There are two hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia: pain and fatigue. Unfortunately, those two symptoms can make it difficult to sleep, to exercise, or to use coping strategies such as meditation. Dr. Anna Lee at Bergen Pain & Rehab has pioneered a new treatment that can help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia, naturally.
Eliminating symptoms one at a time
Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so varied. Common symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Sleep disturbances
- Trigger (or tender) point pain
- Skin sensitivity
- Rash
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Digestive problems
- Issues with balance
- Nerve pain in your hands or feet
- Vision problems
- Problems remembering and concentration
- Widespread pain
- Restless leg syndrome
- Menstrual problems
Your symptoms may not be the same as another person’s, and Dr. Lee works with each patient individually to identify and treat your specific symptoms.
Trigger point pain and A-IMS
A-IMS, or automated intramuscular stimulation, is a revolutionary treatment that has helped thousands of people with chronic pain. Dr. Lee administers A-IMS using a specialized device with a Teflon-coated needle.
In some ways, A-IMS is similar to acupuncture and dry needling, which have been shown to be beneficial in reducing fibromyalgia pain. However, there are some critical differences between A-IMS and these other methods.
A-IMS focuses on treating tender, painful knots deep in your muscle tissue called trigger points, where acupuncture is based on streams of energy called meridians. Trigger points are tight, sensitive bands of muscle fiber that cause pain. Dry needling is done manually, and compared to A-IMS, produces inconsistent, feeble results.
Traditional acupuncture needles and those used in dry needling are too fine to penetrate trigger points, but the A-IMS needle is thicker. The device Dr. Lee uses to administer A-IMS penetrates to the exact depth necessary to elicit what is called a twitch response from your muscles. The result is that the trigger points are loosened, which lessens your pain.
In fibromyalgia, trigger points are sometimes called tender points. You may have pain when touching one of these sensitive spots. A-IMS is a particularly effective treatment for fibromyalgia if you have trigger point pain.
Headaches and A-IMS
Another common symptom of fibromyalgia is frequent headaches, including migraine attacks. Often, the headaches are caused by tight muscles in your neck. A-IMS can reduce the tension in those muscles, which eliminates the cause of your pain.
Sleep disturbances and A-IMS
Poor sleep is a common problem for people with fibromyalgia. Given the fact that fatigue is also a common symptom of fibromyalgia, poor sleep can make your whole situation worse.
If you aren’t sleeping well because of pain, A-IMS may be the best treatment. A-IMS loosens the tension in your muscles, reducing your level of pain, and may allow you to sleep more comfortably. With better sleep, you may experience less fatigue.
The risk is low, and the potential for relief is high
A-IMS carries few risks. Dr. Lee provides pre-treatment that will ensure you’re comfortable during the treatment. You may have some slight bruising following treatment.
However, you may well feel as if you’ve experienced a miracle cure after A-IMS treatment. The procedure can loosen trigger point knots much more quickly than other methods, providing pain relief in an amazingly short amount of time.
If you’re ready to learn more about this amazing new treatment and to find out if you’re a good candidate, book your appointment with Dr. Anna Lee at Bergen Pain and Rehab today. Scheduling online or by phone is quick and easy!