Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain disorders, affecting 10 million people in the United States. It is most common in women, but can also occur in men and children of all ethnic groups.
Chronic widespread pain is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia. Other symptoms include:
Moderate/extreme fatigue
Sleep disturbance
Sensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive difficulties
Depression
Anxiety
Western medicine prescribes anti-depressants and anti-seizure medication to manage symptoms of fibromyalgia. Side effects of these medicines can include weight gain, dizziness, and blurry vision.
With acupuncture, fibromyalgia can be managed naturally without side effects or multiple medications.
Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a non-inflammatory condition, meaning it is caused by imbalance in the nervous system as opposed to inflammation in the body.
Acupuncture directly stimulates the nervous system to increase serotonin production. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for pain management, sleep, and mood.
Increased serotonin in fibromyalgia patients can relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, reduce pain, and improve quality of sleep to decrease feelings of fatigue.
Acupuncture also decreases the levels of Substance P in the body. Substance P is a neuropeptide that is responsible for heightened pain sensitivity and depression when it is overproduced by the brain.
In a medical study comparing acupuncture to the anti-seizure medication Lyrica, acupuncture had a 94.7% total effective rate at relieving pain and improving sleep quality for fibromyalgia patients. Comparatively, Lyrica only had a 79% total effective rate.
Chronic pain conditions don't need to be managed by medications with a laundry list of side effects. Start managing fibromyalgia naturally with acupuncture today!
Call us at (321) 972-2940 to schedule an initial consultation.
Sources:
HealthCMI. "Acupuncture Fibromyalgia Relief Confirmed." (August 1, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1870-acupuncture-fibromyalgia-relief-confirmed
HealthCMI. "Acupuncture Beats or Complements Drugs for Fibromyalgia Relief." (December 21, 2017). Retrieved from http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1813-acupuncture-beats-or-complements-drugs-for-fibromyalgia-relief
The National Fibromyalgia Association. "About Fibromyalgia." (2018). Retrieved from http://www.fmaware.org/about-fibromyalgia