Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Help – Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Serious?

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Help - Crohn’s Disease & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Is There A Cure?

For the individuals who suffer from the mysterious symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), or the debilitating symptoms of Crohn’s Disease (CD) the question “Is there a cure?” weighs heavily on their lives.  The frustration that results from living with this non-specific illness serves to compound the never-ending symptoms.  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s sufferers continue to battle the illness while researchers search for causes and cures.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) describe Crohn’s as “Crohn's disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although it can involve any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon.”

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is described as “A group of symptoms, of unknown cause, characterized by unexplained fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, feeling poorly, trouble thinking, and sometimes, fever and/or lymph node swelling.”

There is currently no cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Chron’s Disease.  There is no magic pill, no immunization, and no medication that can rid sufferers of the debilitating symptoms of CFS and CD.

However, individuals who suffer from CFS and CD can successfully manage their symptoms.  Using current interventions including prescription medications, alternative therapies, and a comprehensive nutritional plan, CFS and CD patients can find relief.

Upon receiving a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Crohn’s Disease, the patient is advised to seek as much information as possible from current and reputable sources.  Because little is still known about CFS and CD, information is limited but available.

Reliance on sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and the medical research departments of large universities will yield the best information.  CFS and CD patients are advised to beware of quack treatments or anyone offering a “cure”.  Armed with information, the CFS sufferer can assist in making the most viable choices for his or her treatment plan.

A reasonable treatment plan should include a combination of therapies.  By discussing a plan with a competent medical professional, the patient can assist in developing the best plan for him or her.  A medical professional may prescribe prescription drugs that may alleviate the constant fatigue or intestinal pain that accompanies CFS and CD.

In addition to prescription medications, seeking the help of a nutritionist will assist in managing the illness.  It is common knowledge that a good diet can assist in recovering successfully from many illnesses – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s are no exception.  A reasonable nutritional plan may not only include a diet of whole foods but may also include nutritional supplements.

Additionally, the CFS and Crohn’s sufferer may find relief with the assistance of alternative therapies.  Hypnosis, yoga, massage and other forms of relaxation can provide much needed relief from symptoms.

Although Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s cannot yet be cured, sufferers can successfully manage their illness using a multi-pronged treatment approach.  Being among some of the most difficult illnesses to manage, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease management involves several major lifestyle changes.  Commitment to these lifestyle changes may well be the key to ending, or at least, minimizing the suffering.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Help - How Chronic Fatigue Has Affected My Life

Many of you have heard the term 'chronic fatigue' I am sure. Far fewer of you probably know the technical, medical knowledge about the disease. While I could share with you page after page, hour after hour of information on chronic fatigue, I think it is more appropriate to share just how deeply chronic fatigue has affected my life.

I grew up just like many other kids. I loved to play outside until darkness came, and I loved to push the limit with my parents every night about bedtime. As a child, there was nothing better than when my mom or dad took time away from their busy schedules to play with me and my siblings.

I loved nothing more than when my dad's car pulled into the driveway and he came around back to join us in whatever game we happened to be playing. I have year after year of great memories of afternoons and summer days spent playing with my dad. That was all before chronic fatigue happened of course.

I was in junior high when my dad first began showing symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as chronic fatigue. It was interesting because I remember that the sickness seemed to come upon him slowly and yet all at once.

I remember that his energy levels slowly disappeared until he could barely get out of bed to make it to work some days. He was tested for a wide variety of things, but it was a couple of years before the diagnosis of chronic fatigue was made.

Because I was too young to fully understand the problems that were plaguing my dad's body, his chronic fatigue was a source of frustration and anger to me. I didn't like it that my dad no longer was able to play catch with me in the back yard or that he rarely made it to my Saturday soccer games anymore.

He tried to explain his chronic fatigue to me over and over, but often I would get mad and storm out of the room. How could my dad, so healthy and active and young just a few years before, be unable to make it out of bed in the morning?

