Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue and mood changes and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, TMJ, and digestive disorders. More than five million Americans (mostly women) have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The cause is largely unknown. Symptoms sometimes begin after an accident or trauma, surgery or adverse psychological event. Sometimes symptoms come on gradually for no apparent reason. No one knows for sure what causes the pain, but researchers are looking into the possibility that pain signals are amplified in the brain. Because symptoms vary and cannot always be verified by diagnostic testing, it can be difficult to diagnose. Fibromyalgia has slowly gained mainstream acceptance by physicians, yet it remains controversial in some circles. Unfortunately, some sufferers are still told “It’s all in your head”. There is no known cure, but treatment usually involves medications to manage symptoms.

Practitioners of Chinese Medicine see fibromyalgia as an accumulation of what we call “Wind”. Wind is a cause of dis-ease in Chinese Medicine characterized by pain and changing symptoms. Wind can be caused by trauma, psychological stress or an illness the body has not been able to fully overcome. Chinese Medicine works by giving the body a boost to continue the healing it’s already trying to accomplish. Acupuncture and herbs work together to detoxify the body and eliminate the root cause of fibromyalgia symptoms. Fibromyalgia usually responds very well to treatment by Chinese Medicine.

Erin Long, AP, L.Ac., practices at Dong Ye Acupuncture's Palm Bay office located at 2105 Palm Bay Road, Suite 2. 321-723-3017. Dong Ye Acupuncture also has an office in Cocoa located at 2130 King Street 321-634-5800.