There is no single method that is deemed the best way to fully treat fibromyalgia. The medical condition has no cure and comes with a myriad of symptoms that can vary from person to person. Since this is the case, a treatment program that combines different methods customized by a doctor to specifically target a patient’s symptoms is recommended. Effective methods include patient education, therapy and medication. In addition, life and work changes such as regular exercise can also help treat fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is an illness that is related to arthritis and is more often found in women than in men. It is not unusual to find a doctor that is unaware of this medical condition, which can result in misdiagnosis. When a person has fibromyalgia, the main symptoms he or she suffers from are muscle pain, tender points on the body, fatigue and anxiety or depression.
To treat fibromyalgia, sufferers can ease the pain through a variety of means. While research is still being conducted on this medical condition, patient education can enable a person to better understand and deal with the diagnosis. Support groups are an example of a way in which a person might become-educated on the topic. Therapy can help a sufferer manage and reduce both emotional and physical pain. In addition, medications such as analgesics and antidepressants can also be of help.
Changes in life and work habits can also be recommended as part of the treatment program. Regular and appropriate aerobic exercises that are low-impact, such as walking or swimming, can help ease symptoms. On top of this, practicing healthy habits like eating well and getting enough sleep can also work to treat fibromyalgia.
Constant muscle pain and physical sensitivity make a person ache all over. A slight pressure applied to a point of tenderness has the ability to incapacitate a person with fibromyalgia. In addition, almost all persons with the disorder suffer fatigue, which can even occur after just waking up. Feeling anxiety and being depressed are also common symptoms associated with the illness. Aside from medical history or stress due to pain and fatigue, though, other reasons for being anxious or depressed are unknown.
Other symptoms include trouble with sleeping, concentration and memory as well as morning stiffness, irritability and numb or tingling sensations in the hands and feet. Fibromyalgia might also cause headaches, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. How a person acquires fibromyalgia is unknown, although it is likely that genetics, certain illnesses and physical and emotional trauma or stress play a role.
