Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness in the muscles and tendons. Pain can be so intense it can be debilitating.
Prolonged pain will also lead to signs of depression and fatigue among patients. A recent study conducted at the Dona Mercedes Primary Health Center in Spain concluded that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and improving symptoms of anxiety and depression even up to 1 year AFTER the treatment. They compared these improvements to those treated with standard care (drugs) as well as "sham" acupuncture and found that "real" acupuncture gave significantly better results. While these results were consistent with several studies conducted in the United States including an older study done at the Mayo Clinic, this Spanish study custom-tailored the acupuncture treatment per the individual patient. The more individualized treatment is thought to give a better result and may explain the high degree of success of the study.