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Do you know anyone suffering from fibromyalgia? This challenging pain condition involves muscle pain and tenderness in multiple joints or areas of the body, often leading to chronic discomfort that can be difficult to manage. Individuals with fibromyalgia may also experience fatigue, poor sleep, memory issues, and mood changes, which can significantly limit their ability to enjoy activities they love, like exercising, gardening, or spending time with grandkids.
The good news is that acupuncture has shown promise in helping with fibromyalgia. A 2017 study demonstrated that acupuncture significantly reduced pain intensity, fatigue, and depression in fibromyalgia patients. You can read the research here: [Insert Link: The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial – PubMed (nih.gov)]. One of the most appealing aspects is that acupuncture has no reported side effects, making it an attractive option for managing this condition.
So, how many treatments are needed?
Typically, acupuncture treatments begin with one session per week for 8 weeks. Acupuncture’s cumulative effects mean that after each treatment, patients should experience gradual improvement that lasts a little longer each time.
After the initial series of weekly treatments, we can start spacing them out, say every 2 or 3 weeks, to assess how you’re feeling and if the relief is still present.
Considering fibromyalgia’s chronic nature, I usually recommend a maintenance treatment once a month for my patients. Regular acupuncture treatments are more effective in symptom management and preventing flares compared to waiting until a flare-up occurs to seek treatment.
If you or a loved one is struggling to manage fibromyalgia, I highly recommend giving acupuncture a try. It is a safe and effective option that can allow you to reclaim your everyday activities and enjoy life to the fullest.
If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out. Just clickthe button above to book your session.
