Fibromyalgia Pain Treatments – What Can I Do to Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain?

 

Click Here to Find Out the Holistic Guide to Combat Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

New Insight-Transformation of Migraines Causes Fibromyalgia

 

Migraines are thought of as normal neurological functions interspersed with episodes of headaches.  At least 20% of migraineurs meeting the International Headache Society criteria have changed the pattern from episodes of migraine into patterns of chronic headache.

 

Chronic headache often does not return to normal neurological function.  This evolving process from episodic headache to chronic headache is called transformation.  In the population segment of chronic daily headache, migraine appears to be a progressive neurological disease.  The decline of normal neurological function between episodes of migraine greatly exacerbates the migraine syndrome.

 

Transformation is a process that occurs usually over years.  Usually the migraineur starts off having acute episodic migraines.  As someone continues to have migraines over time, the pain can occur more often and start merging together with a mixed headache pattern of lower severity migraines intermingled with more severe episodes.

 

The mixed headache pattern can further transform into chronic daily headache.  These transformed headaches can be caused by rebound phenomenon or can happen by reasons that are not fully understood at the present time.

 

A threshold can refer to a horizontal piece of building material beneath a doorway or window, but the meaning is different in medical jargon.  Threshold refers to the point at which stimulus or stimuli are of sufficient intensity to produce an effect.  The threshold for migraines can be lowered (migraines may happen more easily) by having repeated migraines.  Facilitation or kindling describe this phenomenon.

 

Migraines make the sensitive body more sensitive.  In other words, migraines breed migraines.  The lower threshold for migraines is made easier as though kindling were put on a fire.  Uncontrolled migraines not only cause more migraines but eventually cause transformed migraines.  A severe stimulus, injury, illness, or stress can provoke the nervous system to generate uncontrolled migraines.  The migraine pain changes over time.  This change is called transformation.

 

You can imagine one of your kid’s transformers changing from a robot to a plane or car, but can you imagine your migraines changing from a more classic presentation to chronic neck pain, sinus pain, or constant headache.  Well believe it or not, over time migraines do transform.  Usually a decade or more is necessary for transformation of episodic to chronic migraine.

 

One of the sincere goals of my new book, Doctor, “Why Do I Feel This Way?”, is to prevent transformation in migraineurs who have not reached this stage.

 

An example of severe stimulus is smoking.  The trigeminal nerve (sensation of the face) and the cervical (neck) nerves are adjacent to each other in the brain stem (the base of the brain).  What affects one affects the other.  Migraineurs who smoke usually will develop neck problems.  It is absolutely essential for the migraineur who smokes to abstain!  Smoke is a smell.  The sensitivity to the smell is the problem!

 

Also, second-hand smoke, perfumes, and severe allergies are major problems.  Neck pain can be debilitating and frustrating.  The migraineur with neckaches can develop extreme sensitivity to stress and after years will frequently develop fibromyalgia.  To find out more, go to migrainesyndrome.net

 

Pain Relief - Fibromyalgia Pain Treatments for Pain

 

If you hurt all over your body, and frequently feel exhausted, gone through numerous tests to find out what is wrong with you and even then, your doctor can't find anything specifically wrong with you; your pain may very well be a result of Fibromyalgia.

 

If you experience tender points on places on places like your neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms or legs that hurt when touched you may have Fibromyalgia. If you have other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, and problems with thinking and memory, sometimes called "fibro fog," you may have Fibromyalgia.

 

Well, not that this is a comforting thought, but you are not alone. Over ten million Americans suffer from the symptoms of Fibromyalgia pain.

 

This condition overall is characterized by chronic pain felt throughout your entire body, mainly in the muscles and ligaments. Pain is typically felt in your neck, back, shoulders, hands, and pelvic area; but anywhere in the body can be affected with pain.

 

Fibromyalgia sufferers also endure general fatigue and sleep disturbances. So, it is easy to understand why most sufferers seek Fibromyalgia pain treatments that work for them. Thankfully, various Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief exist.

 

If you are one of five to seven percent of the population who suffer from Fibromyalgia, the following Fibromyalgia pain treatment information may help you find and get pain relief.

 

Medications Used for Fibromyalgia Pain Treatments for Pain Relief.

 

Pain treatment is generally in the form of a pill. Many people agree that the best Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief come in pill form. There are many medications that are used as Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief, but it is necessary for you to visit your doctor to determine the extent of and devise a treatment plan for your specific condition with your doctor and receive a prescription, as over-the-counter drugs are not usually strong enough to alleviate the pain associated with Fibromyalgia.

