The fibromyalgia acupuncture solution works because we treat the condition’s root cause – the digestive system. From a Chinese medicine perspective, fibromyalgia is due to Spleen Qi deficiency, resulting in weak digestion and stomach function. By strengthening digestion, acupuncture decreases pain in the body and reduces the frequency and intensity of fibro flares.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Twenty years ago, if you were a woman in her thirties or forties with pain all over your body and bouts of exhaustion that would knock you out for days at a time, doctors would prescribe you antidepressants and tell you to reduce your stress.
Today, Western medicine has much more sophisticated explanations for fibromyalgia symptoms, ranging from autoimmune disease to chronic inflammatory disease. The problem is that there are still not many suitable Western treatments for the condition. Luckily there is a good fibromyalgia acupuncture solution.
A popular Western medical treatment for fibromyalgia is Cymbalta (duloxetine), a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant (SSNRI). Cymbalta treats depression, anxiety, and chronic muscle and joint pain. While helpful for some, this medication addresses symptoms, not the root. Depression does not cause body pain – pain causes depression. Therefore, the best way to treat fibromyalgia is to address the source, precisely what Chinese medicine does.
Fibromyalgia Acupuncture Solution
When you arrive for your first appointment, we conduct an intake to identify the underlying root imbalance for the pain and fatigue you are experiencing. This imbalance determines your Chinese medicine differential diagnosis. For example, many patients with fibromyalgia have some variation of Spleen Qi deficiency and dampness accumulation.
Your fibromyalgia acupuncture solution includes acupoints to address the root imbalance plus additional points treating specific symptoms (i.e., knee pain, swelling, insomnia, anxiety). This two-pronged treatment approach provides both short-term and long-term relief, addressing the symptoms as well as the underlying imbalances responsible for them.
Fibromyalgia Case Example
We recently treated a 42-year-old woman diagnosed with fibromyalgia the year before by her orthopedist. The doctor prescribed Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Buspar (for anxiety). These medications helped about 10 percent, but she did not like the side effects and wanted a more holistic approach.
A comprehensive intake exam revealed her pattern imbalance to be Spleen and Heart Qi/Blood deficiency and Liver Qi stagnation. She had constant pain in her knees, neck, shoulders, and ankles. In addition, she was exhausted, had no appetite, had difficulty sleeping, and had generalized anxiety.
Fibromyalgia Treatment With Acupuncture
Our patient’s treatment plan addressed her underlying Spleen and Heart deficiency, which strengthened her digestion, yielding more energy from her food. Better energy would nourish her joints and muscles. In addition, addressing her Liver Qi stagnation helped manage stress and reduce pain.
Our patient’s pain decreased by 20 percent, with improved energy and less anxiety and stress within three treatments. More importantly, she felt a sense of hope that she had not felt in a long time. We continued weekly therapy for another three sessions, at which point her pain was 50 percent less, and she had significantly fewer fibro flares during the week. At this point, we dropped the frequency of her treatments to once a month.
Having The Right Healthcare Team
It is beneficial for fibromyalgia patients to have an excellent Western doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, and massage therapist in addition to an acupuncturist. There is currently no cure for the condition, which means the patient needs to manage, requiring ongoing care. Once a patient feels better, the fibromyalgia acupuncture solution once a month is usually sufficient for ongoing maintenance. This approach works well when the patient simultaneously receives good care from other providers.
Next Steps
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What our Clients are Saying
I am a long term patient of Raleigh Acupuncture. Prior to being under their care, I was disabled with terrible fatigue and pain all over my body. I was unable to drive, could only walk less than a block, and had numerous symptoms that mystified doctors. After countless lab work, x-rays, and MRI’s, several doctors including my primary physician told me that there was nothing that could be done. According to them, it was either an illness that was undiagnosable or it was all in my head. When I came to Raleigh Acupuncture, it was a breath of fresh air. They took me very seriously and were not mystified by my condition. They assured me that my condition was treatable and manageable. They treat me with respect, dignity and care; something that I didn’t receive at my primary care doctor. Thanks to their treatments I am now living a normal life. They have restored my health and taught me how to manage my condition. My family and friends can’t believe how much improvement I have made. My son is grateful to have his mommy back! And I am eternally grateful to Raleigh Acupuncture! They truly have the gift of healing!
I would like to thank Raleigh Acupuncture for the wonderful and very helpful treatments. I had been seeing them for my insomnia, which was making excellent progress at the time and has since been cured. On a previous Monday I was involved in a minor traffic accident. Due to the stress of the accident on Tuesday I awoke in a severe flare-up of my fibromyalgia. The pain was so bad I took pain killers and stayed in bed for the day. The following day I had an appointment with Dr. Mark which I wanted to cancel. My husband suggested I keep the appointment and tell Dr. Mark about the pain. After our discussion, he modified the treatment he had planned for me and treated the pain. I came home, took another pain pill and went back to bed. The following morning I woke pain free and have been since, which is about 2 to 3 months. Thanks again Raleigh Acupuncture!
I still am forever in your debt for helping me through the Lymes recovery. My body pain and fatigue were overwhelming before getting acupuncture. I still tell everyone today that I am 100% positive that my recovery was a direct result of your expert care. Truly. I have very little residual effects from the disease that I can easily live with. So again,thank you not only for your amazing skills, but for the compassion and kindness that you showed me during that time.
All of my joints were hurting. I’ve got fibromyalgia and it effects me by making my joints hurt. The pain would move around from place to place, first the hip, the next day the shoulder, then the knee, etc. The practitioner at Raleigh Acupuncture explained that the best way to treat my kind of moving joint pain was to treat me holistically. Instead of treating the hip one day, the shoulder the next, they treated the root of the pain. They said this type of treatment would also improve my mood and my sleep. Right on all counts. I started feeling better after the second treatment. It’s like all of the joints just settled down and stopped giving me trouble. I had less flares and the intensity of the pain went way down. My sleep is better, not just because I have less pain. I’m more relaxed and less stressed. I’ve made this treatment a regular part of my life. I’m very grateful.
I’ve been going to Raleigh Acupuncture for 4+ years. I first went to them because I was having problems with my monthly period lasting two weeks or more, hot flashes that were extreme, and all over pain from fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition. I was in a state of depression and despair, unable to work, or do things I love to do, like working in my yard. On a good day, I could perform simple household chores, perhaps a little yoga, and that was all. My first few visits brought relief from hot flashes, terrible neck pain, and wrap-around pain in my ribs that restricted my ability to breathe comfortably. I felt this was a miracle as I had suffered for many years, and had no idea it was so easily remedied. This miraculous ride continued as I took Chinese herbs for aiding my menopausal symptoms, sinus problems, anxiety, and general pain. As time went on I began to depend on Raleigh Acupuncture for psychological strengthening as well. Nowhere else have I found anyone that really listens to what I have to say without thinking I was crazy. Today, as I sit and reflect, I am about to graduate from an intense two year program for Landscape Architecture Technology. I took a huge leap when I signed up for full-time classes when I was 50 years old. I have enjoyed great success, making one B in 64 credit hours, the rest were A’s! In February of 2011, I was in a car accident where I was sandwiched between a van and a school bus. I was able to continue school and finish the semester, I believe because of my acupuncture treatments. I contribute most of my academic success, emotional well-being, and diminished pain to Raleigh Acupuncture.