In the previous post, I wrote about what Fibromyalgia is considered to be, what may have caused it, and a lot of the basic information of the disease. This time around I want to focus on some of the many treatments that help those who suffer from Fibromyalgia, or Fibro as it's also known. I'm not a doctor so I don't advise anyone to just go out and do these things. Please take the time to speak with your doctor and discuss which treatments may be beneficial to you. Not all of the treatments work for everyone. As I stated previously, each person is affected by Fibro in different ways. Be vocal about your pain and treatments with your doctor.
After your diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, your doctor may have you start medications that will help ease the discomfort and ache. Some of those medications include some over-the-counter remedies such as Tylenol or Advil. Again, it depends on the level of the patient's discomfort or pain. If the level is severe enough, your doctor may prescribe something stronger. There are a number of pain medications and muscle relaxers on the market nowadays. They each come with their one specific side effects and help to ease pain in different manners. Because I'm not a doctor, you should really discuss your pain management goals with your physician. The pain medication that has helped me the most with both the pain of my psoriatic arthritis and fibro has been Tramadol (brand name Ultram). It's not among the very strong meds, but it does work well for me. As my arthritis got worse, I have had to add a stronger pain pill for the nights when I can't sleep.
There are now other medications on the market for helping fibro patients. Medications that have been used to treat depression (Cymbalta) and seizures (Lyrica) have been used effectively as well. In fact, Lyrica is touted to be the first medication approved by the FDA to help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia. With the increase of education and awareness, there has been an small step forward in the number of medicines. It is worth repeating that finding the right medication or combination of medications requires you to pay attention to your body and how it feels. You have to be your own advocate and be active in finding what works the best for you.
There are alternative therapies that can be used to ease the stiffness, aches and just general blah feeling that fibro leaves behind. I know that a number of the medications may cause a feeling of fuzziness or cause a person to be drowsy/sleepy to the point all they want to do is sleep. That can definitely help a fibro patient get the much needed rest but it also takes time away from the fun stuff! So, here are a few things that you can try. Though it is difficult at times, physical activity such as exercising, yoga, and tai chi can help reduce the stiffness and pain of fibro. Keeping the body limber and stretching the muscles will help keep you from feeling "stoved up". Exercising can also keep your stress level low. That can be a big help in reducing the intensity and length of your fibro flare.
Massages and acupuncture are other stress relievers from which a fibro sufferer may benefit. Many insurance companies cover these services as well. From having acupuncture in the past, I can that it did work wonders for me. After the first session, I was able to sleep through the night. I couldn't tell you the last time that had happened before the acupuncture! Unfortunately for me, life happened and I can no longer afford it right now. I would still recommend looking into either massage or acupuncture. In the same vein of therapy, your doctor may also suggest receiving physical therapy provided by a professional therapist in order to help with the fibro. Physical therapy may include stretching and other exercises to keep you moving.
Overall, trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle will be a huge plus in the fight against fibro. Trying to keep your stress level down. Eating a wide variety of healthy foods. Exercising. Watching your caffeine intake since it can be a trigger (something that initiates or intensifies a fibro flare). A person with fibro must also learn to slow the pace at which they do things. It's so very easy to do too much when you're feeling good. The next day will bring more pain and stiffness and cause you to not do much of anything. It becomes a balancing act - doing the things we need/want to do while taking time to care for ourselves. Life with fibro isn't easy and it does hurt. There's no denying that. However, there is no reason to let fibro or any disease take away our good times.
You can about fibro in more detail, including other treatment suggestions, at these links;
Mayo Clinic ~ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079
Fibromyalgia Network ~ http://www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/symptoms
US National Library of Medicine ~ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001463/
Feel free to leave any questions or comments below. The more we share, the more we learn.
Until next time,
Kay
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