Hi Shannon. I have suffered for years with upper trap and neck pain, until...I got signed up for a FM trained physical therapy (PT), and was introduced to dry-needing. Same needles as acupuncture, but placed differently. What a relief! I didn't realize how bad my throbbing pain and muscle spasms had been until I got relief. I rarely use the spasm med anymore.
It's more natural than injections and I now have it done once a month, for maintenance. I went 2 months without while on vacation and Hurricane Helene clean up and needed it, but there wasn't the pain I had prior to first trying dry-needing.
I recommend this to anyone who can find a PT who has trained for this.
Hope this helps you and others as it helped me.
I also get a gentle massage once a month who is trained in FM. She uses cupping as needed and works on tension (lumps). I have C curve in my spine so I see a FM trained Chiropractor once a month for adjustments. He never cracks me (OA), but uses an "activator" (?) to make adjustments.
Take care. Sleep well (so important to healing)
Hugs.💜

Sorry, I meant that my physical therapist doesn't do the Upledger cranial sacral on me. He is blind and truly gifted. He said he has never had anyone with my high sensitivity level. Thank you pain for making me so unique :/

Hi, I have had Chronic myofascial pain in my trapezius, shoulders, neck (causing occipital nerve headache) for 14 years before I developed fibromyalgia throughout my body. Now the fibromyalgia feels like chronic myofascial pain and my myofascial gets tighter as time goes by. I'm 60 and I've had CMP for 31 years. I can only handle gentle physical therapy that gives me some relief (gentle myofascial release (not John Barnes), gentle cranial sacral (not Pledger), etc.) I have found an excellent physical therapist. Trigger points and any kind of massage flare the pain.

Veda that great! I just had trigger point release today and it was amazing! I’m looking forward to the next one. It feels good when we find the right path for us. I wish you continued success!

That’s positive feedback Veda. I guess one needs to find the right practitioner.