Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia: Treating the Pain

Millions of people in the U.S. live with pain. It’s a part of their lives from the moment they wake up, and it follows them throughout each of their day’s activities and into the night. For 10 million Americans, a chronic condition called Fibromyalgia causes a specific kind of pain – tenderness and soreness that travels throughout the muscles of their body.

The pain can fluctuate from day to day, making every day activities, getting dressed or cooking a simple meal into a physically painful and emotionally stressful experience. Because of the pain, many suffering with Fibromyalgia do not sleep well, so not only are they in pain, they are fatigued and exhausted.

Fibromyalgia is usually FMS18Pointsdiagnosed after a battery of tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing muscular pain. To be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, you must had have chronic widespread pain that persists for at least three months and experience tenderness at eleven of eighteen specific points on their body.

The cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers have several theories about causes or triggers of the disorder. Some scientists believe that the syndrome may be caused by an injury or trauma. This injury may affect the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia may be associated with changes in muscle metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue and decreased strength. Others believe the syndrome may be triggered by an infectious agent such as a virus in susceptible people, but no such agent has been identified.

Because it’s a chronic condition with an unknown cause, there’s no cure for Fibromyalgia. People with the disease can take medications to dull the body’s pain response, and can try to alter their lives slightly to alleviate the symptoms – getting more rest, moving at a slower pace, and eating healthier are a few suggestions for making the condition more bearable. But many people, mostly women, are simply forced to go through life in pain. But they don’t have to — acupuncture can relieve their pain.

A study published in the Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine showed that after 20 acupuncture treatments, patient’s with Fibromyalgia showed significant reduction in pain that lasted for 3 months after treatment was stopped, with a gradual decline in those areas until all benefit was gone after 2 years.

Are you tired of living in pain? Schedule your appointment today – (206-455-4172) or schedule online.

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