Treating Fibromyalgia with Acupuncture

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by pain all over the body with tenderness at specific trigger points, which is worse with palpation, and is typically accompanied by sleep disturbance, memory and mood issues and chronic fatigue. There is no specific test to definitively diagnose Fibromyalgia; however, a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia may be made if 11 of the 18 specific trigger points elicit pain to the touch, or if a person has had widespread pain for three months with no known cause of the pain. “80-90% of people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia are women (NIH),” the etiology of Fibromyalgia is unknown; however, “many people associate the onset of Fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic event (NIH), although others develop Fibromyalgia spontaneously. Fibromyalgia is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors including stress, trauma and certain infections. Other symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia include insomnia, disrupted sleep, chronic headaches, dizziness, memory impairment, brain fog, anxiety, depression, vision problems, weight gain, chest pain, nausea, morning stiffness, dysmenorrhea, and bowel disturbances/IBS.

Acupuncture has been researched for its role in helping those who suffer from Fibromyalgia

 There is no universally accepted treatment for Fibromyalgia, however, certain therapies have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia; especially exercise, improving sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapies, patient education and mind-body therapies such as Yoga and Qi Gong can be helpful in improving sleep and reducing fatigue. “Improving sleep is known to alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia (NIH), it is important to make sure that patients with Fibromyalgia are getting sufficient sleep. According to CAM “Acupuncture can be helpful in managing the pain associated with Fibromyalgia.” Acupuncture helps to manage pain by increasing blood flow and stimulating the body’s natural pain reliving endorphins, Acupuncture also works on the part of the brain that governs serotonin, which helps with improving the mood. According to one randomized controlled study about the effects of Acupuncture on Fibromyalgia, “Acupuncture has proven effective in the immediate pain reduction in patients with fibromyalgia, with a quite significant effect size.” Some supplements that may be helpful alongside the treatment of Fibromyalgia include: “SAM-e, 5 HTP, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B 12, Fish oil and L-Carnitine.” 

http://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Fibromyalgia

https://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/default.asp#c

https://www.verywell.com/fibromyalgia-pain-relief-716035

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0715/p247.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2255502114001473