Does fibromyalgia cause sleep problems?

Yes. Sleep disturbances are one of the hallmark features of fibromyalgia. Patients frequently report insomnia, non-restorative sleep, and frequent awakenings. In our clinic, this is often one of the first struggles people describe when they come to us for care. Research from leading health institutions also confirms that disrupted sleep is central to the condition.

How does poor sleep make fibromyalgia worse?

Poor sleep doesn’t just leave you tired — it intensifies fibromyalgia itself. Without deep rest, the body cannot repair tissues or regulate pain pathways effectively. We see this clearly in our clinic: patients report sharper pain, heavier fatigue, and worsening brain fog after nights of broken sleep. Research confirms that poor rest and fibromyalgia symptoms feed each other in a difficult cycle.

Can acupuncture really improve sleep with fibromyalgia?

Yes. Both studies and our clinical results support this. Controlled trials have shown that acupuncture can improve sleep quality, increase serotonin, and lower substance P, which reduces pain sensitivity. In our clinic, patients often tell us they fall asleep faster, wake fewer times at night, and feel more refreshed in the morning after a course of treatment.

Is acupuncture safe for fibromyalgia patients?

Acupuncture is considered very safe when performed by a licensed practitioner. Side effects are generally mild, such as brief soreness at the needle site. Research supports its safety profile, and in our clinic we see that patients tolerate treatment well while often noticing benefits beyond sleep, such as improved energy and reduced pain.

Acupuncture and Better Sleep for Fibromyalgia Relief

Nights with fibromyalgia can feel endless. You finally settle into bed, exhausted from a day of muscle aches and foggy thinking, only to toss and turn as pain keeps you awake. When sleep does come, it is often light and broken, leaving you wide awake at 3 a.m. and dragging through the next day. For many, fibromyalgia sleep problems are just as devastating as the pain itself. Without deep, restorative rest, fatigue worsens, pain feels sharper, and brain fog thickens.¹

Peaceful rest after fibromyalgia sleep treatment

This cycle is not “just poor sleep.” Research shows that people with fibromyalgia are far more likely to struggle with insomnia, non-restorative sleep, and disrupted sleep cycles than the general population.^2–4 When night after night passes without true rest, it can feel like you are losing pieces of yourself: the energy to enjoy time with loved ones, the clarity to focus at work, even the resilience to keep pushing forward.

The good news is that there are natural sleep support options that go beyond medication. Increasingly, patients are turning to acupuncture for fibromyalgia sleep relief, looking for solutions that calm the nervous system and restore balance without harsh side effects. Studies suggest acupuncture may help not only with pain, but also with sleep quality, serotonin regulation, and the overall sense of well-being.^5–7

At Nyberg Acupuncture & Wellness in Tualatin, Oregon, we see firsthand how reclaiming sleep can transform life with fibromyalgia. Our clinic serves patients throughout the Portland area, and we understand the toll sleepless nights can take. In this blog, we will explore why fibromyalgia disrupts rest, how acupuncture may offer a path to better sleep, and how our integrative approach supports whole-person healing.

The Hidden Toll of Sleepless Nights with Fibromyalgia

Living with fibromyalgia often means living with exhaustion that never seems to lift. Many patients describe nights of tossing in bed, shifting to find relief from aching muscles, or lying awake with a racing mind. Even when sleep comes, it is shallow and unrefreshing. The next morning, the alarm rings, but instead of feeling restored, you wake up just as tired as when you went to bed. This kind of non-restorative sleep is one of the most common and most distressing symptoms of fibromyalgia.^2–4

Sleep is not just a time to rest. Deep sleep helps the body repair tissue, regulate hormones, and reset pain pathways in the nervous system. Without enough of it, pain sensitivity increases and mood regulation suffers. For someone with fibromyalgia, this means that a bad night of sleep does more than make you groggy. It often amplifies the very symptoms you are trying to escape: widespread muscle pain, persistent exhaustion, and mental fog.¹ Many patients also notice that poor rest intensifies their fibromyalgia pain, creating a cycle that is hard to break.

Research shows that poor sleep quality is closely tied to higher pain levels in fibromyalgia. In fact, studies suggest that disrupted sleep may actually worsen central sensitization, the process by which the nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain signals.^1,3 This creates a vicious cycle: the more pain you feel, the harder it is to sleep; the less you sleep, the more sensitive your body becomes to pain. Patients often feel trapped in this loop, unsure how to break free.

Beyond the physical toll, sleeplessness affects nearly every corner of life. Many people describe struggling to keep up at work, finding it hard to focus or remember details through the “fibro fog.” Others share how the exhaustion spills into relationships, leaving little energy for social events, family activities, or simply enjoying a conversation. The frustration of missing out on meaningful parts of life can add to the emotional burden, contributing to anxiety or depression.

The impact of sleepless nights is not only personal but also widespread. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic, fibromyalgia affects millions of Americans, and sleep problems are among the hallmark features that define the condition.^3,4 In other words, if you are struggling with restless nights and unrelenting fatigue, you are far from alone. Your experience is shared by countless others who also face the hidden toll of sleepless fibromyalgia nights.

