Acupuncture for CFIDS/FM Patients
June 25, 2006 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
A study on acupuncture and Fibromyalgia was just reported on in the July publication of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The study included 50 Fibromyalgia patients, who participated in controlled trials, to determine if acupuncture actually improved any of their symptoms.
The results of the study convince me there is something more than the placebo effect to acupuncture,” says David Martin, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the acupuncture article and a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist. “It affirms a lot of clinical impressions that this complementary medical technique is helpful for patients.”
This study found that not only was acupuncture well tolerated by these patients, but that it significantly reduced symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety, and that there were minimal side effects.
I have been undergoing acupuncture treatment for 10 months now. I did not start going for CFS/FM, rather for Chronic Bronchitis ( a condition that I developed from CFS). Before my treatments, I would be sick for about 40 weeks a year with bronchitis (4 bouts a year, for about 10 weeks each). Since I have started acupuncture, I have had one relapse of bronchitis, which lasted 2 weeks. I can definitely tell you there have been huge improvements, since I started. I no longer get colds as easily as I used to. In fact, I am rarely sick at all now.
Acupuncture has definitely been the most important treatment (western medicine or complimentary) that I have found, for my recovery , and I have tried a few. I do find it to be a little tiring, which is why I schedule appointments on a weekend, when I don’t have a lot going on. So when I get home, I can take a nap. In my experience, a couple of hours a month lying on a table with some needles pricking me (which do not hurt at all) is so much better than endless days of pain, fatigue, and illness.
Of course, acupuncture, is just one of many options out there for persons with FM/CFIDS. It just so happens, that it is working really well for me. If the medicine that your doctor prescribes for you is working ~ then fantastic. If not, there are other paths to take
Pain is an unpleasant sensation of the body which may be relateed with actual or potential tissue damage and which may have physical and emotional components. Pain is a subjective experience that typically accompanies nociception, but can also arise without any stimulus, and thus includes the emotional response. Painis a critical component of the body’s defense system.
Acupuncture is a centuries-old chinese method of healing. Acupuncture is the insertion of really fine needles (sometimes in conjunction with electric current). Acupuncture is something that has mystified and baffled scientists researchers and the public for some time.
Elby
I tried acupressure, which is a deep tissue massage and stimulates the acupoints like in acupuncture.
I think it got to be one of the best things for me so far, along with Alexander technique. However finding a good acupressure or Tui Na practitioner could be difficult in many western countries. If you find a therapist, you might want to give it a try. The advantage over acupuncture is it also loosen all those knots that fibromyalgia patients like me have. If you can take the pain that comes with the deep massage, it works well!
http://fms-ra.blogspot.com/2006/12/what-works-for-my-fibromyalgia-so-far.html
http://fms-ra.blogspot.com/2006/04/tuina-for-my-fibromyalgia.html
I have tried acupressure as well, and while it worked wonders for the condition, I had at the time I was more than a little put off by the practicioner. I didnt feel comfortable returning, and now I just have a strange association with it…so I dont seek that out as a treatment.
I love that you practice Alexander Technique. I am going to look for a teacher this year. I find your experience with it to be inspiring. And I know first hand, how great Alexander can be for some people…..and my experience is very small compared to yours. Look for a post soon on AT on this blog.