Once my dad was officially diagnosed with chronic fatigue, it was many months before an effective treatment plan could be figured out by his doctors. They tried curbing his chronic fatigue with many diet and exercise plans. They tried getting him to sleep longer at night and nap during the day.

Our family stopped eating many of the foods we loved most each time mom began preparing a new diet for dad's chronic fatigue. The cafeteria at school and an occasional meal with friends became my only retreat from the boring and tasteless foods my dad was now destined to eat because of chronic fatigue.

My point in saying these things is simply to share in brief the ways chronic fatigue has affected my life. While I am very thankful to all of the doctors that have worked on my dad and made his condition bearable, I still miss the dad I had before chronic fatigue came and stole his life and our time together away.

For more ideas on chronic fatigue syndrome help, watch this video - The Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) course

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 Pain Relief – What Causes Fibromyalgia to Flare Up?

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

Fibromyalgia Pain Relief - Controversial Aspects of Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia pain and fatigue are the most common and intense symptoms that occur to people who suffer from the condition. Statistics indicate that an overwhelming number of 3.7 million Americans are confronted with fibromyalgia pain and other specific symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a neurological chronic condition that causes recidivating, intense pain in the muscles and interconnected soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Many people disregard fibromyalgia pain and fatigue, considering that they are self-induced symptoms, the product of people’s imagination. These conceptions, however, are far from the actual truth.

Medical research results reveal that although there are psychological aspects involved in the development of fibromyalgia, the condition occurs due to neurological dysfunctions, and undoubtedly, fibromyalgia pain is real!

Fibromyalgia pain is described by patients in a multitude of ways: aching, burning, sour, radiating, stabbing or pressure. Although people with the disorder perceive fibromyalgia pain in a different way, they claim to always feel a certain degree of pain and discomfort in the muscles. Fibromyalgia pain is accompanied by a sensation of fatigue, discomfort, numbness or tingling.

The cause for recidivating fibromyalgia pain is considered to be abnormal brain activity. Medical scientists sustain that the presence of certain brain dysfunctions determine a pronounced increase of nervous excitability in the entire body.

Unlike healthy people, patients with fibromyalgia perceive external stimuli in a very intense way. For instance, many people who suffer from fibromyalgia develop a sensibility to light and temperature as a consequence of nervous dysfunctions.

Scientific experiments have revealed the fact that in the case of people with the disorder, fibromyalgia pain is emphasized by abnormal brain activity. When exposed to a stimulus of the same intensity, people with fibromyalgia might perceive a sensation of intense pain, while the majority of healthy people have no reactions to that particular stimulus.

Where Do You Hurt with Fibromyalgia?

An interesting aspect of fibromyalgia is that all people with the disorder feel pain in the same body regions. Fibromyalgia pain is mainly located in specific spots on the body, called trigger points. There are nine pairs of trigger points on the body, and they are located in the following regions: the lower region of the skull, the back of the neck, the upper back, the mid-back, the lower back, the shoulders, the region of the buttocks, the elbows and knees and the region of the hips. The areas that surround the points where the fibromyalgia pain is perceived at maximum intensity are called tender points.

These trigger points and tender points have a major role in revealing the presence of fibromyalgia. Due to the fact that most physical examinations and routine laboratory analysis aren’t able to trace any signs of the disorder, by checking if the patient feels intense pain in these specific fibromyalgia pain regions, an appropriate diagnose can be established.

Although people with fibromyalgia mostly complain about muscular pain and a generalized state of exhaustion through the entire body, the fact is that the disorder can generate a lot more symptoms, some considered to be very serious.

For instance, people that have been suffering from fibromyalgia for long periods of time may suffer from short-term memory loss, decreased ability of sustaining physical and mental effort, poor concentration, migraines, high blood pressure and accelerated heart activity.

Fibromyalgia is a serious condition and speed is vital in detecting its presence. Although at the time being there is no specific cure for fibromyalgia, most symptoms can be overcome, and the patients’ general health condition can be substantially improved by following certain therapies and treatments. Fibromyalgia pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunctions and poor mental abilities can be corrected through the means of an appropriate treatment, a good therapeutic program, healthy lifestyle and diet.