 

Antidepressant's (Paxil, Prozac), sleep medications (Lunesta, Ambien), anti-epileptics (Neurontin), and muscle relaxants (Flexeril) can all be used as Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief. Many of these medications relieve sufferer pain so you can sleep at night, therefore allowing for the deep-level sleep needed for tissue repair and other body functions specific to your condition and level of pain.

 

Additional Methods of Fibromyalgia Pain Treatments for Pain Relief.

 

There are also other methods of Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief. Sufferers may use these alternative methods along with medication, or by themselves. Alternative methods of Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief include:

 

  Physical therapy

  Acupressure and acupuncture

  Massage   Exercise

  Chiropractic care

  Osteopathic manipulation

  Occupational therapy

  Biofeedback

 

It is completely up to you the patient as to type of Fibromyalgia pain treatment you want to pursue. However, talking to your doctor is highly recommended so your doctor can steer you in the right direction.

 

Although, the symptoms of Fibromyalgia may never completely disappear, it is comforting to know that Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief exist and are only a doctor's visit away.

 

For more information about Fibromyalgia pain treatments for pain relief, visit the website for The National Fibromyalgia Association. There is no need to live in pain a minute longer.

 

For more ideas on fibromyalgia pain treatments, watch these 2 videos:

 

Fibromyalgia Pain Relief Stretching Program: Gentle but Effective

 

What Foods Trigger Fibromyalgia Pain?

 

This article is from the Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom. It consists of a strategy filled with guides on sleep, pain, depression, anxiety, diet, exercise and fitness plans, diet plans and packed with 369 healthy and delicious recipes

 

To find out more about this program, visit the website - Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom

Understanding Fibromyalgia Syndrome – How Does a Person Get Fibromyalgia?

Click Here to Find Out the Holistic Guide to Combat Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Understanding Fibromyalgia Syndrome - Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Treatment and Symptoms

 

Introduction

 

Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic condition which predominantly affects women.  The latest statistics show us that 9 out of every 10 sufferers are women.  Fibromyalgia used to be known as fibrositis, however, as more is learnt about this condition, it was re-named to Fibromyalgia.

 

While this condition does not affect the sufferer’s life span, full recovery from Fibromyalgia is very uncommon and where this happens, the likelihood of a recurrence is very high.

 

What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

 

The main symptom of Fibromyalgia is that of pain, tender areas of the body and tiredness.  However, the symptoms which each patient suffers from vary in both number and degree.  The severity of the symptoms can vary due to the level of stress or sometimes the weather.  None of the most common symptoms are visible outwardly.  All this can make diagnosis of Fibromyalgia very difficult.

 

There is a big list of the most common symptoms which includes

 

- Fatigue, severe tiredness and a significant lack of stamina

- Headaches and facial pain, often as a result of neck, shoulder and jaw muscle stiffness

- General pain and stiffness especially in the trunk and abdomen.

- Specific soreness and tenderness

- An itching or burning pain accompanied occasionally with a muscle spasm

- Irritable bowels or bladed, also a need or urgency to pass urine.

- Anxiety and depression

- Poor concentration

- Restlessness in legs.

 

What is the cause of Fibromyalgia?

 

We don’t know what the cause of Fibromyalgia is yet.  There appear to be a number of factors which are common in a significant number of the sufferers of Fibromyalgia though.

 

They include

 

- change in sleep pattern

- serotonin deficiency (the mood and sleep regulating hormone)

- some kind of viral infection

- a psychological disturbance

- a lack of exercise

 

How to treat Fibromyalgia?

 

Due to the fact that we don’t know what causes Fibromyalgia, the treatment generally consists of relieving the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.  As with most conditions, there are two sides to treatment which are not necessarily exclusive but should be done in tandem.  They are via a variety of medical methods, plus there are a number of things which you can do to help relieve the symptoms.

 

The self-help methods include

 

- Increase your level of exercise. It has been shown that those patients with high levels of aerobic fitness generally suffer less from Fibromyalgia

- Regular stretching or yoga

- Avoid using nasal decongestants and also reduce your consumption of coffee and alcohol

- Sometimes more easily said than done, but by controlling your emotions and behaviour, hopefully this will reduce your stress levels.

