IMS might be the answer!
Intamuscular Stimulation (IMS) is an anatomy-specific form of acupuncture performed by specially trained physiotherapists and some doctors. It is a very effective treatment for chronic pain of neuropathic origin. IMS was developed by Dr. Chan Gunn in Vancouver, while he was a Workers' Compensation board physician in British Columbia in the 1970s. Dr. Gunn has introduced "neuropathic pain", to describe the type of pain that occurs when nerves malfunction following minor irritation. Nerves and nerve-endings become extremely sensitive and cause innocent, harmless signals to be exaggerated as painful ones (Known as supersensitivity), even when extensive medical tests show there is nothing wrong.
IMS relies heavily on a thorough physical examination by a physiotherapist, trained to recognize the physical signs of neuropathic pain. They will first assess your basic posture and movement patterns to look for some common signs of underlying nerve irritation. The most common one is to palpate for tender bands of knots in particular muscle groups. This may cause a restriction of movement in major joints such as your neck, back and hips. When there is nerve irritation, the skin can even start to look like the rind of an orange peel, and can feel thickened and respond differently to light touch.
Once the physiotherapist has determined all the troubled areas, they will start using an acupuncture needle to release them. One of the differences between IMS and acupuncture is that the needle is inserted deep into the muscle and moved in and out to help release the tight muscle that is affecting the nerve tissue. If the muscle is supersensative and shortened, the patient feels a cramp-like sensation, which is the muscle grasping the needle. This sensation soon disappears and is followed by a wonderful feeling of relief and relaxation.
The effects of IMS are cumulative, as needling stimulates a certain amount of healing, until the condition is healed and the pain disappears. Some patients treated with IMS have remained pain free for over 20 years. Treatments are usually once a week to allow time for the body to heal itself. The amount of treatments depends on several factors, such as the duration and extent of the condition, existing scar tissue and how quickly you body can heal (young people usually heal more quickly). Many conditions can be treated with IMS, such as: low back pain, sciatica, rotator cuffs, stiff necks, headaches, TMJ issues, IT band syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more.
All of the above information references the work of Dr.Chan Gunn.