Fibromyalgia Pain Relief - Fibromyalgia Pain That May Never Go Away

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that brings widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This condition may also be accompanied with fatigue and sleep disorders. Medical studies show that as many as six million Americans have fibromyalgia, many of them are women.

And no matter how many over the counter muscle relaxants and prescription drugs they take, these individuals still experience pain. The severity of pain that accompany fibromyalgia may vary from person to person. This condition should never be taken for granted even though it is not progressive or life-threatening.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can cause pain all over the body, but the most commonly affected parts include the elbow, forearm, hip, knee, back, forearm, jaw, and shoulder. In addition to pain, fatigue and sleep difficulties are the other symptoms that can be experienced by individuals with fibromyalgia. These individuals may feel tired even after hours of sleep.

Other symptoms may include the following:

Irritable bowel syndrome (constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, etc.)

Headaches and facial pain

Depression

Numbness in the hands and feet

Mood changes

Chest pain

Dry eyes, skin, and mouth

Painful menstruation

Dizziness

Causes of Fibromyalgia

Researchers have not determined the exact cause of this condition. But some specialists suggest that the increased sensitivity to pain is developed because of an abnormal increase in levels of chemicals in the brain. Because of this abnormality, the brain may interpret ordinary sensations as pain.

Other possible causes of fibromyalgia may include the following:

Sleep disturbances - Some researchers theorize that disturbed sleep patterns may be a cause rather than just a symptom of fibromyalgia.

Injury - An injury or trauma, particularly in the upper spinal region, may trigger the development of fibromyalgia in some people. An injury may affect your central nervous system, which may trigger fibromyalgia.

Infection - Some researchers believe that a viral or bacterial infection may trigger fibromyalgia.

Changes in muscle metabolism - For example, de-conditioning and decreased blood flow to the muscles may contribute to decreased strength and fatigue. Differences in metabolism and abnormalities in the hormonal substance that influences the activity of nerves may play a role.

Fibromyalgia Pain Relief - Treatment for fibromyalgia  

This may include medication and self-care. Medications may reduce the pain and improve one's sleep. Analgesics and over the counter muscle relaxants may be used for this condition. Analgesics may ease pain and stiffness caused by fibromyalgia.

Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium may be recommended by health professionals. Taking muscle relaxants before bedtime may help treat muscle pain and spasms. However, these drugs should be used for only a short time because to prevent the development of side effects and drug interactions.

Watch this video - Fibromyalgia Pain Relief Stretches- Ask Doctor Jo

Affected individuals may not only deal with the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia but also with the frustration of having a condition that is often misunderstood. Understanding this condition and finding individuals like family, friends, co-workers, support groups to share information about fibromyalgia is essential in overcoming the pain. Support groups may provide a level of help and advice that you might not find anywhere else.

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment – What Causes CFS?

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment - Things to Know about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

You usually meet the summer with a feeling of complete exhaustion and insomnia; you feel like going on holidays, having rest, mustering your strengths and thus preparing for a new academic year or work. Probably you can attribute yourself to people who can’t turn their thoughts from work problems to something more pleasant. You are likely to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Businessmen often complain that even at home, that they can’t stop thinking about work.  These thoughts are still spinning in their head even when the man is trying to fall asleep. As a result, he can’t fall asleep for a long time and this is the way insomnia develops.

Constant insomnia, a long working day (more than 8 hours) are a great stress for our body. And finally, it starts sounding the alarm, reminding us about its needs with different indispositions starting from fatigue, tension, high irritability, headache and more serious disorders.

Recently conducted research identified professions mostly subject to the “burnout” phenomenon. These people always have to communicate with others.  The four most risky occupations include:  teacher, psychologist, actor, manager, etc. 

Students also form a separate group of risk.  As they have to burn up the midnight oil, cramming for their exams or completing their college term papers. During the day they have to balance between studies and work.

Every person has his/ her own ways of relieving tension, having rest from pressure at work. Scientists define these methods as “ecological” and “non – ecological “.

“Non – ecological “ways of entertaining include drinking, smoking, drugs, overeating and gambling. These   methods are called “non – ecological “because a person who does not know other forms relaxation can get addicted to them.

Many people agree that far more “ecological” ways of rest after the work are walking, meeting with friends or spending time in the family circle, watching TV, taking a soothing hot bath or shower and so on. To find time for rest you should be able to manage your time effectively. If you work all day long and on coming home, continue doing it (it does not matter in thoughts or really), your efficiency will gradually decline.

All the time you are “boiling” in your own problems and you find it impossible to forget about them and then have an objective look at them. So, you are to plan your time so that you have some leisure during work and after it.   It does not matter what you do during the rest. The point is to free your head from work issues at that moment.

If you can’t get rid of thoughts about your work during the rest, try to arrange with “a responsible part of yourself “, dealing with these problems that it will give you a little time – off.  And then you will return to them at the appointed time. In this case you will have a more efficient control of your state. Your problems will not be solved just because you are thinking about them all the night.

If you manage to find some easy methods of relaxation and rest, you will avoid “burnout” effect and you will feel better. You can use any methods of trance and relaxation during the day, plunging into relaxed state for several minutes.  This way you will relieve yourself from stress, prepare for responsible appointment, tuning yourself for certain feelings such as calmness, self- confidence, vitality, burst of energy and high spirits.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment - Chronic Fatigue vs. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fatigue is an ongoing part of life for many individuals today.  Lack of sleep for busy parents, students, and others trying to find ways to fit all of their “to do’s” into one twenty-four hours period is simply something that modern man learns to deal with.  However, for some people, fatigue cannot be remedied by a good night’s sleep.

Chronic fatigue can be an early warning sign that something has gone awry with one or more bodily systems.  Diseases and disorders such as depression, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and even certain cancers count fatigue as a primary symptom.  For individuals who suffer from one of these diseases, fatigue is a result of the disease or disorder – fatigue is caused by the disease.  For an even smaller group of individuals, chronic fatigue is an illness unto itself.

Unlike Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) IS the illness, not merely a symptom.  Although characterized by, and having extreme fatigue as its hallmark symptom, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome includes many other frustrating symptoms. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers find that they can include multiple mysterious symptoms such as flu-like symptoms and unexplained brain fog among their woes.  For some individuals, the symptoms become incredibly disabling.  Many individuals cannot function normally – at least for a period of time.

Because the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are non-specific, medical professionals have difficulty diagnosing the illness.  Even more frustrating for sufferers, many medical professionals continue to hold the belief that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not a valid illness but is a psychosomatic disorder instead. 

Even with this built in prejudice, it is still wise for an individual who believes he or she suffers from CFS to undergo a complete medical examination to rule out one of the underlying medical conditions mentioned above before receiving treatment for CFS. 

Individuals who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are not merely depressed, overtired, or crazy.  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a valid medical illness. 

Research into the causes, and ultimately cure, of CFS is still in its infancy, but medical professionals have determined that CFS does in fact exist and that sufferers may be able to find relief – if not yet a cure.  With continued research and medical intervention, CFS sufferers may one day realize a life without symptoms.

To find out more about chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms and treatment, watch this video - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes and Treatment

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes Symptoms and Treatment – Is CFS a Disability?

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes Symptoms and Treatment – Chronic Fatigue -- The Facts You Should Know

There is significant concern about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as CFS. In fact, there are criteria patients must meet in order to be diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Receiving the diagnosis may be difficult for some patients because the guidelines for diagnosing are very specific.

The fatigue must have been present at least six consecutive months and the corresponding symptoms must have developed after the fatigue. A clear definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, its symptoms, and treatment options will help sufferers get a clearer understanding of the syndrome.

What is Chronic Fatigue?

