Pacing
– here is a great link for this: http://www.cfidsselfhelp.org/.
The best and most wonderful site I have found on this. If you have a
chronic illness you need to learn to pace.
- Probiotics
– which helped somewhat for a few weeks. I am prepared to give them
another go when I can organise it.
- Pain
Management Psychologist – find one. You need one. This is helped me
restructure and adjust to my disease. Usually they are experts in working
with people with chronic illness and pain.
- Journal
Writing – there have been studies done about how journaling can help with
RA: http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/pennebaker/reprints/
and http://www.journaltherapy.com/index.html
and http://www.journalmagic.com/
- Exercise
– I am working on this one not very successfully yet but I am trying. This
is a great site for this: http://www.paintracking.com/
- Intensive
physiotherapy – I think over there
you call it PT.
- Art
Therapy – particularly useful for processing the losses that RA can bring.
- Intensive
self nurturing.
- Swimming
in a heated pool.
- I
also have another counsellor on board, who works with Neve and I. She sees
Neve at her school. Very helpful.
- Ask
for help.
- Do
things you love and enjoy, you will get swept up in them and forget the
pain and other symptoms for a while.
- Read
everything and anything you can that may be useful.
- Use
of boundaries. One of the ‘metaphysical’ cause of RA is supposed to be,
‘not owning your own authority’. With myself and my observations of many
RA sufferers, there do seem to be often issues for us about boundaries and
other. Many of us have trouble saying no. This is definitely been
something that has fitted for me in the past so I am constantly practicing
getting better at that in my life.
- Kinesiology.
So I think
it’s possible for many things to work for each individual in very different
ways. I would not
stop anti rheumatics, as I know they are assisting me being somewhat functional
and as a single parent I need to be functional. At the same time as you can see
I use many and varied techniques that I believe may be helpful. Sorry for the long post.
Cordelia2008-12-07 16:43:02I agree with you Cordelia and I do a great many of the same things that you do Where I am now is miles ahead of where I was before Rituxan................
edited because the band aid on my finger is making it difficult to type
Lynn492008-12-07 17:43:53 [QUOTE=Lynn49] I agree with you Cordelia and I do a great many of the same things that you do Where I am now is miles ahaead of where I was before Rituxan................[/QUOTE]
Do you mean to say that because of your personal anecdotal experience of doing well with Rituxin that all CAM is hooey?I know that question, Gimpy, was aimed at Lynn but for what it's worth, I definitely don't think all CAM is hooey. I think probably a mix of CAM and traditional methods is a good combination and probably works best for many people. It certainly does me. Besides that, I think when you have something like RA, you are silly if you don't try everything out there that may possibly work.
ok, now I am lost what the devil is CAM?......I know what hooey iscam= complimentary and alternative medicineOh....thanks buckeye.Great Post, Cordy!!!
thanks.
Thanks, Babs. I am always trying to post helpful information.
Babs-
I don't think Suzanne was doing anything other than sharing some information she had found. Go Suzanne.
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