Fibromyalgia
Typically if you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you’ve been suffering for a while. Many people struggle with muscle pain, fatigue, and headaches for years before they’re able to figure out what’s wrong. Fibromyalgia is a fairly recent and vague diagnosis, simply because there is not a definitive test for it. As a result, we see many different presentations. Common symptoms include:
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue/Low Energy
- Trouble Sleeping
- Stiffness, especially in the morning
- Headache
- Painful Periods
- Tingling/Numbness in hands and feet
- Memory and Focus difficulties
Western medicine has not defined a cause; often stressful events, repetitive injuries and illness are contributing factors, but not always. Similarly, treatment options are limited – usually to medications.
In Chinese medicine, your physical body and emotions are intimately linked. My patients almost always comment on emotional stressors as well.
A variety of natural remedies will likely be more effective, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, exercise, nutrition, massage and chiropractic. I have had great success treating fibromyalgia patients with acupuncture. Because acupuncture works by releasing energetic blockages, improvements in energy levels and circulation are among the biggest benefits. When circulation and balanced energy flow are restored, you will notice improvements in energy levels and pain. Acupuncture also affects neurotransmitter levels, reducing anxiety and depression and improving your quality of sleep. As a bonus, acupuncture intercepts pain signals in the body, heading off sensations of discomfort and pain.
Since fibromyalgia is complex and often chronic, a series of treatments will likely be recommended, but patients often start to experience improvements relatively quickly. I utilize a combination of acupuncture, herbal prescriptions, nutrition, and movement to optimize your results. We also have a massage therapist on site to tailor your treatment plan to you.
Go ahead, breathe a deep sigh of relief!