The basic definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome does not make sufferers feel much better. The syndrome is unexplained and is marked by weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, lethargy, trouble sleeping, and even fever and swollen lymph nodes. There is no known cause for the fatigue that is present in an individual that has no relation to over-exertion and is not rectified by rest.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have been discussed. However, there is a very long list. There are a variety of symptoms that patients are very aware of and then there are other symptoms only doctors seem to notice. Regardless, when the symptoms are present for a period of time for no apparent cause and seem to have no remedy then Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a frequent diagnosis.

Some of the frequent symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include:

- Muscle Aches  

- Persistent Fatigue

- Intermittent Fatigue

- Depression

- Tiredness

- Headache

- Swollen Lymph nodes

- Depression

- Memory Loss

- Weakness

- Difficulty Concentrating

- Achy Joints

Frequently Chronic Fatigue Syndrome begins during periods when individuals have been sick, under a tremendous amount of stress, or for no apparent reason at all. Many individuals have noted that after bouts with the flu, mono, a cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, and other similar illnesses CFS arises.

Unfortunately, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome persists for months, sometimes coming and going and other times constantly affecting the patient. Other illnesses begin to clear up after a few days or weeks, but Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sticks around with no clear cause.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes Symptoms and Treatment – Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue

Doctors find it very difficult to diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The reason why is because so many of its symptoms are symptoms of other illnesses. This is why many doctors like to see patients with the same symptoms that began after the fatigue for at least six months before giving a diagnosis.

Obviously, sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome find the lack of an early diagnosis difficult to bear on top of their symptoms. However, doctors like to rule out diseases like Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis, as well as other diseases, before diagnosing Chronic Fatigue.

Additionally, researchers and doctors are becoming more aware of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and are more likely to make an earlier diagnosis based on fewer symptoms than ever before. That is not to say that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is easy to diagnose, because it is not. However increased awareness and new definitions are helping doctors and patients of Chronic Fatigue each and every day.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - What Causes This Mysterious Illness?

For the thousands of individuals who currently suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), the causes of this mysterious illness remain a mystery.  Reputable medical institutions, including the Centers for Disease Control have launched research efforts into discovering the reasons why some individuals contract CFS and what can be done to alleviate the symptoms.

Originally termed “yuppie flu” by the media, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was thought to be caused by the Epstein Barr virus, or mononucleosis.  In the late 1980's, it appeared that the only individuals who suffered from yuppie flu were the young, upwardly mobile, urban professionals who, because of their busy lifestyles, of course were tired! 

With further investigation, medical professionals discovered that many other individuals were suffering from the unexplained symptoms of this illness.  Even though the medical community has published studies that bolster the reality of this illness, sufferers continue to find that the “yuppie flu” designation still prevails.

Many individuals who suffer from CFS have reported that they became ill with a virus before later noticing the symptoms now attributed to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Researchers now believe that a virus, although not responsible for CFS, may cause damage to the neurological system of the individual who later suffers from symptoms of CFS. 

During the course of what may well be a relatively harmless virus, areas of the brain may sustain damage which then results in the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  For some reason, this damage may be permanent or transient - or at least the symptoms caused by the damage may be. 

Some individuals who suffer from CFS find that their symptoms may lessen or completely disappear in time, and still others find that they may experience a “remission” of sorts, only to have the symptoms reappear at a later time.

This “Brain Injury” theory is the most prevalent at this time and appears to provide the most rational explanation for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to date.  As the control center of the body, the brain, when unable to function normally, can cause a host of mysterious symptoms that are unexplained by any known medical illness. 

Further research into the causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome should provide the answers to why some individuals suffer from this brain injury and others do not.

Treatment Options

The treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are varied and include alternative as well as prescription alternatives.

Some of the alternative care management options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include avoiding stress and undertaking light exercise. Other treatment options that work for some individuals include massage, aquatic therapy, chiropractic therapy, yoga, self-hypnosis, tai chi, and even acupuncture.

Psychotherapy has also proven helpful to sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome because it helps sufferers learn to cope with their symptoms.

