Roughly four million people in the United States, or around 2% of the adult population, have fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Getting a diagnosis and treatment plan is often challenging because the disease manifests and responds differently in many people. One common denominator is pain.
Because getting a diagnosis and finding an effective treatment plan can be challenging, many patients who come to Family Acupuncture and Wellness with fibromyalgia are frustrated. Our staff, led by Adam Learner, LAc, understands that frustration, but we’re here to tell you: there’s hope.
A common issue among fibromyalgia patients is that they see different doctors who treat symptoms in isolation. Few conventional healthcare providers consider your body as one, whole organism, with all of your systems working in conjunction with each other.
As a functional medicine practitioner, Adam Learner approaches each patient as a unique individual. Rather than addressing your symptoms one at a time in isolation, he begins by considering your overall health and addressing any underlying issues that could be causing your symptoms.
The western medicine approach often doesn’t have great results for fibromyalgia patients, but there’s increasing evidence that a more whole-person approach works. Some of the alternative therapies that show great promise include things like supplements, massage, acupuncture, and an individualized nutrition and exercise plan.
At Family Acupuncture and Wellness, our practitioners are trained in Chinese herbal medicine. We may suggest specific supplements based on your symptoms, overall health, and your blood work. The goal is to stimulate your body to produce what it needs in order to heal, rather than to provide a synthetic version of what you’re lacking.
Massage therapy is generally a very safe treatment option, and according to the American Massage Therapy Association, “more and more research is showing that massage therapy provides real benefits to people dealing with a number of health conditions, including fibromyalgia.”
Massage can help improve flexibility, provide myofascial release, and reduce stress, all of which can ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Acupuncture is an approach that is sometimes successful where conventional medicine is not, and we’ve seen patients with fibromyalgia experience relief through acupuncture. Acupuncture can provide some pain relief, stress reduction, help you sleep, and give you an overall feeling of well-being.
Nutrition and exercise are two of the simplest and most confusing “prescriptions” in medicine. There are so many different and contradictory approaches to nutrition that it’s no wonder people often struggle with knowing what they should eat.
When it comes to exercise, you may have so much pain and fatigue you don’t feel like you’re capable of exercise. We can give you guidance and help you find a form of exercise that is gentle and effective and right for you.
One of the keys to nutrition and exercise is getting advice from skilled professionals that is tailored to you and your specific situation. At Family Acupuncture and Wellness, we begin from a whole person perspective, which means we take your health into account, but also your circumstances. This allows us to create a treatment plan that will work for you!
Schedule an appointment today. There is hope for living an optimal life with fibromyalgia.
