By Andrew Agoado AP – Parkland, Florida – Fibromyalgia is a condition distinguished by pervasive muscular pain accompanied by overwhelming fatigue, poor sleep, impaired memory and mood instability issues. It is widely believed that fibromyalgia exacerbates painful sensations by affecting how your cerebral cortex processes pain signals.
Symptoms sometimes begin after significant psychological stress, a physical trauma, surgery, or infection. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men.
The good news is that acupuncture has been proven to be an effective treatment modality for fibromyalgia. Let us explore the types, causes, and conventional treatments before we elaborate on the efficacy of acupuncture for fibromyalgia.
Types of pain associated with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is occasioned by painful sensations experienced all over the body. The pain can be broken down into paresthesia, allodynia and hyperalgesia. Most patients experience two of these forms of pain at the same time but there are situations in which the three will hit you at once. Pain from this disorder can range from mild to debilitating.
- Hyperalgesia – This pain amplifies sensitivity. For example, impact from the fall of a quarter-pound stone can bring forth pain expected from something two or three times heavier.
- Allodynia – Sometimes, you experience pain from a simple nudge that should not elicit pain in normal circumstances. Patients of fibromyalgia will experience pain from actions such as a pat on the back or even a kiss on the cheek. Their brains will also interpret mild noise as voluminous. Allodynia pain can lean toward touch (tactile), heat (thermal) or contact (mechanical).
- Paresthesia – Paresthesia manifests itself in the form of sensations that could be burning, tingling and numbness. One of the most popular sensations with this type of pain is the ‘pins-and-needles’ feeling.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
Medical experts agree that this condition is not the result of one agent; rather, it is the effect of a number of factors. Genetics is one of those considerations, and this assertion is rooted in the fact that fibromyalgia exists in bloodlines. Other triggers are physical or emotional trauma and some infections.
Approaches to the treatment of Fibromyalgia
Most of the time, your doctor will recommend that you take regular medication. Painkillers, for example, help reduce your pain, while antidepressants help you feel less tired, less depressed and less anxious. Professionals have also been known to advise patients to make use of alternative / holistic treatments.
Fibromyalgia as a condition is escalated by inadequate sleep. This is because when you lack sleep, your body will not able to rest, build immunity or repair broken-down cells. Getting enough sleep will help you manage the condition.
Acupuncture as a remedy for Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture is a well documented form of endorphin releasing pain relief that has been in use for centuries. Part of its appeal is that the approach is holistic, treats the whole body and works without producing negative side effects. Targeted acupoints in your body are chosen to stimulate blood flow, provide proper oxygenation to every cell in the body, and positively affect neurotransmitters in the brain. The end result being a decreased feeling of pain and increased energy.
The amount of sessions required before change is experienced varies from one patient to the next but usually positive results are seen within the first 3-5 sessions. Clinical trials have shown acupuncture to have a high level of efficacy, and this has been echoed in many a science report.
Our Parkland, Florida acupuncture clinic boasts scores of patients who have come through the doors and walked out happy and pain free. Let Dr. Andrew Agoado help you too! Contact our office today for a free consultation.