Prescription treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have not been approved by the FDA. There are however other prescription medications that are used to treat the symptoms presented with Chronic Fatigue. Frequently, the primary use of the medicine is secondary, and its side effects are what benefit Chronic Fatigue sufferers.

Medicines like antifungals, antidepressants, antivirals, cardiac drugs, antihistamines, immunoglobulins, corticoids, anti-inflammatories, and anti-convulsants among others are frequently prescribed to CFS sufferers.

Do You Have CFS?

If you are worried you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or have some of the above stated symptoms for months on end, then you should make an appointment with your physician. It is a good idea to keep a journal of your symptoms, when they began, and if new ones appear. This will help your doctor make the proper diagnosis and help receive some relief from your symptoms sooner.

To understand more about chronic fatigue syndrome causes symptoms and treatment, watch these 2 following videos:

Stanford Unravels the Mysteries of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Unexplained Health Issues, Chronic Fatigue, Pain, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, MS, Lyme Disease

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 Information and Treatment – Is Fibromyalgia a Form of Arthritis?

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

What is Fibromyalgia?

Sometimes referred to as "fibro" and "the invisible disease," fibromyalgia is a very debilitating that can strike anyone.  Approximately three to six percent of the U.S. population suffers from this condition, which causes sufferers chronic pains and aches.  The chronic pain and fatigue associated with this disease causes sufferers a general discomfort and a loss of the ability to function normally.

The earmarks of fibromyalgia are muscular aches and pains, stiffness of joints, and general fatigue.  Most who suffer from fibromyalgia are faced with disturbed sleep, making it almost impossible to get a good night's rest.  This only makes the general aches and pains of the disease that much worse.

What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes widespread, chronic pain.  No area of the body will remain untouched by the effects of fibro, though the pain is most commonly found in the back, shoulders, neck, and hands.  Those who suffer from fibromyalgia have complained of a tingling or burning sensation, and numbness.   Many who have been struck with fibro have experienced sensitized skin and nerve pain.

Other symptoms of fibro include impaired memory and concentration, anxiety, depression, dizziness, ringing in the ears, terrible headaches, and irritable bowels and bladder. Fibromyalgia most commonly causes sufferers a general, overall fatigue brought on by general pain, muscle ache, and sleeplessness.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a disease that is the focus of much intense scientific study.  There are many theories about the causes of fibro, and in many cases, it is the result of some trauma that sufferers have experienced.  But there is much still unknown about this horrible disease, and modern medicine has still to pinpoint the cause of fibromyalgia.  There is no known method of prevention.  Scientific research indicates that some people may be genetically predisposed to fibromyalgia, but nothing has been accurately proven.

Is There a Cure for Fibromyalgia?

There is no known cure for fibromyalgia. In fact, as there is much still unknown about this disease and as there are no accurate tests for fibromyalgia, it is very hard to be diagnosed with this disease.  Many doctors remain largely unfamiliar with the effects of fibro, and many doctors remain steadfast that fibromyalgia is not a true disease or physical ailment.

However, as awareness of fibromyalgia grows, new treatments are being explored.  Sufferers of fibro have more options today, and as scientists learn more there is great hope that a true cure will be discovered in the future.

What Treatments are Available to Those Who Suffer from Fibromyalgia?

Over-the-counter pain medications can help to relieve some of the chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia.  Most doctors will prescribe pain medication and antidepressants to those who suffer from fibro and prescribe a light exercise regime to keep muscles loose and limber.

Daily stretching exercises, like yoga, can help alleviate some of the muscle pain associated with this disease.  Holistic methods and medicines are very popular with fibromyalgia sufferers.  Proper diet and nutrition are very important to those who suffer from this disease, and there is a focus on eating healthy and treating the body very well.

As fibromyalgia causes sleeping problems, doctors have stressed the importance that those who have been diagnosed with fibro get plenty of healthy sleep.  Plenty of sleep will lessen the fatigue and exhaustion that those with fibromyalgia almost constantly feel and alleviate some of the pain in the muscles and joints.

What's Next?

