As sufferers know too well, effective treatment for fibromyalgia can be hard to come by, in part because its exact causes are not well understood. So, a recent study from Spain – which looked at the use of acupuncture to ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia – is welcome news.
Fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition, because it impairs soft tissue and joints and causes pain. Other life-disrupting symptoms can include fatigue, headaches, muscle stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and sensitivity to temperature, sounds and bright lights.
Dr. Alistair Kennedy, MD, a Vero Beach rheumatologist, says, “Fibromyalgia is diagnosed by excluding other conditions. Because its causes are unknown and it is difficult to treat, it is thought of as the orphan of rheumatology.” Not surprisingly, the condition takes an emotional as well as physical toll; anxiety and depression are common among those with fibromyalgia.
The study, conducted at Doňa Mercedes Primary Health Centre in Seville, compared tailored acupuncture (the course of treatment was determined by the needs of individual patients) with sham acupuncture (no needles were actually inserted). The 153 patients who participated in the study did not know which group they were assigned to.
Each patient received weekly 20-minute-long treatments (either tailored or sham) for 9 weeks. The participants completed questionnaires before the study, at 10 weeks, at 6 months and at 12 months, rating parameters such as levels of pain, depression and the overall impact of the disease on their lives.
At the 10-week mark (one week after the end of the study), the tailored acupuncture group reported a 41 percent drop in pain, with the sham acupuncture group reporting a 27 percent reduction. By the 12-month mark (about 10 months after the study ended), the tailored group and the sham group reported 20 percent and 6 percent reductions in pain, respectively. Also at 12 months, the tailored group reported a 22 percent reduction in fibromyalgia’s negative impact on their quality of life, while the sham group reported a 5 percent reduction.
These results show acupuncture has a positive impact on fibromyalgia well above and beyond the placebo effect – a phenomenon in which a sham treatment can sometimes improve a patient’s condition or reduce their level of pain.
Tammy Anderson is a Florida-licensed and nationally board certified Acupuncture Physician in Vero Beach; she also holds a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine. She says she and her colleagues have successfully treated many fibromyalgia sufferers.
“Patients often come to us after they have exhausted traditional treatments offered by Western medicine, but still have pain,” Anderson say. “Acupuncture can be very beneficial; we see patients begin to function well again, relieved of their pain.”
Dr. Anderson emphasizes that each acupuncture treatment is customized to the individual, and may change session to session depending how the pain is “presenting” that day.
In keeping with the holistic nature of acupuncture – its purpose, according to Dr. Anderson, is to bring the body into homeostasis (balance) – customized dietary recommendations are also provided.
Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5 million Americans, 90 percent of whom are women. While doctors don’t know what causes the condition, it most likely involves a number of factors working together, such as:
• Genetics. Fibromyalgia tends to run in families; certain genetic mutations may make people more susceptible to developing the condition.
• Certain illnesses. Some illnesses appear to trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia. Dr. Kennedy says viruses can be a culprit, and that sufferers are at a heightened risk if they are at a low ebb, either physically or psychologically.
• Physical or emotional trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder has been linked to fibromyalgia. Dr. Kennedy says, “Anything that produces stress can aggravate the condition.”
Medications are often prescribed to reduce the pain caused by fibromyalgia, including over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol), ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (e.g. Aleve). Non-narcotic prescription pain relievers, anti-depressants and anti-seizure drugs also are prescribed to help ease pain associated with the disease.
Perhaps because of the lack of medical treatments for fibromyalgia, one study found that more than 90 percent of sufferers seek help from alternative treatments such as acupuncture, massage, yoga and hydrotherapy.
Those who opt for acupuncture should be treated two or three times a week to start with, according to Dr. Anderson. “It’s like going to the gym,” she says. “Each treatment is a building block for the next. Once there is pain relief, patients can cut back; perhaps to a monthly maintenance treatment.”
The Mayo Clinic offers the following lifestyle advice for those with fibromyalgia:
• Reduce stress. Develop a plan to avoid or limit overexertion and emotional stress. Allow yourself time each day to relax. Try stress management techniques, such as deep-breathing exercises or meditation.
• Get enough sleep. Because fatigue is one of the main characteristics of fibromyalgia, getting sufficient sleep is essential. In addition to allotting enough time for sleep, practice good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time each day and limiting daytime napping.
• Exercise regularly. At first, exercise may increase your pain. But doing it gradually and regularly often decreases symptoms. Appropriate exercises may include walking, swimming, biking and hydrotherapy. Stretching, good posture and relaxation exercises are also helpful.
• Pace yourself. Keep your activity on an even level. If you do too much on your good days, you may have more bad days. Moderation also means not self-limiting or doing too little on the days when symptoms flare. Try to do something every day that you find enjoyable and fulfilling.
Dr. Kennedy’s office is located at 1300 36th Street, #1A; the office phone is 772.569.8550.
Dr. Anderson practices as part of Absolute Integrated Medicine at 1575 Indian River Blvd., Suite C136; the office phone is 772-770-6184; the website is http://verobeachacupuncture.com/.
