Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disease that affects the musculoskeletal system. Symptoms vary widely among sufferers, but generally include muscle and joint aches, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and tenderness in several of eighteen specific areas, or “trigger points” on the body. Fibromyalgia is often overlooked by sufferers as the inevitable result of a busy schedule and everyday stress. When patients do seek treatment, doctors often misdiagnose fibromyalgia as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or another musculoskeletal condition. It affects women far more often than men, at a ratio of about ten to one. While some cases result from a specific trauma, more often the exact cause is unknown.
The first step to fibromyalgia pain relief is being properly diagnosed. The condition is not completely understood by the medical community, and there is no specific course of treatment. Most advice given to patients reads like a weight-loss program, recommending low-intensity exercise, drinking lots of water, and reducing mental and physical stresses such as those caused by saturated fats, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, meat and sugar.
Anti-depressants are often prescribed as part of the treatment, which elevate the mood of the patient. Muscle relaxants and sleep aids may also be recommended. Since fibromyalgia sufferers are often found to be low in manganese and magnesium, both of which help balance thyroid function, nutritional supplements may prove beneficial as well.
Physical therapy is another essential component for fibromyalgia pain relief, as it teaches patients methods of walking, stretching, and exercise that reduce muscle tension and fatigue. A physical therapist will also teach patients how to make use of ergonomic tools in their daily life, like padded chairs and special keyboards designed to minimize muscle strain.
Some patients choose to incorporate alternative treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapy into their treatment. While the efficacy of these natural treatments has not been carefully studied and quantified, testimonials of fibromyalgia sufferers indicate that all of these alternative treatments may help alleviate symptoms of the disease. Whatever patients decide upon, it must be remembered that there is no simple cure for fibromyalgia, and a comprehensive plan that address mental and psychological symptoms and promotes healthy lifestyle habits is the most direct method of obtaining fibromyalgia pain relief.
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Fibromyalgia Pain
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If you feel like there’s nothing wrong with you but you have been experiencing body aches and fatigue for a long time now, it’s time to consult a doctor. This is especially true if you did not engage in tiring activities. The muscle pains that...
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Chronic Pain Relief: An Overview
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fibromyalgia
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Fibromyalgia syndrome is somewhat similar to chronic fatigue syndrome in the sense that both are chronic diseases. However, Fibromyalgia is characterized by severe pain in specific areas of the body such as neck, shoulders, spine and hips. This disease, unlike chronic fatigue that centers mostly...
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Muscle Pain Relief: An Overview
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After an auto mechanic spends hours under a car or a writer spends all day in front of a computer, their muscles later complain at this overextension. Everyone gets a muscle ache once in a while, but chronic muscle pain can be a debilitating condition...
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A Guide To Fibromyalgia
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Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by musculoskeletal pain and a feeling of over-exhaustion. It is a rampant disorder that usually affects women. In fact, in the United States, there are about six million people affected by Fibromyalgia, and about ninety percent of them are women....
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Fibromyalgia Treatment
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One of the most prevalent disorders in the United States today is Fibromyalgia. More than three million Americans are found to have Fibromyalgia, and most of them are women. This is a chronic condition that is characterized by aching of the muscles and ligaments, over...
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Joint Pain Relief: An Overview
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Your knees, shoulders, and elbows are all large joints. Your hands and feet contain many tiny joints. Our joints are used for almost every movement we make. Half of adults over age 65 – or more than 20 million Americans, endure recurrent or chronic joint...
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Fibromyalgia Symptoms
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Do you feel like you have walked a thousand miles and that you no longer have enough energy even to pull out a chair? Do you experience pain and stiffness all over, especially in the morning? Do you find it hard to sleep even when...
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Does Natural Pain Relief Really Exist?
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Everyone will suffer pain at some point in their lives. Grim as this may sound, some pain is necessary – it’s a signal from our brain that something is wrong in our body, something we need to address to protect our health and well-being. It...
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Sciatica Pain Relief
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The term “sciatica” refers to pain along a specific nerve – the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down through each leg. It usually caused by a wayward vertebral disc, more commonly referred to as a pinched nerve or a herniated, ruptured, or...