Thanks for reading. I am going to reduce my meds another 10mg per day to 30mg Oxycodone. I sometimes think I am dreaming as I am so improved and it is happening so easily. For example,I was riding one of my bikes today and really enjoyed it whereas even 5 weeks ago I would enjoy riding in spite of the pain and there was a lot of pain and every ride was an endurance contest to see how long I could take the pain.After each short ride I would have to take a pain killer and rest for an hour or so. The IMS treatment consists of the physiotherapist finding tense muscles and putting an acupuncture needle into it. |t is painful but not from the needle but from the muscle going into spasm in response to the needle.It feels like a cramp; a severe short lived cramp. The therapist told me that I respond faster than most. The muscle spasms very quickly and the releases. The whole process usually lasts about 25 seconds. I often blurt out 'ouch' because it does hurt briefly. That is followed by a sense of relaxation in that muscle or muscle group. I may be needled up to about 50 times in one session. The results are worth the brief periods of pain. Only if the muscle fails to release is electricity used and then only briefly ie 10-15 seconds. It is important to know that I usually only have one needle in me at any time. At the end of the session she inserts 6 or 8 and leaves them for 5 to 10 minutes. There is no pain from these. I usually fall asleep I am so relaxed. After the treatment I am wrapped in a heat pack covering neck,shoulders and all of spine. I lay on it and usually fall asleep. She wakes me after 15 minutes or so and I dress and leave feeling much looser and having markedly less pain. Always my flexibility and range of motion is much improved. I always feel more relaxed and energized. I always feel like moving and will enjoy going for a walk or a bike ride or stretch and yawn a lot..I feel good like I did before the injury that started this nightmare about 7 years ago.This therapy has been a real god send to me. My physiotherapist can also do manipulations like a chiropractor and she does usually 'adjust' me before the needle treatment. Last time one of my ribs was misaligned causing a lot of pain and she fixed that with a manipulation.....I hope you find this helpful. I would encourage you to try it. I cannot imagine it causing you any harm and perhaps it will be very beneficial as it is for me. good luck,,,,ich....aka john woodward.