With no known cure, and no way to reverse the effects of fibromyalgia, sufferers are forced to live with the disease for the remainder of their lives - or until a cure is found.  Treatment must remain strict, and diet and exercise programs followed explicitly.  Those who suffer from fibromyalgia will not be able to function at any high-level capacity.  They will not be able to engage in strenuous activities, or even to hold a full-time job in most cases. 

But by maintaining treatment and living inside the realm of their physical capacity, those who suffer from fibro greatly reduce the pain that they experience.  When more is understood about this disease, and scientists are able to come up with a comprehensive cure, perhaps fibromyalgia will finally be wiped out.

Fibromyalgia Information and Treatment – Characteristics of Fibromyalgia Treatments

Fibromyalgia is a serious neurological condition that causes pain in the musculoskeletal system. People who suffer from fibromyalgia also feel pain in the tendons, ligaments and the areas of the joints. Another characteristic of fibromyalgia is a pronounced state of fatigue that takes over the entire body. The symptoms of fibromyalgia resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis and due to this fact, fibromyalgia may be misdiagnosed.

However, unlike people with physical illnesses, the people with fibromyalgia seem to be in perfect health. Although the pain reported by people with fibromyalgia is present, it occurs on the premises of abnormal brain activity. People who suffer from fibromyalgia have a very sensitive nervous system and a low tolerance to external stimuli. Increased nervous excitability is considered to be the cause of the intense, recidivating pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia.

Statistics indicate that more than 3.7 million Americans are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This is a disturbing fact, as modern medicine hasn’t yet discovered a specific cure for this type of neurological disorder. In fact, although scientists have established a connection between abnormal brain activity and the symptoms of fibromyalgia, the exact causes responsible for the development of the disorder remain unknown.

In present, fibromyalgia treatments are solely focused on ameliorating its symptoms, instead of overcoming its causes. Although most fibromyalgia treatments can ease the muscular pain and discomfort characteristic to all people with the disorder, these symptoms seem to reoccur on a regular time basis. This is due to the fact that fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder and therefore it needs ongoing treatment.

Fibromyalgia treatments mostly consist of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs (used solely for their analgesic properties). However, apart from intense pain, many people with fibromyalgia complain about having trouble sleeping and feel a pronounced state of fatigue throughout the whole body. Therefore, in some particular cases, fibromyalgia treatments may include sedatives in order to correct the patients’ sleeping problems.

As a consequence of the fact that modern medicine is unable to trace the actual causes of the disorder, the symptoms of fibromyalgia can only be corrected by prescribing a certain treatment for each individual symptom. Therefore, the majority of fibromyalgia treatments consist of many types of medicines that target different aspects of the disorder.

Other physical symptoms of fibromyalgia are migraines, lack of concentration, body weakness, decrease of the short-term memory, accelerated heart rate, nausea, abdominal pain and bloating, vomiting and diarrhoea.

When patients are confronted with these symptoms, the fibromyalgia treatment includes medicines appropriate for each particular problem. Fibromyalgia can even cause depression and in this case the fibromyalgia treatment will include anti-depressives.

The multitude of fibromyalgia symptoms requires a multitude of fibromyalgia treatments. Due to this fact, many people who follow ongoing medication either develop increased tolerance to drugs and need higher doses (especially in the case of analgesics and sedatives), or they start feeling even worse than before due to the side-effects of the fibromyalgia treatment.

However, there are other forms of fibromyalgia treatments that can relief the symptoms of the condition without relying on drugs. These fibromyalgia treatments involve kineto-therapy and massage therapy.

By stimulating the trigger points on the body (the places where the pain is the most intense) and through the means of therapeutic massages, the muscular pain and fatigue can be diminished. Medical experts strongly recommend these forms of therapy instead of ongoing fibromyalgia treatments that involve drugs.

To find out more about fibromyalgia information and treatment, watch these 2 following videos –

Life with Fibromyalgia | Symptoms |Diagnosis | Treatment

Fibromyalgia: Living with chronic pain - BBC Stories

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