 

On top of these self-help methods, your doctor will probably be able to reduce your symptoms by

 

- prescribing low dose tricyclic anti-depressants to deal with the serotonin deficiency.  This will help to promote better sleep and hopefully reduce the pain

- Local anaesthetic mixed with corticosteroids for local pain relief

- Pain killers e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen

- In some cases, stronger narcotic painkillers may be used.

 

Understanding Fibromyalgia Syndrome - Fibromyalgia Syndrome Explained

 

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder of the musculoskeletal system. The cause is unknown, but the name actually means pain in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft fibrous in the human body.

 

Those with fibromyalgia often say that they literally hurt all over their body. They feel like all of their muscles have been strained, their bones ache, and tendons feel stretched and achy. The disorder can be found in people of most any age but is more common in women than it is in men. Overall, someone with fibromyalgia will feel like they have a bad flue with the achy muscles and body. The only problem is that this doesn’t go away in 24 hours.

 

Symptoms of fibromyalgia Syndrome Explained

 

Basically, there are three main symptoms to fibromyalgia (and a host of other symptoms from digestive to reproductive issues): pain, fatigue and sleep issues. Each individually is terrible, but combined they make fibromyalgia a crippling disorder.

 

The main symptom of fibromyalgia is the pain. It is a pain that really has no limits. Sufferers describe deep aching in the muscles, throbbing and stabbing pains in them as well. There is sometimes burning in the muscles as well. In most cases the pain is worse in the morning and often more intense with muscles that get more use.

 

Fatigue is another big symptom of fibromyalgia. It is usually a mental fatigue that leaves sufferers feeling lethargic and void of any energy or motivation. Concentration becomes difficult and the body may actually feel heavier and sluggish. Sufferers of fibromyalgia sometimes say they just feel like they are in a constant fog.

 

When sufferers of fibromyalgia syndrome explained symptoms, they rarely mentioned specific sleep problems. However, it has been found that most who have fibromyalgia do suffer a problem called the alpha-EEG anomaly. Basically, it means that while the person has no trouble going to sleep, their brain continually works from sleep to active mode through the night. Sleep is then disrupted and the person with fibromyalgia ends up more fatigued than before. It is a vicious cycle.

 

Treatment

 

Having fibromyalgia syndrome explained must include the treatments of the ailment. Though the cause is unknown, treatments are continually being developed to help overcome the problem, which can be crippling.

 

For the most part, treatments of fibromyalgia are set to help improve sleep quality and reduce pain. A sleep study may be performed since a sleep disorder is often the first thing treated. Getting better deep sleep does as much as anything to help quell the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

 

Next, the pain is generally treated. This is done with drugs that both fight pain and increase serotonin in the body. This added serotonin can also help with sleep sometimes as well.

 

Hopefully having fibromyalgia syndrome explained makes it a little easier to relate to those who have the problem. This disorder, with no known cause, can lead to other problems like depression and other psychological problems.

 

Though the treatments are limited at this time, new drugs and new ideas are continually hitting the market so that those who do suffer from fibromyalgia have a better chance of leading a more normal life.

 

Watch this video - Understanding Fibromyalgia Syndrome - What is fibromyalgia and how is it treated?

 

This article is from the Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom. It consists of a strategy filled with guides on sleep, pain, depression, anxiety, diet, exercise and fitness plans, diet plans and packed with 369 healthy and delicious recipes

 

To find out more about this program, visit the website - Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom

Fibromyalgia Symptom Management – Can Fibromyalgia be Controlled?

Click Here to Find Out the Holistic Guide to Combat Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Symptom Management - The Importance of Pacing

Fibromyalgia is known for its disabling symptoms of widespread chronic pain and fatigue. If you have Fibromyalgia, then you know how severe these symptoms can be. However, the severity of your symptoms may vary greatly over time. Some days you feel okay, others you don’t.

Here is an effective strategy to help manage your symptoms so you have more good days than bad, and you may also find your bad days are more manageable. Striking this ‘balance’ is the goal of good symptom management.

A program of fibromyalgia symptom management should always include an element of “pacing”. This is extremely helpful in managing both pain and fatigue and is probably the single hardest thing you will need to learn how to do!

Pacing doesn’t mean waiting until you are worn out to stop what you are doing. It means setting a schedule of activity and rest. Sometimes only a few minutes each. Then you gradually increase your activity until you find the right balance between activity and rest. Most importantly, you do this for everything you do, even when you feel well.

Now, be honest. When you have a good day what do you do? You run around the house trying to catch up on all the housework. You stay a little extra longer at work to finish up that project. You go out with your family for a whole day in the park. Or maybe a big shopping trip. You just plain overdo it! Then what happens? You CRASH BIG TIME, right? You spend the next few days in bed or on a strictly reduced schedule.

