Many people, as they age, find it difficult to go about their normal activities as they used to. When you are afflicted with fibromyalgia, even small chores like getting out of bed could be daunting. Therefore, they are finding ways and means about some method which will give them some relief with their chronic pain.
A number of people are turning to the East for the chronic pain associated with many medical conditions, not without reason. Age-old eastern therapies like acupuncture and massage therapies are reestablishing a foothold in relieving the pain associated with many medical conditions all over the world. Let us look at some of the alternative approaches to Fibromyalgia.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine (CAM)
Alternative therapies focus on holistic improvement in a patient's health taking into account the patient's physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors. Western world is waking up to these predominantly Eastern holistic methods which are proving to be effective in most cases. Nearly 70% of Americans have used at least one form of CAM therapy in their lifetime, according to a survey conducted in 2001. Many fibromyalgia patients, who suffer severe debilitating pain and stiffness, are finding respite in alternative therapies.
Different Alternative Therapies
- Acupuncture: More and more fibromyalgia patients are turning to acupuncture. This is a treatment where acupuncture needles are placed on specific points to stimulate these points. According to acupuncturist Eunice Kan, LAc, in Burlingame, California, "all these points are connected to an energy force called qi. Therefore, for the treatment of pain in one place, say your back, needle is placed at your foot or some other place." Acupuncture does not hurt, but if somebody is allergic to needles, acupressure and electrical stimulation is used.
- Massage Therapy: Massage therapy involves stroking, pressing and kneading different parts of the body. Fibromyalgia symptoms of pain and stiffness can be greatly reduced by massage therapy. Massage therapy works on the muscle, tendons, and ligaments, improving the blood circulation and muscle tone. Although the direct effect of massage is felt by the muscles under the skin, glands and organs lying deeper are also stimulated by massage therapy. As blood circulation improves, the lymphatic system works more efficiently in eliminating waste matter.
- Hypnosis: Hypnotherapy is emerging as an effective treatment in many medical conditions, including fibromyalgia. Many medical conditions aggravate because of unproductive thought patterns and behaviors. Hypnotherapy play a role in altering these very thought patterns and behaviors into more productive ones, thus enabling your body to progress in the healing path. Hypnosis involves giving positive suggestions to the patient by a hypnotherapist after placing the patient in a trance-like state.
- Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a technique where patients are taught to listen to their body signals. This greatly helps in coping with chronic symptoms. This method is used to cure paralysis in stroke patients as well as help release tension in anxious patients. Electromyography (EMG) is a very effective biofeedback technique for fibromyalgia patients. It reads their muscle spasms and shortenings.
- Others: The other less effective alternative therapies for fibromyalgia are naturopathy, homeopathy, or chiropractic manipulations.
A lot of caution should be exercised before deciding any alternative therapies. "Natural" does not always mean "safe." Your doctor is the best judge in this matter. Therefore, always decide about which treatment to take in conjunction with your doctor. The therapy you choose should be successful in reducing your pain or at least help you cope with your pain as well as improve your sleep quality.
