03/08/2025
Living with Fibromyalgia?
Read about my Journey and how Acupuncture helps me:
Fibromyalgia is often called an invisible illness, and in many ways, it is. From the outside, I might look fine – but on the inside, there are days when everything hurts, when even the smallest task feels overwhelming and I just have to keep going.
This is my story of living with fibromyalgia - the ups and downs, and how acupuncture has become one of the most powerful tools in helping me reclaim my life.
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The Daily Reality of Fibromyalgia
My journey with fibromyalgia hasn’t been straightforward. The fatigue hit first—a tiredness that no amount of sleep could fix. Then came the widespread pain, stiffness, insomnia, restless legs, and the brain fog that made it hard to concentrate or remember simple things. Some days I could function well enough, other days I’d be wiped out from doing nothing at all. This had an impact at work as I was trying to hold down a responsible job whilst wondering what on earth was going on with my body and in my head.
Emotionally, it took a toll as well. It’s hard to explain what you're going through when you don’t fully understand it.
When I was first diagnosed in 2016, despite the relief that there was something wrong, trying to communicate with others was difficult. Even one physiotherapist told me she didn’t believe Fibromyalgia was a thing.
I felt isolated, frustrated, and at times, dismissed—like maybe it was all in my head. But I’ve since learned: it’s not. And if you’re reading this and living it too, I want you to know—you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.
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Searching for Relief
Over the years, I’ve tried different things to help manage my symptoms—painkillers, supplements, changes in diet, exercise, and meditation. Some things helped a bit. Others didn’t help at all. I didn’t want to spend my life taking painkillers; I wanted something that would address the root cause of the problem.
I have always suffered with my back. I have had disc problems in my lower lumbar region for years. When Western medicine told me that despite all of the treatment I had had, painkillers were now the only option, I tried acupuncture for my back pain. I did not realise that it would help with all of my fibromyalgia symptoms as well.
My Experience with Acupuncture
From the very first session, something shifted. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was noticeable. I felt calmer and more in control of how I was feeling. The pain in my back, even after the first session, felt more manageable. Over time, I noticed that it wasn’t just my back pain that was improving, but my fibromyalgia symptoms were improving too. My sleep was improving, the restless legs were happening less frequently, and the fatigue was lifting.
Acupuncture didn’t and can’t “cure” my fibromyalgia—but it has made it easier to live with day by day.
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Why Five Element Acupuncture?
What made the biggest difference for me was Five Element Acupuncture. Unlike some other styles, this approach doesn’t just treat symptoms—it treats you and gets to the root of the cause. It sees the pain, the exhaustion, the overwhelm, not just as physical issues but as signals of deeper imbalance in the body, mind, and spirit.
After seeing the results for myself, I decided to train as a Five Element Acupuncturist, and I now run a busy clinic where I see others going through the same as I did.
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A Message to Others Living with Fibromyalgia
If you’re living with fibromyalgia, I want you to know that I see you. I know how hard it can be. You don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to settle for just getting by.
Acupuncture has been a gentle, consistent source of support for me, and it might be for you too. It won’t fix everything overnight, but it can help you feel more like you again. More grounded. More in control. More alive.
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Want to Know More?
If you’re curious about how acupuncture might support you or someone you love, I’d be happy to talk. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been managing fibromyalgia for years, there's always a way forward—and you don’t have to find it alone.
Feel free to get in touch, ask questions, or book a session with me at Purple Iris Acupuncture.
