Q: What does acupuncture treat? Does it work as a 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 in 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 as a treatment for fibromyalgia, try three sessions. 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 and helpful enough to continue further.
Even if acupuncture is helpful, don’t rely on it as your primary treatment for fibromyalgia. Use it along with other remedies to provide relief. For example, combine acupuncture with 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 and consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
You say 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 a long enough period of time or at a high enough dose. If you need specific advice about treatments and combinations to try, talk to a rheumatologist or pain specialist who has experience in treatments for fibromyalgia
While the media often reports on studies as showing evidence of acupunctures usefulness, this is often the result of poor scientific literacy. Here is an illustrative example: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=5112
I'm not saying don't try it, but find out what it's critics have to say before parting with your time and cash.
best,
Nick