Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byAriana Nelson, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of California, Irvine

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study aims to see whether acupuncture can help fibromyalgia patients by giving them acupuncture treatment and seeing whether acupuncture helps enhance the effects of an opioid.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants must meet certain health conditions and agree to the study's procedures.

Inclusion Criteria

I am on daily opioid pain medication like Norco or Percocet.

I am between 18 and 80 years old.

My pain level is moderate to severe, scoring 5 or more on a pain scale.

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Exclusion Criteria

I am currently taking low dose Naltrexone.

I am between 18 and 80 years old.

Have been diagnosed with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

See 4 more

Treatment Details

Interventions

Traditional/Sham Acupuncture (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe study is testing if traditional acupuncture can improve the effectiveness of opioids in managing pain for fibromyalgia patients compared to sham (fake) acupuncture.

Participant Groups

2Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: Traditional acupunctureActive Control1 Intervention

During TA, 9 acupuncture needles (Seirin 0.25 · 50 mm) are inserted at GV20,earShenmen,LI4,LI11,SP6,LR3,GB34,and bilateral ST 36. Needle insertion depth is approximately 2 cm for all TA points except for DU 20 and ear Shenmen, which have shallower insertion depths. All needles below the neck level are manually manipulated to elicit De Qi sensations.

Group II: Sham acupuncturePlacebo Group1 Intervention

SA participants experience a non-skin penetrating pricking sensation at 9 non-acupuncture point locations, sham intervention did not penetrate the skin and was designed to not elicit De Qi. somatosensory component generated by this procedure would be likely to be less than the skin penetrating-TA protocol that elicited De Qi. The sham locations were within similar body locations as the TA points; however, the SA location is not on known acupuncture points or meridians.