Six Common Questions About Fibromyalgia

Six Common Questions About Fibromyalgia

By:


Fibromyalgia is a growing health concern among those in the United States. In fact, it affects thousands of people each year. Unfortunately, those who are affected by it know that it does more than just zap energy it can negatively influence day-to-day activities and in some cases, even make individuals not want to get out of bed in the morning.

The relatively new condition is becoming a more prevalent health concern and doctors are doing their best to learn how to treat the condition. So, what is this disease and how do you know if you have it? These questions and more will be answered in the below article.

What is fibromyalgia?
The condition is characterized by body-wide pain and tender points in the muscles and soft tissues. This includes tissues and muscles in areas of the body like the chest, lower back, knees, arms, neck, rib cage, and buttocks. It can develop on its own, or in conjunction with other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia has a variety of symptoms. The most common is body-wide pain with tender points that may seem similar to the pain experienced with arthritis, which is described as radiating, shooting and burning. Other common symptoms include:

Fatigue
Numbness and tingling
Chronic muscle pain
Body aches
Memory difficulty
Areas of tenderness in the neck, lower back, hips, elbows, knees, and shoulders

What causes fibromyalgia?
The exact cause is unknown, but several things have been suggested as the root cause. Some doctors believe that physical or emotional trauma can cause the condition, while others feel its caused by sleep disturbances. Other doctors believe its associated with changes in the skeletal muscle metabolism and decreased blood flow.

Ive heard that its difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia. Why is that?
Unfortunately, many individuals wait five years or more to get an accurate diagnosis. This is because there arent x-rays or laboratory tests that can prove someone has fibromyalgia, so the condition is often misdiagnosed as inflammatory arthritis, chronic myofascial pain, chronic fatigue, depression, and more.

How is fibromyalgia treated?
There are a variety of treatment options for fibromyalgia, including medications, alternative remedies, and lifestyle changes. Your doctor can help you choose the method that works best for you. There are also things you can do at home to help manage your pain, including regular aerobic exercise, relaxation, and physical therapy.

Since there is no magic solution to treating fibromyalgia, many people find that a multidisciplinary approach using medication and alternative medicine is the best way to help ease the pain associated with the condition.

What are the most common medications used to treat fibromyalgia?
First and foremost, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants because they can help fight pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and a depressed mood. Other well-known treatment options include:

Lyrica Approved by the FDA, this helps reduce pain and improve daily function in those affected by fibromyalgia. The most common side effects of this include dizziness and sleepiness.

Cymbalta This is another FDA-approved drug that has been used to treat fibromyalgia. Its an antidepressant and is approved to treat conditions like anxiety disorder and nerve pain. Side effects include nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, and insomnia.

Savella Savella acts in the same way as antidepressants and has been shown to improve physical function and reduce pain. Its most common side effects are a headache, dizziness, insomnia, and constipation.

Acetaminophen Pain relievers such as Tylenol can often be used as a pain reliever, because its much less likely to cause drug interactions with other medications.

About the Author:
Susan Moore has many years of experience in the physical rehabilitation industry. Finding the right occupational therapy and pilates studio is important for a successful outcome.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Health Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.