Fibromyalgia: acupressure and magnetotherapy to relieve pain

Feedback from a nurse specialising in pain management in a hospital centre

Fibromyalgia affects 2% of the French population, mainly women aged between 30 and 55. Chronic pain, severe fatigue and sleep disturbance are the daily lot of these patients, not to mention the incomprehension of those around them and sometimes even the medical profession.

What if acupressure and magnetotherapy could offer pain relief and help you fall asleep? Here’s a closer look at the results of tests carried out in hospitals and our extensive user survey!

Fibromyalgia: the disease of ‘pain everywhere’, ‘pain all the time’

An invisible chronic illness that is poorly recognised

Fibromyalgia (FM) or Diffuse Idiopathic Polyalgic Syndrome (DISPS) was long perceived as an imaginary disease, and was not recognised by the WHO until 1992. Despite this recognition, it is still poorly diagnosed because it is still poorly understood.

There are still many grey areas surrounding this disease. It can be explained by a dysfunction of the central nervous system, leading to poor transmission of pain signals by nerve cells.

It often appears following an emotional shock, trauma or serious illness, but it can also appear gradually, for no apparent reason.

What do people with Fibromyalgia feel?

Fibromyalgia sufferers experience severe pain of varying intensity in one or more parts of the body (soft tissues and muscles). The areas most often affected include the neck, chest, arms, back and legs.

Patients report a wide range of sensations, which vary from person to person. While chronic pain, fatigue and sleep disorders are the main features of fibromyalgia, there are a hundred or so different symptoms, according to the Association Nationale Fibromyalgies SOS, including :

• an aching body, as if ‘put under a steamroller’.
• a body pierced by thousands of needles
• the sensation of living in a constant fog
• problems with memory and concentration
• mood swings
• hyperaesthesia, resulting in heightened sensitivity to temperature, noise, light or smells
• increased sensitivity to touch and pressure…

While there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, there are ways of alleviating the symptoms: medication (unfortunately the side-effects often far outweigh the benefits), regular physical activity, relaxation and stress management, etc.

Relaxation: acupressure and magnetotherapy to relax and loosen muscles

Localised targeting of pain

Acupressure can be used to target specific types of pain: neck, shoulder, lumbar, back, etc. The Climsom Zen range includes acupressure mats and acupressure and thermotherapy cushions made from natural, organic ingredients (organic coconut fibre filling for the mats, organic millet or organic spelt for the cushions, 100% organic cotton cover).

Climsom Zen acupressure mat: ideal for relieving localised pain in the shoulders, back and legs.
– 210 discs of 33 acupressure points
– Supplied with a detailed instruction booklet and storage and transport bag.

The Climsom Zen acupressure and thermotherapy cushion: particularly suitable for relaxing tense necks, the spine, calves and knees.
– It can be heated to provide a gentle warmth that will help to relax tense areas even further, while also relieving tension.
– 2 fillings to choose from: millet, soft and extremely malleable, or spelt, firmer with excellent support.

How does acupressure work?

The great thing about acupressure is that its effects can be seen quickly from the first time you use it!

Once you’re lying on your acupressure mat, the pressure exerted by the acupressure points will stimulate thousands of sensory sensors. This information will then replace the pain information specific to fibromyalgia for the duration of the session. An immediate feeling of well-being will replace the permanent pain.

Acupressure releases endorphins and oxytocin, the feel-good hormones, while reducing the stress hormone cortisol. As your session progresses, you will feel a deep sense of relaxation and the gradual disappearance of accumulated tension.

Spending time on your acupressure mat helps you to forget about your daily routine and focus solely on the present moment. A moment of relaxation just for you, a respite from illness.

Practised in the evening before going to bed, acupressure helps you to fall asleep: relaxed, relieved, soothed, your body is ready to plunge into a restful night’s sleep.

Benefits of magnets on the acupressure mat

By using the acu-magnetotherapy mat, you’ll enjoy all these benefits in addition to those of this alternative, gentle medicine known as magnetotherapy.

In addition to the acupressure points, the Climsom Zen acu-magnetotherapy mat contains 42 strategically placed T-shaped magnets:

• to stimulate the spine and lumbar region,
• by turning the mat over, the magnets are located in the trapezius and cervical regions (sensitive areas of the human body).

Magnets can be used to target the main areas of back pain.

Magnetic therapy will enable :

• increase blood and lymph circulation
• stimulate cellular activity
• restore balance to the area concerned by giving it back the energy it needs to function.

It will provide additional help to relieve pain and improve the daily lives of people suffering from fibromyalgia.

Test results for the Climsom Zen acu-magnetotherapy mat

Testing the acu-magnetotherapy mat in a hospital’s chronic pain department

The acu-magnetotherapy mat was tested on 10 patients in the ‘Chronic Pain’ department of a hospital. Of these, 7 suffered from fibromyalgia.

The initiative came from a nurse working in an algology centre and specialising in treatments based on magnetotherapy. The cost of the equipment used to deliver her treatments was relatively high for home use, so she was looking for a less expensive solution for complementary use at home. As many of her patients were already using an acupressure mat to relieve their pain, she wanted to find out more and so equipped herself with an acu-magnetotherapy mat in order to test it on her patients suffering from chronic pain.

Although the power of the acu-magnetotherapy mat is less than the magnetotherapy treatments given in the algology department, the effects are still there: 9 out of 10 people noted a reduction in pain. Among the fibromyalgia sufferers, 3 men not only noted a reduction in pain but were also fully satisfied with the acu-magnetotherapy mat.

As we saw above, some fibromyalgia patients have increased sensitivity to touch or pressure. For this type of pain, it is sometimes difficult to bear the pressure exerted on the body by the acupressure points. On the other hand, for spike pain, the use of an acupressure mat will provide relaxation and pain relief during the session and beyond.

Survey on the use and benefits of acupressure mats

Prior to this experiment, we had already carried out a major survey in 2018 on the use of the acupressure mat in order to clarify the benefits experienced by its users.

325 people agreed to take part in the survey, which resulted in a 97% satisfaction rate and an overall score of 8.58/10. Here are some of the results:

• More than half the people who were taking painkillers before starting acupressure have stopped or reduced their medication.
• For 30% of those who practise acupressure, the results in terms of relief are apparent from the very first session.
• 20 minutes a day is enough to see the first results.

You can find full details of the survey on the Climsom blog.