Fibromyalgia, What Is It?

 Fibromyalgia consists of a set of symptoms which may include all of these, or some of these, pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons, trouble sleeping, and constant debilitating fatigue. The pain is widespread,a number of tender spots are located on the body, this particular symptom is one of the must-haves to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Rheumatologists have defined 18 sites of which 11 should be tender for confirmation of the diagnosis.Pain in the left side, right side, above the waist, below the waist, pain in the spine or neck, thoracic spine or lower back.There is no known cause of the disease, no specific medical treatment, and no specific laboratory test to diagnose the disease,years may pass before the patient finally gets a label for  their disease.

Depression has been linked to a possible cause of fibromyalgia, post infection,stress or trauma have all been investigated as possible causes of the disease, the search goes on.

Fibromyalgia occurs in both males and females,  females are 7 times more likely to develop the disease.You may be at greater risk of developing fibromyalgia if you already have an arthritic disease.

So far the FDA has not approved any specific drugs to treat fibromyalgia, however, the following drugs are used to help patients:

Analgesics: Tylenol, Darvocett, Ultram.

NSAIDs: Ibuprofen, Naproxen.

Flexeril as a muscle relaxant.

Evanil as an antidepressant

Valium as an antidepressant

Ativan for sleeplessness.

Many of the drugs on this list have  side effects, and some if taken longterm may be addictive.

Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

If a patient  presents with fibromyalgia and has been prescribed any of the above drugs, it would be absolutely essential not to suddenly withdraw them from their medication. The symptoms of withdrawl from some of these drugs could be worse than the disease with which the patient first presented.

It would be necessary to work around the problem by firstly making dietary changes, fresh  organic fruit, vegetables, wheatgrass, barleygrass, nuts, fresh unsalted organic nuts only, wholegrains, all organic, cold pressed flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, cod liver oil, and virgin olive oil.

No margarines, packaged foods, sugar substitutes, diet sodas, or any other type of soda, potato crisps, tacos,and fast foods. No alcohol ,and no cigarettes.

Do not eat or drink foods or liquids containing sugar substitutes, if you must have sugar, have it in it's natural form.The sugar substitute known as aspartame/nutrasweet/sucralose/equal, has been implicated as a trigger for a number of diseases.

Acupuncture treatments would clear the blocked energy in the body and balance the meridians.

Remedial massage, reflexology, Reiki would be regenerating and rejuvenating.

Homeopathy would be an important modality to consider for this patient, the patient could be returned to health slowly and gently without the risk of drug interactions.

 Read more:Fibromyalgia Myths and Truths

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