Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia in Denver
Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain and tenderness, often accompanied by fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive symptoms and heightened sensitivity.
Unlike a localized injury, fibromyalgia is strongly associated with changes in how the nervous system processes and amplifies sensory and pain signals. It is therefore closely related to what is now called nociplastic or centralized pain.
Prognosis
Fibromyalgia is usually a chronic, fluctuating condition rather than an injury that simply heals within a set number of weeks.
The goal of treatment is to turn down pain sensitivity while improving sleep, movement, energy and the ability to tolerate normal activity.
What Does the Research Say?
Research supports acupuncture as a treatment for fibromyalgia.
A 2024 meta-analysis comparing acupuncture with placebo treatment found significant improvements in both pain and fatigue. Earlier systematic-review evidence similarly found benefits for pain compared with no treatment or standard therapy.
A newer 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis has continued to examine both short- and longer-term effects on the core symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Typical Course of Care
We generally start gently and consistently—usually weekly for 6–8 visits—and adjust the treatment intensity to the patient's sensitivity.
Improvement may first show up as:
Better sleep
Fewer severe flares
Shorter recovery after activity
Less widespread tenderness
Greater exercise tolerance
Acupuncture and Other Treatment
Fibromyalgia responds best to a multimodal approach.
NIAMS identifies exercise as a key component of treatment and notes that psychological therapies and medications may also be useful.
Acupuncture can complement graded exercise, CBT or pain psychology, sleep treatment and medications such as duloxetine or pregabalin when appropriate.
Schedule an evaluation at Backupuncture of Denver (950 S Cherry St, Suite 1675
Denver, CO 80246; tel. 720.370.2711) for fibromyalgia or widespread chronic pain.