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Can accupunture treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia

Updated on December 18, 2013

Overview of fibromyalgia:

Fibromyalgia currently affects about 2% of the worldwide population. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that remains medically unexplained and is characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain, painful response to tender or pressure points, sleep disorders, intense fatigue and severe depression. Some of the other commonly transpiring symptoms are:

  • Muscle stiffness
  • Migraine headaches and jaw pain
  • Dryness experienced in the mouth, nose and eyes
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch, smell, bright lights and loud noises
  • Cognitive disabilities like inability to concentrate
  • Incontinence
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Numbness, burning or tingling in the hands and feet
  • Painful menstrual periods
  • Restless leg syndrome

The prognosis of fibromyalgia is determined by two factors

1. Acute pain in all the four quadrants of the body that has been present for a minimum three months;

2. Feeling sensations of pain when pressure is exerted on 11 of the 18 tender points.


Symptoms are often manifested after sustaining physical trauma or experiencing emotionally stressful incident, but in many cases there is no instigating event. Women are more inclined to suffer from fibromyalgia as compared to men, and the risk of developing fibromyalgia intensifies with age.

Fibromyalgia Pain Spots
Fibromyalgia Pain Spots

Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia

Would you Try Acupuncture for reliefing Fibromyalgia?

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Treating fibromyalgia through the technique of acupuncture

Current medical treatment of fibromyalgia principally encompasses prescription medications to treat the symptoms in a trial-and-error approach. Research has now proved that about 90% of the fibro patients turn to alternative and complementary techniques to ease their pain. Acupuncture has recently gained increased popularity and is now an in-demand choice of fibro patients. Chinese acupuncture dates back thousand of years and is considered to be one of the most beneficial traditional medical techniques.


How does acupuncture function?
Although research can’t exactly figure out why acupuncture has the effects that it is proposed to have, it is clear that it is helpful in alleviating the pain, depression and fatigue. Research advocates that it instigates certain complex alterations in the brain and the body so that the nerve fibers, which are accountable for relaying messages to the brain and spinal cord to activate the release of hormones that block pain, are stimulated. A study showed that acupuncture can increase pain tolerance that is low particularly in fibromyalgia patients. Acupuncture functions by remedying the energy pathways of the body. The potential advantages of acupuncture integrate improved sleep, a relaxed mind, diminished pain and improvement in the overall well-being.


The acupuncturist usually inserts very thin needles at specific points. The needles are inserted only a centimeter deep in the skin. After the acupuncturist inserts them, he either twists them or gently wiggles them to slot them in their proper place. A brief twinge is the only discomfort that is experienced. Once all the needles have been slotted, the patient is asked to remain in one position for either 15 minutes or an hour. Insertion of needles causes the release of feel-good hormones that relaxes and soothes the body immensely. After the initial acupuncture treatment, it is normal to feel some achiness around the body that can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medications.

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