Fibromyalgia is condition that creates widespread musculoskeletal pain. Fibromyalgia can also cause a person to have fatigue, altered sleep, memory and mood issues. People that suffer from fibromyalgia have an enhanced sensation of pain because of the way the brain and spinal cord process the pain signals traveling through them.
Lets dig a little deeper and break down the term FIBROMYALGIA.
Fibro = Fiber
Myo = Muscle
Algia = Pain
The diagnosis translates to Fiber Muscle Pain. We now understand its a wide spread pain of the muscle fibers. So why should we be excited about that?
BECAUSE ACUPUNCTURE IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING MUSCLE PAIN!!!
So how can acupuncture help exactly?
Acupuncture can help decrease the sensation of pain through the entire body! Pain can be blocked or negated by targeting specific acupuncture points that spark the release the bodies natural endogenous opioids. Endogenous opioids are the bodies natural pain killers. Local tissue should also be targeted directly. This will help reduce pain and inflammation by encouraging a local healing affect to the most painful areas. Reducing a patients pain levels will also help battle the fatigue and increase patients energy levels. Chronic pain is exhausting and can drain patients of their energy.
Pain is just one component of how acupuncture can help Fibromyalgia patients. Correcting a patients ability to sleep and regulating a patients sleep – wake cycle is extremely important in helping these patients heal. If your not sleeping well then your body cannot heal. Getting patients to sleep longer and deeper is another very achievable goal with acupuncture. Again, targeting specific acupuncture points will help regulate the structures of the mid brain aiding in correcting the bodies ability to sleep. Sleeping better will help patients heal faster but will also help regulate their mood and reduce fatigue.
