Q: What does acupuncture treat? Specifically, is there an acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia? I’ve tried everything else, but still have no relief.
A: Numerous research studies have looked at acupuncture as a treatment for fibromyalgia, and although a few have shown statistically significant improvement of pain, some have not.
In studies that have indicated some benefit, relief was fleeting. In the majority of patients, it lasted from a few days to a few weeks. Some people had pain relief for up to six months, but there are no reports of long-lasting results.
If you are curious about acupuncture, try three treatments. If you think you have benefited from the sessions, continue up to six or eight treatments. By then, you can decide whether acupuncture is cost-effective helpful enough for you to continue further.
Even if acupuncture is helpful, don’t rely on it as your primary treatment. Use it along with other remedies to provide relief. For example, combine acupuncture with other treatments proven to be effective in people with fibromyalgia, such as exercise, tricyclic antidepressants, pain medication, massage therapy, meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy, Keep in mind that you’ll also have to stick with a regular sleep schedule; improve your diet to be based more on vegetables and less on red meats, refined sugar and processed foods; manage stress; and discontinue smoking, alcohol and caffeine.
You say that you’ve tried everything. In my experience, however, many patients have not found relief because, in looking for a quick fix, they haven’t followed treatments exactly as recommended for along enough period of time or at a high enough dose. If you need specific advice about treatments and combinations to try, please talk to a rheumatologist or pain specialist who has experience in treating people with fibromyalgia
James McKoy, MD, Rheumatologist
I was very skeptical at first. But now I am a believer. I have many allergies - flowers, perfumes, chemicals, foods, etc...., I also have migraines and fibromyalgia. I went through several back-to-back acupuntcure sessions for numereous flower allergies. And it WORKED. Before the treatments, I had a hard time going to funeral homes and other places where there was a large collection of flowers. Now, after the treatments, I can now attend viewings with only a minimal problem. I can even have a bunch of flowers near me. I still have allergy problems - but now they are manageable. There severity level has dropped dramatically.
The treatments also helped align my body's electrical polarity and helped reduce my headaches.
In general, The procedure is not painful. However, I did find that several places on my body were more tender to the tiny needles than other areas. The office I went to also had a procedure using heated stones for those who could do the actual needle treatment, which from what they said is just as effective.
Also, as soon as I described the pain and locations to the therapist, she was very in-tune to me and understood everything I was describing. She knew exactly that what I meant when I told her about the constant tender areas and the lingering pain. She reviewed with me the nerve and electrical meridians in the human body and how our energy and pain receptors were interconnected. It was very nice to have someone understand and acknowledge what you were saying.
My insurance covered part of the cost - you my want to check into this possibility.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND acupuncture as a possible treatment resource.
However, when I tried it for fibro it was disasterous. I couldn't tolerate it. I used to love deep tissue massage therapy as well but don't dare try it or any other form of massage. I cannot tolerate a hand being placed lightly upon my shoulder. I don't dare try chiropractic either for the same reason.
A year ago I started acupunture, chinese herbs & changed my diet (again). It was the right mix. If I change any of it I pay the price.
The diet change involved (mostly) eliminating milk and wheat and following more of an eastern diet. As much as I didn't want to give up milk and wheat, in a month I felt better and started to lose weight!
To lower the price of the acupunture I buy packages and go about every two months or when I feel like something is 'wrong', such as a sinus infection coming on or something that is bringing me down.
The raw herbs are made into a tea and taken twice a day. Taste horrible, but I feel they work better than the pill form.
I will absolutely continue all of the above! I feel better just knowing I'm not having to take pain pills and other meds every day. That said, I still meet with my rheumatologist twice a year and get labs done checking for arthritis and lupus.
I have been taking 6 (count 'em yes, 6) MUCINEX per day, and I have found a great improvement in the pain in my arms, chest, shoulders and upper back. I started in 9/2009 taking 2 MUCINEX per day, and gradually increased. I also take the lowest doses of Lyrica and Cymbalta, Ultram ER for the feeling of "having a sunburn, then getting the chills" and taking Bupropion to improve the depression. Also, taking Tizanidine (generic) muscle relaxant for cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis and muscle spasm, but also for FM rigor. All of this stuff did not take the "achey breaky" feeling away from my upper body until I started taking the MUCINEX. The ingredient in MUCINEX - guafinasen - is relatively harmless to the body - it helps to rid the body of toxins, and I note my urine is not as dark and does not smell like "popcorn" any more. This therapy is very old, I read it on the internet, there are books about it on Amazon.com. Luck to you all 8-)
Savella? I have Fibro but am unaware of these terms, I was first diagnosised with Lupus, then we moved and the new dr. re-tested me as he didn't believe I had Lupus. He did more thorough tests and it came back Fibro, not Lupus (no sign of Lupus). I thought that would be a blessing, but I don't think that anymore considering I really don't know anything about Lupus.
My second comment is for Renee, I know what you mean about speaking up for yourself - my doctor at first didn't understand the amount of pain I was in, and I still don't. My current pain meds aren't working anymore or are maybe keeping the worst pain away but I'm not sure - so he's sending me to a pain clinic that uses Methodone, I hope it works but I'm not sure of the side effects. He also sent me to a rheum. specialist and she believes that Fibro is in the head that it's because of stress, depression, and something else I don't remember. But the point is she thinks I'm lying that I don't have the pain and problems associated with Fibro. She wants me to attend a 3 day Fibro clinic she puts on. This would be a 2 hr round trip each day and then there's gas and meals. Does she think I'm made of money, she's even got my family dr. telling me to take this clinic. One thing it's offered a lot of different dates, so I'll probably wait for good weather and finances. It's the same problem for the Methodone clinic but it's a minimum of 2 weeks driving back and forth by myself. What if the withdrawl symptoms make me too sick to drive, or I have a reaction to the Methodone. And again it's gas and meals. It p----s me off and when we talked about how I couldn't afford to drive there and back for 2 weeks and alone, my dr. agreed to do it at his office, now he won't. He's too busy! He's got good bedside manner and not a bad guy he really is trying to help, he just doesn't remember a lot of what he agrees to. The dr. I'd rather see is my current dr. partner and I think it would cause trouble for me and the dr. I'd like to see. But I've been to other clinics and I'm not happy with them (their dr.s). I guess I'm stuck I only get to see the other dr., if mine is too busy and he's not. I hate this illness, oh the rheum. also told me to get counselling which again is a 5 hr+ round trip, gas and meals. However if I did it right my husbands insurance would pay for that one and include an overnight stay. So I'll call.
Hang in there everyone at least we can talk to each other.
There are lower cost acupuncturists out there. Look for "community acupuncture" or "working class acupuncture." Acupuncture does reduce pain for many people, but fibro requires a lot of treatments, and a fair number of needles each time (I get at least 12).
For me, this has worked when prescription pain meds have not.
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