fibromyalgia testimonials
My troubles began when I was in college at University in 2000. I came down with a severe viral illness. Initially I developed painful nodules on my right ankle. Then a strange illness quickly spread through my body, and I was hospitalized for significant joint swelling and severe pain and was treated for autoimmune disease. The doctor told me that at the rate my disease was progressing, I might only have two years to live.
Despite that diagnosis, I eventually made a partial recovery and managed to graduate from college. But when I wasn’t able to find a job, I lost my health insurance. My medications cost over $400 a month, which I could not afford, so I discontinued taking them even though I still had significant body pain.
During 2005, my life changed significantly — I got married, started postgraduate studies, and suffered deep emotional traumas. It was all too much, and not long after that, my body collapsed.
In addition to the increasing pain, I started dealing with a growing depression. My family physician put me back on steroids as well as antidepressants and later, narcotic drugs. I became so ill that I had to withdraw from school and I was in such pain that I could barely use my arms and legs. I ended up in the emergency room and was eventually diagnosed as having severe fibromyalgia.
After that came pain management treatments with months of Lidocaine shots, Lidoderm patches, and Lyrica. Lyrica, a medication used for fibromyalgia, did help but it also made me feel high and gain a lot of weight, and it caused strange suicidal thoughts.
Finally, in January of 2008, a trainer at my gym suggested I go to the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine. I checked with my doctor who told me he had read about people having success with acupuncture for pain, so I decided to go.
The short story is that within two months of starting an integrative protocol with Steve Amoils, MD, I was thriving and off all my medications.
During my first office consult, Dr. Amoils acknowledged the severity of my condition, but he told me not to focus on the fibromyalgia pain as that was just one piece of the puzzle. He said that looking for a magic bullet was unlikely to help and that I needed a multi-dimensional approach, and he suggested using an integrative and functional medicine approach. After running a number of tests, he diagnosed me with also having insulin resistance.
I was put on a lifestyle change program that included a low glycemic load diet, daily exercise, daily meditation and relaxation techniques, and a regimen of acupuncture treatments, massage and ACE treatments (acupuncture, chiropractic and energy healing completed in one session). Dr. Amoils also started me on several targeted supplements, including Vitamin D and fish oil. This multi-faceted approach alleviated my pain, helped me sleep better, improved my insulin resistance, and enabled me to reduce my medications and eventually stop taking them altogether.
As my life improved, my husband and I decided to have a baby, but insulin resistance can cause infertility. I worked with Claudia Harsh, MD, Director of Gynecology at the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine, who prescribed an acupuncture regimen to increase fertility. I was able to get pregnant within a month and a half. During the pregnancy I controlled gestational diabetes predominantly with diet and I am happy to report that I was able to deliver our son without complications.
I still believe in and use traditional medicine; however, in this case, I sincerely believe that the integrative approach and the acupuncture treatments helped me heal and also helped my body attain a state where it was able to handle the stress of pregnancy. My child is now five months old and I am very healthy. I am off all medications except glucosamine and postnatal vitamins. And I am counting my blessings.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am writing this letter in hope of letting other people benefit from a series of treatments that I went through after being in a car accident about two and a half years ago. I am a 55-year-old female who led a very active life before my accident. I had suffered from a severe whiplash and was later additionally diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Myofascial Syndrome. I had a lot of neck and shoulder pain, accompanied by severe headaches. After initial chiropractic treatments were unsuccessful, my family physician sent me for an MRI and EMG, which showed herniated discs and carpal tunnel syndrome on my right side. I could never get my neck to fully turn right or left. I suffered from constant pain and spasms in my right shoulder, back and upper right arm. I also had tremors in my right arm and hand. In addition, I had a lot of anxiety when I was behind the wheel of my car. I was beginning to lose all hope of returning to my pre-accident self. My frustration got worse as days turned into weeks and then into months.
I had seen several doctors in the course of my treatments. Each procedure provided only temporary relief. I went through three cervical epidurals, aquatic physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments and lots of medication. Things were not looking good for me. It seemed as though a dark cloud was hanging over my life and I was giving up just about all hope of feeling and living the way I once had when my rehab doctor asked if I would like to try one more procedure, and that was acupuncture.
I made an appointment with the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine and was put under the care of Dr. Sandi Amoils and her staff. She met with my husband and me and recommended a comprehensive treatment plan. She and her staff treated me with great compassion and understanding. I was taught how to deal with pain flare-ups at home and gradually I began to feel better. My pain began to be noticeably less after each session and now, thanks to the positive attitude of Dr. Amoils and her staff, I can freely move my neck once more. I feel that I have my life back and so does my family. I thank God for all the help of the doctors who have treated me, but most especially for the staff of the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I ran through the whole medical system (with fibromyalgia). When I came here, I felt hopeless. I was sleeping all the time, and had no energy to do anything. Now that I’m here, I’m back to doing theatre again. I started here in September; by December, I was on the stage.
I don’t know what they’re doing, but whatever it is – I feel more together…more calm and energetic all at the same time…I feel like I’m getting my life back!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Before coming to the center, I had been to numerous doctors, seeking relief from this condition. I was on heavy pain medication, sleeping pills and even had surgery to relieve the symptoms. After coming to the Alliance Institute for acupuncture on a regular basis, she explains that her quality of life has drastically changed, “Some of my life is coming back that I didn’t even know I had lost, after years and years of pain.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Years ago, in Illinois, a friend of mine had pleurisy…took a week off work, trouble breathing, etc. The Pulmonary specialist told her he was 99% sure that she had lupus. For 2 weeks, she was devastated, but found out she didn’t have it. She went to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed her with fibromyalgia. After that, for years she felt like a “guinea pig” as she was poked and prodded, given all kinds of medications, etc. She and her husband and family moved to Cincinnati. Her neighbor insisted that she come to last winter’s fibromyalgia talk (the neighbor saw it in the paper). Prior to coming here, she put on 35 pounds & had anxiety issues…………….(etc.) Dr. Amoils explained to her the things she didn’t understand. She said, “Part of the reason God brought us here is so I could find this place.”
She went on to say: “At the talk, I was impressed with the knowledge level….all the doctors were involved in the presentation. I had tried acupuncture before, so I almost dismissed it. But I needed med’s to sleep………..I had my consultation with Dr. Steve Amoils. I was validated and ‘listened to’ with that first consultation visit. I left here in tears. I knew when I came here (before I started the appointments) I had to wean myself off of everything. Dr. Amoils has the calmest demeanor. He’s very soothing. I didn’t feel rushed! I trusted him and was very encouraged.”……..
After the first acupuncture treatment, she called her friend and said, “He’s going to help me.”…The two things that she took away were the words “We can help you.” She said, “Nobody ever told me that!” And thought “If this guy is willing to tell me he can help me, that’s putting a big promise out there.” “He also told me it was a process. I knew from the get-go, there’s no magic spell or magic pill that was going to help me.” It was a process and knowing he was confident he could help me was the most amazing feeling. It’s such an individualized thing; it can only BE a process! Now I acknowledge that I’m in pain. But have an arsenal of things I can try.
