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Living Comfortably With Fibromyalgia

By: Rosamond Gaven

A few years ago, fibromyalgia was virtually unheard of. Although the disease has always been quite common, it was not widely understood until recently. Today, fortunately, people living with fibromyalgia have several treatment options available.

Facts About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a type of arthritis that primarily affects women. Chances are, someone you know is one of over ten million Americans who suffer from this painful condition. The majority of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women between the ages of 40 and 55.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is most often characterized by sensations of widespread pain and intense fatigue. The actual symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to those of other types of arthritis, making a positive diagnosis very difficult. In fact, there was a time when doctors were not aware that the condition existed, but that's all changing.

Doctors, patients and the general public now have a more clear understanding of the disease. Further, better treatment options are available to help patients deal with this frustrating and often debilitating condition.

Controlling Fibromyalgia

The key to treating fibromyalgia is being able to control the symptoms of the disease. No single treatment works for all fibromyalgia sufferers, because many patients experience unique combinations of symptoms. This inconsistency makes it even more difficult for doctors to properly treat the condition. If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the first step toward treatment is to discuss your specific symptoms with your doctor.

* Pain

If you suffer primarily with pain, your doctor may focus the treatment on pain relieving medications and therapies. When your doctor begins treating you with a new pain medication, he or she will probably start with the lowest dosage possible. You'll need to be patient, as there may be an extended period of trial and error before you and your doctor can achieve the right level of medication to properly treat your symptoms.

Intense pain or pressure at a specific tender point can sometimes call for cortisone injections. It's a proven method for effectively relieving pain in many fibromyalgia patients.

* Treating Fibromyalgia Inflammation

When inflammation occurs, doctors will often prescribe NSAID medications. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective for some patients, but others have reported no substantial degree of improvement or relief.

* Fibromyalgia-Related Depression

Anxiety and depression are reported by many fibromyalgia patients. When this symptom strikes, your doctor may prescribe a form of anti-depressant medication. Difficulties with sleeping can add to these feelings of depression and compound the fatigue that so many fibromyalgia patients report. Your doctor may prescribe an anti-depressant or sleep aid. This type of medication can help ease you to sleep and increase the amount of serotonin in your bloodstream.

It's important that your doctor balance these drugs very carefully, particularly if you're taking both pain medication and an anti-depressant. You and your doctor should be working toward the mutual goal of controlling the symptoms of fibromyalgia with few or no side effects.

There are many non-drug treatment options for fibromyalgia patients as well. Exercise has been shown to reduce the overall feelings of pain and fatigue that so many patients experience. Many patients also experience substantial relief through heat pads, shower therapies, and water exercise. Heat appears to offer substantial relief for muscle pain, so any form of warm water therapy or exercise is recommended for fibromyalgia sufferers.

Fibromyalgia is not a new disease, but modern treatments and new medications have brought a new sense of disease management. Speak with your doctor if you feel that your unique symptoms are indicating the presence of fibromyalgia. Proper diagnosis is essential for avoiding future complications, and necessary for treating the symptoms and living comfortably with fibromyalgia.

Article Source: Main Articles

Writer Rosamond Gaven contributes articles to several popular web sites, on health discovery and womens fitness subjects.

This article may be reproduced wholly or in part without written permission provided the byline, resource area, and any hyperlinks remain in order to give proper credit to the author.

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