Fibromyalgia Acupuncture Treatment

Fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment has been demonstrated to be effective in multiple clinical trials. Evidence suggests that it is more effective in the treatment of severe fibromyalgia pain than in mild to moderate cases. Studies have shown that acupuncture is most effective when combined with standard medical therapies.

While standard medical therapy is effective, there is plenty of room in treatment regimens for alternative therapies. Fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment is one form of complementary therapy that has been demonstrated effective in clinical trials.

What is Fibromyalgia Acupuncture Treatment?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin and underlying tissue. It is thought that gently twisting the needles causes a release of endorphins into the blood stream. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers and are exceptionally effective in reducing the pain of fibromyalgia.

Benefits

Several studies have shown that acupuncture may actually alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters. It is well known that a chemical imbalance in the brain involving neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine is one of the key factors in the development and persistence of fibromyalgia symptoms. It is thought that this change in brain chemistry contributes to a hypersensitization of the system that perceives pain.

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, appeared to be effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia. In fact, this study found that acupuncture could be more effective in certain individuals for reducing pain and for improving depression when combined with the traditional Chinese therapy of cupping. This approach was even more effective than medication in certain individuals.

A study in 2011 that reviewed several clinical trials of fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment found that acupuncture has a positive effect. It also found that the combination of acupuncture with western medicine can strengthen the curative effect of both therapies.

Last, a 2010 study in the journal of Chinese Medicine found that fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment was effective in relieving pain in terms of quality of life and fibromyalgia impact questionnaires. The fibromyalgia impact questionnaire is a set of questions use to evaluate the severity of pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. After fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment, pain as rated by this questionnaire dropped in a statistically significant manner.

Drawbacks

Interestingly, acupuncture seems to be more effective with more severe symptoms of fibromyalgia. Patients with mild to moderate symptoms may receive no benefit from fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment while patients with severe disease may experience significant improvement. Though this is not necessarily a drawback, it is worth noting for patients who have mild symptoms and are considering acupuncture.

Acupuncture is generally not covered by insurance and as such can become an expensive out of pocket cost. Nevertheless, several insurance companies will reimburse for alternative therapies if they are approved by a physician.

Some people experience side effects from acupuncture that can include nausea, feinting, fatigue, and headache. It is also possible to cause infection, bleeding, and tissue damage if acupuncture is performed incorrectly. It is important when seeking alternative therapies to keep in mind that practitioners are generally not licensed by state medical boards and may not have the appropriate credentials for performing these procedures.

Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be effective in multiple chronic pain syndromes. It is also known that acupuncture causes release of moderate amounts of endorphins into the blood stream. As it is well known that endorphins, as the body’s natural painkillers, are especially effective in reducing the pain of fibromyalgia, acupuncture is one of the few alternative therapies with a solid mechanism of action to support its efficacy. Fibromyalgia acupuncture treatment should be considered by anyone who suffers from fibromyalgia pain, particularly if it is severe.