Hi all.
Has anyone tried acupuncture for hot flushes and residual joint pain from taking Letrozole?
My joints are recovering but I’d like to speed it up and although my hot flushes are much better now I’m off medication I’d like them to improve too.
Comping off HRT and then taking Letrozole for 3 months has caused a lot of problems!
Hi
I’m taking Letrozole and am having acupuncture for my flushes and to help with sleep. I haven’t really had a problem with joint aches and pains, so can’t comment on how it helps with those.
I initially got 8 ear acupuncture sessions through the cancer hospital charity. It took 3 sessions (weekly) to kick in properly but was really helpful at reducing the flushes, particularly at night. I had longer gaps between the later sessions due to a phased return to work and although it helped, it didn’t seem as effective. I put it down to the longer gaps and variation in persons doing the treatments.
Determined to do anything to get some better sleep I had 4 weekly sessions of acupuncture privately which has been amazing. She does a combination of ear and body needles with a focus on my shoulders and head. I have the best sleep in ages after each session and the night flushes have stopped completely at the moment. I’m now stretching sessions to every 2-3 weeks to see how things pan out.
I’d never had acupuncture previously and was a bit dubious, but the oncologist recommended trying it when she prescribed Letrozole as I was already struggling after having to immediately stop HRT when first diagnosed.
Hope that helps. Happy to answer any other questions x
Hi @bluetit11
It’s quite a journey with the hot flashes. Mine still rage from time to time and I think its stress and what I’ve eaten. Here’s what I have found along the way:
I was referred for Auricular accupuncture by my BCN. The hot flashes did reduce and sleep improved. I meditated during the 40 minutes treatment too which helps.
My sessions ended, I struggled to find a private centre. I continued with the meditation and then came across the sereniva menopause bracelet. I kid you not, I put it on and that night my flushes tried to come and were stopped in their tracks. I have a few now and rotate them so they have time to recharge. Also get a lepidolite only bracelet.
Store all together with rose quartz and citrine crystals. Or put on windowledge at night to cleanse and n daylight to recharge. Its easier than burying them. Lol
There’s a few things you may want to look into for joint pain
Collagen try nutrition geeks. Matcha fuel
Magnetic therapy - bracelet belt. Stick ons. Wand for water. Necklace. Earrings. I read the book The Keys to Well-being by Jean-Paul Jacquemet. Was very interesting and has a guide to what to do with different ailments
I have a magnetic bracelet for energy, it works!
Copper bracelet - it can’t be coated and has to be pure.
Ancient Remedies. Get the book from ebay about £6, small paperback ring bound. Or its about £45 for the original hardback with downloads.. I can send you the free downloads. Its normal foods and how to mix them to get the benefit you are looking for. She has a 2nd book now which is purely for joint pain. Its not a scam. I dont have the 2nd book and I dont know if the downloads are any different.
Eligned. On you tube. She’s an Australian lady and has loads of videos. She may have some that can help. I love the 10 minute lymphatic drain
I’ve done this quickly. Feel free to message for any questions you may have
Have a fab day xxxxx
I had two lots of accupuncture and reflexology. There was no improvement in my side effects.
Swelling is the thing the physios keep watching, because it changes what is safe to do that week. Is yours settling after sessions, or still puffy the next day?
Mine isn’t really swelling it’s nerve related I think. I was lucky not to have lymph nodes cleared so my risk of lymphoedema is lower.
I went to the local free NADA acupuncture sessions but changed to private as the free ones were in a cramped room and incense heavy which wasn’t helping me relax. Genuinely feel that it’s made a big impact on my hot flushes which are much milder now.
Harder to tell with my joints as I’m hitting that with massage and magnesium too but they’re better than they were.
The flushes being the part that responded is a useful result in itself, because that is the one you can tie to a single change. The joints have massage and magnesium landing in the same weeks, so they cannot tell you as much either way.
Worth knowing that nerve pain and joint pain want opposite things from you. Swelling improves with less load and elevation. A nerve that is irritated tends to improve with movement and graded use, and gets worse with rest. If yours behaves like the second one, that points away from the joint being the source.
i’ve been having accupunture and it’s helped with hot flushes i was getting on tamoxifen. they’ve almost gone away. i’ve had 3 sessions over 8 weeks. so i think it’s helped me.