Medical Fibromyalgia Treatment

Fibromyalgia is thought to be a rheumatic disorder which affects the immune system, causing widespread chronic pain, stiffness, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anxiety and depression, TMJ, chronic head and neck aches, dizziness, extreme fatigue, memory loss and trouble concentrating, and many other maladies.

The most distinctive commonality of fibromyalgia are "tender points" that are found in 18 areas around the body that are abnormally tender to the touch. These points tend to cluster around the neck, chest, elbows, hips, shoulders and mid-back.

Medical treatments for fibromyalgia

• Since fibromyalgia tends to affect people in different ways, medical treatments that work for some might not work for others. Generally, the medical treatments available for fibromyalgia include massage therapy, physical therapy, exercise programs, nutritional programs, prescription drugs for individual symptoms (such as sleep medications for poor sleep, pain medications for severe pain), and the new prescription medications specifically for fibromyalgia. These include Cymbalta, Lyrica and Savilla.

  The most important part of finding proper medical treatment is finding a care provider that is very familiar with the condition. This may not be your regular physician; you may need to see a rheumatologist for the most up-to-date care for your condition.

Massage and physical therapy

• Massage therapy can be very beneficial for many patients; however, some people cannot tolerate massage on the tender point areas. There is a form of massage called myofascial release that can help these patients by gently loosening the tight muscles around the tender points.

  Physical therapy is usually a gentler solution because the areas aren't massaged; they are treated with ultrasound waves that penetrate and force an anti-inflamatory medication right into the sore and tight area.

Exercise programs

• Daily exercise is important to help keep the muscles lose. It can be very painful for a fibromyalgia patient to even walk, but it is vital that they do, even if it for only ten minutes. Fibromyalgia tends to be cyclic, with good days and bad, but learning some simple stretching exercises for gentle yoga poses can help a great deal in keeping the good days ahead of the bad.

Nutrition

• Since fibromyalgia is thought to be an immune system disorder, watching your nutritional intake may have a great deal to do with how much pain you are in and how often you have it. Above all, stay hydrated with water. If your urine is yellow, you need to drink more water. The Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2006), suggests strongly that a daily probiotic be taken, along with Co-Q 10, Vitamins A and C, Manganese, Malic acid and magnesium, at the very minimum.

  Eating a diet of at least 50% raw foods will help keep chemical toxins at bay; it is thought that people with fibromyalgia may have higher level of toxins in their systems.

  Drink juices of blueberry, pomegranate and cherry for their antioxidant and anti-inflamatory properties.

  Eating six small meals per day instead of three larger ones may help your body absorb nutrients beter.