Recognizing the connection between poor sleep and worsening fibromyalgia symptoms is the first step toward change. While conventional treatments such as medications may offer temporary relief, they often do not resolve the underlying sleep disruption. This has led many patients to explore integrative approaches, including better sleep with fibromyalgia, that support the nervous system and promote restorative rest without relying solely on drugs. We will explore those options in the next section.

Why Fibromyalgia Disrupts Sleep

Fibromyalgia does not just cause pain during the day. It also interferes with the very systems that allow the body to rest at night. Patients often describe lying in bed with muscles aching, mind racing, or body restless. Even if they do fall asleep, they wake frequently, never reaching the deep stages of restorative sleep the body needs. Over time, this constant interruption in rest takes a serious toll on energy, mood, and daily functioning.^2–4

Researchers have found that people with fibromyalgia are far more likely to experience insomnia, restless or non-restorative sleep, and disrupted sleep cycles than the general population.^2–4 Many also report coexisting sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, which further fragment rest and increase fatigue. According to Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic, these sleep disturbances are considered one of the hallmark symptoms that help define the condition.^2,4

The nervous system appears to play a central role. Fibromyalgia is thought to involve a process called central sensitization, in which the nervous system becomes overactive and overly sensitive to pain signals. This heightened sensitivity does not turn off at night. Instead, pain signals continue to fire, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Poor sleep then increases sensitivity to pain the next day, locking patients into a cycle that is difficult to escape. This phenomenon is not unique to fibromyalgia but is also common across many chronic pain conditions.^1,3

Biochemical changes may also contribute. Studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia often have lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate both mood and sleep, and higher levels of substance P, which increases the perception of pain.⁶ This imbalance may partly explain why so many patients feel wired but tired — exhausted in body, yet unable to achieve truly restful sleep.

When poor sleep collides with chronic pain, the results can be devastating. Many patients find themselves more irritable, less able to focus, and increasingly isolated as exhaustion forces them to withdraw from activities they once enjoyed. Others notice that inadequate sleep worsens their fatigue or intensifies their “fibro fog,” making everyday life even more challenging. And for patients who also struggle with back pain, finding a comfortable sleeping position can make nights even harder. That is why we often recommend simple adjustments, such as the tips in our guide on sleep positions and pillow hacks, to make rest a little more restorative.

Understanding why fibromyalgia so often disrupts sleep is the foundation for finding solutions. While medications may offer partial relief, they rarely restore natural, deep rest on their own. This is why many patients look for supportive therapies and holistic approaches that offer real relief from fibromyalgia, addressing not only pain but also the nervous system imbalances at the root of poor sleep.

Acupuncture’s Role in Restoring Restful Sleep

For many patients, the search for better sleep leads them to explore therapies beyond medication. Acupuncture is one option that has gained attention for its ability to calm the nervous system, ease pain, and support more restorative rest. While experiences vary, both research and clinical practice suggest acupuncture may improve sleep quality for people with fibromyalgia.

acupuncture fibromyalgia sleep improvement

One of the earliest studies on this topic found that electroacupuncture not only reduced pain but also improved sleep and morning stiffness in fibromyalgia patients.⁵ More recently, a randomized, sham-controlled trial reported that acupuncture increased serotonin levels, lowered substance P, and led to significant improvements in sleep and mood.⁶ A systematic review and meta-analysis supported these findings, concluding that true acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture for improving sleep quality in fibromyalgia, even when results for fatigue were less clear.⁷

These results are echoed in broader reviews of acupuncture for fibromyalgia, which highlight benefits across multiple symptoms, including pain reduction, better sleep, and improved quality of life.¹ Taken together, the evidence suggests that acupuncture can help rebalance the body’s neurochemical environment in ways that make deep, restorative rest more possible.

For patients, the effects of treatment often feel less like an instant fix and more like a gradual shift. Some notice that their sleep becomes deeper or that they wake fewer times during the night. Others describe feeling calmer at bedtime or experiencing less pain at night, making it easier to settle into sleep. Small changes like these can add up, breaking the cycle of sleepless nights and unrelenting fatigue.

But acupuncture is rarely the only piece of the puzzle. Patients often do best when care is part of a broader plan that also addresses the nervous system and sleep routines.

Whole-Person Care: Beyond Acupuncture Alone

Better sleep rarely comes from a single change. Most patients do best with a plan that reduces pain, calms the nervous system, and supports the body’s natural sleep rhythms over time. Reviews of fibromyalgia care emphasize a multimodal, individualized approach, which aligns with what we see in our clinic every day.¹

At Nyberg Acupuncture & Wellness, acupuncture is a core part of care because it can reduce pain sensitivity and support more restorative rest for many patients with fibromyalgia.^1,5–7 For some, it is enough to unlock deeper sleep on its own. Others benefit when acupuncture is paired with additional therapies and simple routines that help the body wind down at night.

