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Fibromyalgia
You wake up in the morning and hurt all
over. Your muscles are stiff-- you find it difficult to get
out of bed. You are constantly fatigued and have
difficulty sleeping. You seek medical advice from all types
of health care providers, yet no one can give you a
definitive diagnosis for what ails you.
If you are experiencing these
symptoms, you might be suffering from a condition called
fibromyalgia. Seven to ten million Americans suffer from
this disorder which is characterized by chronic pain in your
muscles, ligaments and tendons. It's often called
fibromyalgia syndrome, meaning that it's not a specific
illness but a condition that involves several symptoms that
occur together.
Fibromyalgia is often associated with
difficulty sleeping, stress, anxiety, depression, headaches,
tingling in your hands and feet and digestive problems.
These symptoms may come and go but they never completely
disappear. Although it tends to be a chronic condition,
fibromyalgia isn’t progressive, crippling or
life-threatening.
Medical science has yet to find a cause
or cure for fibromyalgia. There are many theories, but none
has been proven. One theory is that certain factors — such
as stress, poor sleep, physical or emotional trauma or being
out-of-shape — may trigger the condition in people who are
more sensitive to pain.
Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be
challenging. There isn’t a single test that can confirm or
rule out the condition. People with fibromyalgia will go
through several medical tests, only to have the results turn
up normal, yet their pain is real. When a physician has
dismissed other conditions that may mimic fibromyalgia, such
as a thyroid disorder or rheumatoid arthritis, a diagnosis
of fibromyalgia is made.
The American College of Rheumatology
has established some general guidelines for diagnosing
fibromyalgia. They include having “whole body” aching for
at least 3 months and at a minimum of 11 locations (called
trigger points) on your body that are painfully tender under
mild pressure.
There's no known cure for fibromyalgia.
The best way to treat this condition is a combination of
these steps in order to reduce symptoms:
Stress reduction — Develop a
plan to avoid or limit the stress in your life. Allow
yourself time each day to relax. But, don't change your
routine totally. People who quit work or drop all
activity tend to do worse than those who remain active.
Regular exercise —Try to
exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes a day, three times a
week. At first, exercise may increase your pain. But
doing it regularly often improves symptoms. Keep your
activity on an even level. If you do too much on your
"good" days, you may have more "bad" days. If you are
deconditioned, you should start out with just 3-5
minutes of exercise every day and increase as
tolerated. You should try to avoid exercising the most
painful muscles.
Adequate sleep — Getting
adequate sleep is essential. Fibromyalgia symptoms often
appear during times of sleep disruption. Working shifts
or having to get up to attend to your children will
fragment your sleep and make your symptoms
worse. Re-establishing a regular sleep schedule may be
enough to relieve your symptoms. Your physician may want
to prescribe a medication to help improve your
sleep. They should be started at the lowest possible
dose and increased every few days up to a week to
maximum relief of daytime symptoms without unacceptable
side effects.
Education — Learning more
about fibromyalgia and its symptoms is often helpful.
Being actively involved in your treatment and
understanding of this complicated disorder will help you
cope with your symptoms. You may also find comfort from
support groups. Meeting other patients with fibromyalgia
syndrome is often a benefit in gaining a greater
self-understanding.
Pain medications — Small
doses of over-the-counter pain relievers such as
ibuprofen, may eliminate some of your pain but not all
of it. Narcotic painkillers containing codeine and
other similar substances should be avoided. Your doctor
may also prescribe small doses of certain antidepressant
medications that help promote deep sleep. It is often
necessary to try several different medications and
sometimes in combination before finding a regimen that
works well.
Other techniques — Some
people get relief from massages, hot baths and
relaxation techniques.
Fibromyalgia is a common, chronic, and
if untreated, often disabling disorder with no known cause.
Most patients can be helped with a combination of
medication, exercise, and maintaining a regular sleep
schedule. Making these lifestyle changes can relieve
symptoms or even make them disappear.
Your can call the Arthritis Foundation
at 800-283-7800 to learn more about fibromyalgia or write to
:
Fibromyalgia Alliance of America
PO Box 21990
Columbus, OH 43221-0990
Content
of articles can only be used with writer attribution to Dr.
Kevin Weiland.
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