Fibromyalgia
Conditions
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, debilitating pain disorder that can also affect a person’s memory, mood and sleep pattern. It’s much more common in women than men, with 4 out of 5 of people affected being female. Its exact cause isn’t known, but it runs in families and is linked to other chronic pain disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
Fibromyalgia has many symptoms, which tend to vary from person to person. As there is no specific medical test for this condition, it’s usually diagnosed on the basis of the patient’s symptoms, which may include
- - Constant, dull muscle and soft tissue pain and sensitivity all over the body, lasting more than 3 month
- - Headaches
- - Cognitive issues known as ‘fibro fog’, which make difficult to focus or pay attention
- - Fatigue – frequently feeling tired and weak
- - Digestive issues
- - Insomnia or poor sleep and waking unrefreshed
- - Feeling nervous, anxious or depressed
Acupuncture can be effective in relieving the pain and distress that fibromyalgia brings and my patients have also found it very helpful in tackling ‘fibro fog’ and restoring their mental clarity and focus.