STOP! This is not the way to manage your symptoms. Experts agree that learning to pace your activities by alternating between periods of rest and activity is the proper way. Now, this doesn’t mean just when you are feeling poorly. The key to this strategy is to pace yourself when you are feeling good! This way you won’t cause a flare-up by doing too much.

So how do you do this? Here are some basics you can implement today and improve your fibromyalgia symptom management through pacing.

a.         Start Using a Stopwatch or Timer. Learn to pace your activities by the clock. To start, set your timer for five minutes or longer if you think you can do the activity that long. When the timer rings it’s time to change positions or rest. You can gradually increase the intervals of activity and rest as you learn what your endurance level is.

b.         Change positions: If you are sitting, stand for a few minutes and vice versa. 

c.         Stretch: At least twice an hour, do a little mild stretching. People with fibromyalgia need to be cautious about overdoing it with stretching. By this I mean “intensity” rather than frequency. Our muscles respond to extreme stretching by contracting even more. The way to avoid this is to stretch mildly – just until you feel the muscle extend. Easy does it is best. Ask your doctor or physiotherapist to recommend some good stretching exercises. (You can do a lot of stretching while sitting.)

d.         Set A Schedule: Plan out your activities for the next week. Don’t overbook your schedule. Plan time for rest, personal time, family time, as well as work – if you are still working. Remember, your schedule doesn’t have to be written in stone. You can always change it. Now that you have a schedule, try to stick to it. Some people find it best to make a schedule one day at a time. In this case, it may be best to create your schedule the night before or first thing in the morning.

e.         Prioritize: You may find your schedule was too much to follow. Don’t despair! This is a learning opportunity. Make a list of the things you want to accomplish and assign each task a number according to its importance. Then, when you make your schedule you can spread the tasks out over time. Don’t try to do all the important tasks all at once. Also, don’t put too many strenuous tasks together. Plan for rest breaks. Remember, you’re pacing yourself.

f.          Split tasks into smaller bits: Do you have to wash all the dishes at once? Do you have to put them all away right after washing? Same with vacuuming. Instead of doing the whole house, do one room each day! Learning to split these jobs up into smaller chunks is an important part of pacing.

g.         Learn to Delegate: This can be really challenging for some of you. Asking for help is not always easy. But for many people with fibro, it’s a necessary part of fibromyalgia symptom management. Try to enlist the help of family members. This might cause some friction at first, so it is vital that you first explain why you need their help. Get some information on Fibromyalgia  and print out some copies to hand out. Then go through it together. Once they more fully understand the situation, they may be more willing to help.

h.         Learn to say NO: This is tough to do, I know. We often feel bad when we have to refuse someone’s request. An easy way to say “no” gracefully is “I’m sorry, but my schedule is really full right now. I don’t like to say yes and then not be able to fulfil my obligation and let you down.” They’ll understand that your refusal is partly because you don’t want to disappoint them and it’s not against them personally.

Some of you may be asking, “Well how can I pace myself at work?” Granted, your boss may not like you taking a 5-minute break for every 5 minutes you work! It may just be that your symptoms are so severe you might have to reduce your work schedule or maybe even stop working all together! This can be a very difficult decision.

You may want to consider working from home as an alternative. Some employers now offer this option. As well, the Internet provides you with many work from home opportunities. This is not for everybody. You do need some computer skills and the self-discipline to stick with it. Some of you may not even be well enough to work from home. But it could be something to work towards. Learn to pace yourself using the strategies outlined above. You may just find you can handle one or two hours of work at your computer each day.

However, if you must work outside the home, then planning your pacing schedule and using the above strategies becomes even more important. You will definitely need to delegate more, learn to say “No” to many things, and not overcrowd your schedule.

Managing your symptoms of fibromyalgia through pacing is not always easy, but if done properly you will find that you will actually reduce the amount of “down” time and get more done.

Remember…easy does it!

For more topics about fibromyalgia symptom management, watch these 2 videos:

Detecting and treating fibromyalgia

Top 3 Things You Should Try If You Have Fibromyalgia (Based on Science)

This article is from the Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom. It consists of a strategy filled with guides on sleep, pain, depression, anxiety, diet, exercise and fitness plans, diet plans and packed with 369 healthy and delicious recipes

To find out more about this program, visit the website - Get Your Health Back – Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Freedom