Around 1 in 25 of the UK population has fibromyalgia, a lifelong condition involving widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and functional impairment, without any known structural or inflammatory cause (Annemans 2008; Hauser 2008; De Silva 2010; Burckhardt 1994).

The main aims of therapy are to reduce symptoms, to improve function, and to help patients adapt to the condition (Hauser 2008). Treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy and medication such as simple analgesics or NSAIDs, tramadol, antidepressants (low-dose tricyclics or antidepressant doses of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors) and antiepileptics (e.g. gabapentin, pregabalin).

A recent review assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture against conventional medication and found it to be better than drugs in terms of pain relief. Acupuncture may have the greatest benefit when applied together with medication or other therapeutic options.

I’ve successfully helped many people suffering with fibromyalgia. If you’d like to book you can do so online here. Alternatively, you can email or contact me via my contact form here.

Source: British Acupuncture Council. More information is available from the British Acupuncture Council about fibromyalgia here

Photo Credit: Yuris Alhumaydy