Pain Condition
Fibromyalgia
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
You hurt in many places at once. You are tired no matter how much you sleep, your thinking feels foggy, and a light touch can feel painful. You may have been told your tests are normal. Fibromyalgia is a real condition in which the nervous system amplifies pain, and gentle care aimed at calming that system can help.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition marked by widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and difficulty concentrating, sometimes called fibro fog. It often occurs with headaches, IBS, TMJ, pelvic pain and mood changes. It is more common in women.
The leading explanation is central sensitization, where the spinal cord and brain amplify pain signals. Trigger points and muscle tension often add local pain on top of this. Stress, poor sleep, illness and injury can trigger flares. Because the nervous system is sensitive, treatment needs to be gentle and carefully dosed.
Your physician or rheumatologist confirms the diagnosis and manages medication. Acupuncture is commonly used for fibromyalgia, and Dr. Gordon pairs gentle acupuncture with carefully dosed dry needling and a pacing plan.
Fibromyalgia at a Glance
Also called
Fibromyalgia syndrome, FMS
Common symptoms
Widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, poor sleep, brain fog
Often seen with
Headaches, IBS, TMJ, pelvic pain, anxiety or depression
Underlying process
Central sensitization, where the nervous system amplifies pain
Approach
Gentle, carefully dosed treatment with a pacing plan
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed partly by ruling other conditions out, and treatment often centers on medication. The trigger points and nervous system calming that can help are less often offered.
What routine testing is looking for
- Inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease
- Thyroid disorders
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Sleep disorders
What often keeps symptoms going
- Amplified pain processing
- Trigger points that add local pain
- Sleep and stress patterns
- Guarding and deconditioning
- Treatment that is too intense and triggers flares
These are assessed with a gentle exam and detailed history.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Widespread pain
Pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist.
Tenderness
Pain with light pressure or touch.
Fatigue
Exhaustion that does not match activity.
Unrefreshing sleep
Waking tired despite sleeping.
Brain fog
Trouble concentrating or remembering.
Flares with stress
Pain rising with stress, weather or poor sleep.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Central sensitization
The nervous system amplifies pain signals.
Trigger points
Muscle trigger points add local pain.
Sleep
Poor sleep increases pain sensitivity.
Stress
Stress keeps the nervous system on alert.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Fibromyalgia
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your diagnosis, medications, sleep, stress and what has helped or flared symptoms.
Gentle sensitivity assessment
Dr. Gordon assesses tenderness and sensitivity gently and at your pace.
Trigger point screen
Dr. Gordon looks for trigger points adding local pain.
Activity and pacing review
Dr. Gordon reviews daily activity and flare patterns.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- New joint swelling, redness or warmth
- Fever, rash or unexplained weight loss
- New weakness or numbness
- Severe new headache
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Thoughts of harming yourself; contact your doctor or call or text 988
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for fibromyalgia, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Dry needling is used sparingly and gently for specific trigger points, dosed to avoid flares.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Gentle acupuncture aimed at calming the nervous system, improving sleep and reducing widespread pain.
See all servicesBetween visits
Pacing Plan & Team Coordination
Pacing, sleep and flare strategies, coordinated with your physician, rheumatologist or therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 4
Calm the system
Gentle treatment to lower overall sensitivity without provoking flares.
Visits 5 to 10
Widen your limits
Many people notice better sleep, less widespread pain and shorter flares.
Maintenance
Stay steady
Periodic visits support stability, especially during stressful times.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"You can tell they really care about you as an individual and work together as a team to get you pain free. I always leave feeling better and rejuvenated. I know it's a work in progress to help patients with chronic pain."
Pam Glayzer, Google Review
Fibromyalgia Questions
Answers About Fibromyalgia
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Yes. It is a recognized condition involving changes in how the nervous system processes pain.
Dr. Gordon uses it sparingly and gently, and many sessions focus on acupuncture.
Yes. Acupuncture is commonly used for fibromyalgia alongside medical care.
No. Continue as prescribed and discuss changes with your physician.
Fibromyalgia often needs ten or more sessions, then periodic maintenance.
Gentle, gradually increasing activity helps many people. Dr. Gordon helps you pace it.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For fibromyalgia, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioFurther Reading
Why Pain Can Linger After an Injury Heals: Central Sensitization
From the blog: When pain outlasts healing, a sensitized nervous system is often part of it. A plain look at central sensitization, why it is real, and what helps calm it.
Book an Evaluation for Fibromyalgia
Book an evaluation with Dr. Gordon for gentle care aimed at calming widespread pain.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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