As part of our treatment plans for fibromyalgia, we may also integrate ATP Resonance BioTherapy® to support healthy nervous system patterns, or O3 ReBoot Therapy® to promote overall recovery and resilience. These therapies are not used in isolation. They are combined thoughtfully with acupuncture and lifestyle guidance, creating a plan that addresses pain, sleep, and overall well-being together.

Your plan may also include practical, low-effort changes that make nights easier: consistent sleep and wake times, a simple wind-down routine, light evening stretching, and nutrition habits that keep blood sugar steady through the night. Many patients notice that as their sleep improves, daytime pain eases, energy rises, and brain fog thins, which mirrors what clinical reviews describe about the tight link between sleep, pain, and quality of life in fibromyalgia.¹

Our aim is simple: fewer wake-ups at night, easier mornings, and more good days in a row. We will meet you where you are, adjust as we go, and combine the pieces that fit you best. For our patients in Tualatin and the Portland area, that often looks like a short series of acupuncture visits supported by integrative therapies, then spacing visits as sleep becomes more reliable.

Finding Hope and Restful Sleep Again

If you live with fibromyalgia, you know how deeply sleepless nights can wear you down. The pain feels sharper, the fatigue heavier, and the mental fog thicker after night upon night of poor rest. What often feels most discouraging is the sense of being trapped in a cycle — pain makes it hard to sleep, and lack of sleep makes the pain harder to bear.

The truth is, you do not have to stay stuck in that cycle forever. Relief is possible. Many patients find that as their sleep improves, even in small steps, the ripple effect is profound. Mornings feel less overwhelming, pain becomes easier to manage, and energy starts to return for the parts of life that matter most.

At Nyberg Acupuncture & Wellness, we treat fibromyalgia as a whole-body condition. Acupuncture, when integrated with therapies such as ATP Resonance BioTherapy® and O3 ReBoot Therapy®, helps address both pain and the sleep disruptions that come with it. Each plan is personalized, designed to give your body the best chance at deep, restorative rest while supporting your energy and resilience during the day.

If you are in Tualatin or the greater Portland area and struggling with fibromyalgia sleep problems, we invite you to take the first step toward relief. Call us today at +1 (503) 336-4747 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Savage, LAc, DACM. Restful nights are possible, and with them, brighter days.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fibromyalgia and Sleep

Yes. Sleep disturbances are one of the hallmark features of fibromyalgia. Patients frequently report insomnia, non-restorative sleep, and frequent awakenings. In our clinic, this is often one of the first struggles people describe when they come to us for care. Research from leading health institutions also confirms that disrupted sleep is central to the condition.¹ ²
Poor sleep doesn’t just leave you tired — it intensifies fibromyalgia itself. Without deep rest, the body cannot repair tissues or regulate pain pathways effectively. We see this clearly in our clinic: patients report sharper pain, heavier fatigue, and worsening brain fog after nights of broken sleep. Research confirms that poor rest and fibromyalgia symptoms feed each other in a difficult cycle.³ ⁴
Yes. Both studies and our clinical results support this. Controlled trials have shown that acupuncture can improve sleep quality, increase serotonin, and lower substance P, which reduces pain sensitivity.⁵ ⁶ ⁷ In our clinic, patients often tell us they fall asleep faster, wake fewer times at night, and feel more refreshed in the morning after a course of treatment.
Acupuncture is considered very safe when performed by a licensed practitioner. Side effects are generally mild, such as brief soreness at the needle site. Research supports its safety profile, and in our clinic we see that patients tolerate treatment well while often noticing benefits beyond sleep, such as improved energy and reduced pain.⁵ ⁶ ⁷
Good sleep hygiene — like keeping a consistent schedule, building a calming bedtime routine, and limiting screen use in the evening — can help. But in our clinic, we have the most success when acupuncture is integrated with therapies such as ATP Resonance BioTherapy® and O3 ReBoot Therapy®. These treatments are built directly into our fibromyalgia care plans, helping calm the nervous system, reduce pain, and make deep, restorative sleep more achievable.

References:

Berger AA, Liu Y, Nguyen J, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2021;13(1). doi:10.52965/001c.25085
Fibromyalgia. Mayo Clinic. Updated 2023. Accessed September 7, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780
Fibromyalgia. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed September 7, 2025. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed September 7, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4832-fibromyalgia
Deluze C, Bosia L, Zirbs A, Chantraine A, Vischer TL. Electroacupuncture in fibromyalgia: results of a controlled trial. BMJ. 1992;305(6864):1249-1252. doi:10.1136/bmj.305.6864.1249
Karatay S, Caglar Okur S, Uzkeser H, Yildirim K, Akcay F. Effects of acupuncture treatment on fibromyalgia symptoms, serotonin, and substance P levels: a randomized sham and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Pain Med. 2017;18(9):1727-1735. doi:10.1093/pm/pnx263
Kim J, Kim SR, Lee H, Nam DH. Comparing verum and sham acupuncture in fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:8757685. doi:10.1155/2019/8757685

Can Acupuncture Improve Sleep for Fibromyalgia Relief?