Hi Jayne. My question wasn't about acupuncture but I'm glad to share how it helps me.
I have been getting acupuncture for about 8 months now and find it helpful along with other lifestyle choicesand supplementsthat I'm taking. There are a ton of points in the body that target different problems. Depending on your pain and problem areas your acupuncturist might have a different approach but my acupuncturist works on points that release stress from muscles which, for me at least, gives relief for a period of time from the worst pain that the inflammation causes.
She also did work on my ear which is connected to nerves that were causing debilitating migraines for 27 years. I have only had sinus headaches since.
Whrn i started I was going weekly when my flare ups weren't under control. With the help of her and some lifestyle changes that I've made I've been able to stop taking methotrexate, leflunomide, and celebrex.
Before starting acupuncture my rheumatologist was suggesting I go on a biologic since even with all the above mentioned meds I was taking my numbers kept going up, none of it was helping. I didn't want biologic meds in my body so I started looking for other things to try before I took that step and I haven't looked back.
My numbers haven't been this low and I haven't felt this good since well before my diagnosis almost 3 years ago. I am not saying that acupuncture cured me it's just part of my personal treatment plan. Some fine meds help them but they didn't for me and only made me feel worse from the side effects. I've always looked for more natural ways to do things so I couldn't be happier that life has worked out the way that it has.

Not tried acupuncture. The tiny holes all over my body sorta creeps me out. If it was muscle spasms or pinched nerves, I might consider it. But systemic inflammation caused by a corrupt immune system at the cellular level? I don't know how that could reprogram mutant cells. Or affect inflammation. Unless the punctures are able to stimulate our cells to quit attacking or tissues. If you're willing to try acupuncture would you please post your experiences? And their philosophy or techniques used for eradicating inflammation? I'm curious to know if it could help bc deep massage hurt and did not have much benefit for me aside from feeling better when it was over. But, if positive results occurr for like a few days, I'd be willing to try it.