Friday, November 20, 2009

What Are The Cures For Fibromyalgia?

By Tre Pleggi

Fibromyalgia, once thought to be a psychological condition, is now known by the medical community as a physical ailment. The problem can be greatly enhanced by too much pressure and stress, and finding cures for fibromyalgia must actually begin in that realm.

Fibromyalgia shows itself through the pain in the various ligaments and tendons. It has a tendency to cause many tender areas in the body, and often will cause tiredness. Sometimes, most of the body yields pain even upon the slightest touch. It can be very debilitating for those who are afflicted by it.

To find cures for fibromyalgia, the starting points are centered around' tender body areas. To diagnose these tender spots, physicians check the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow areas. Very specific methods are used by applying pressure to determine the problem locations. To date, over 75 unique tender spots have been found in patients that produce pain.

Since there is very little pressure applied to the specific pain areas, it pretty much indicates that fibromyalgia is relatively superficial. These are not deep pain scenarios, and seem to be just under the surface of the skin. The size of the pained area determined by the pressure application is not very large, and it would appear that some inflammation should appear. This, however, is not the case, and doctors cannot find signs of specific inflamed areas.

Physicians use several criteria to diagnose fibromyalgia, only one of which is the discovery of at least 11 different tender points from a list of'. But even with these tender points the doctor will also do a thorough medical history and physical examination. During the medical history he will ascertain whether there is a history of fibromyalgia or other pain syndromes in the family, a past history of trauma or other possible trigger as well as current problems with deep muscle pain, fatigue, sleep problems, depression or any of the other symptoms which often are present in individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Currently there are not conclusive tests to actually pinpoint the condition of fibromyalgia. The assistance that the patient's history yields is essential to determining the proper diagnosis. That and the above mentioned physical exam is absolutely necessary to get the best potential treatments. These treatments are very focused on pain management, and both alternative and traditional methods are used to help. Drug therapy, using antidepressants is sometimes use, but can lead to dangerous side effects. Other natural methods using hydrotherapy, exercise, and stress management are used to diffuse the problem.

Treatment recommendations will also include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, pacing yourself and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Individuals who experience fibromyalgia should limit their caffeine intake, eat natural and healthy foods and find something that is enjoyable and fulfilling every single day.

Are there cures for fibromyalgia? Well, we now know that there are methods for pain relief, including deep and therapeutic massage which relieves the tension in the muscles. Dealing with stress and anxiety is critical to the successful treatment of the problem, because stress increases the tender point pain and the ability to cope with the agony. Each afflicted person needs to take time out of the day to properly relax, using meditation techniques, deep breathing exercises, or many other specific relaxation methods. - 14130

About the Author:

No comments: