Fibromyalgia Pain - Frustration - Alternatives

Fibromyalgia pain and related illnesses are not only devastating, but also little understood. It was not too many years ago that a patient couldn't easily find a doctor who even believed in fibromyalgia pain, much less one who had an idea of how to treat it. It wasn't until 1990 that there was an effort to define the symptoms that make up this painful and often debilitating condition.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness. It's causes are not well understood. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, which just means a cluster of symptoms that tend to occur together. One of the most prominent symptoms is chronic pain; in fact, that is usually what first alerts a person that they need to get help. Once you start to look for answers it is usually a long and sometimes frustrating path to a diagnosis; it's not unusual for a person to go from doctor to doctor for years until someone finally diagnoses fibromyalgia.



Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

In 1990 The American College of Rheumatology came up with diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. Criteria include 1) Persistent pain on both sides of the body, 2) Pain occurring both above and below the waist, and 3) Pain in 11 of 18 designated trigger points. Other symptoms vary, but can include alterations in sleep, stiffness, fatigue, digestive problems, and problems with thinking and memory. Click here for more detailed information on Diagnosing Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Chronic pain is perhaps the most obvious and debilitating symptom of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia pain is described in a lot of ways: throbbing, stabbing, a stiff ache, or "just hurting all over." Pain will come and go, and is often worse after exercise or activity. Combined with a frequent feeling of weakness, the person with fibromyalgia may find their ability to be physically active severely diminished. Click here for more details on the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

While a more consistent picture of fibromyalgia symptoms is emerging, there is still a lot that isn't known about the causes of fibromyalgia. Click here for the current status of research into fibromyalgia causes.

Non-Medical Treatment Options

The goal of treatment is to help you learn to manage your symptoms as well as possible, and to live the most satisfying, functional life you can. One non-medical treatment option that has been rated very highly by fibromyalgia sufferers is therapeutic massage. Follow this link to see the results of research on Fibromyalgia and Massage Therapy

There is no one medicine, vitamin, or exercise that will "Cure" fibromyalgia or eliminate fibromyalgia pain. The right combination of management tools is likely to involve changes in activity, diet, and exercise, as well as the use of medication. Click this link below to learn about A Rational Approach to Fibromyalgia and Exercise.

I've also recently added an article that looks at research on nutrition and fibromyalgia, titled Best Diet for Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Medicines

It's important to remember that there are no medications that cure the disease of fibromyalgia. That doesn't mean that medicines are not an important part of fibromyalgia treatment. Your doctor will recommend medicines to you based on treating specific symptoms, for example, pain medications to treat pain. Here's a more specific breakdown on different types of medication for fibromyalgia.

There's a lot of excitement about Lyrica, the first medication specifically approved by the FDA for fibromyalgia treatment.

There has also been some discussion about the use of Botox for people with fibromyalgia. Check here for the results of research on Botox and Fibromyalgia.

There has been a lot of recent research on using Cymbalta, an antidepressant, to treat fibromyalgia. Read here about Research to Date of Cymbalta and Fibromyalgia.

Similar Diseases to Rule Out

There are several diseases that can be confused with fibromyalgia.

Arthritis can also cause significant pain, but is a disease which is characterized primarily by joint inflammation. Fibromyalgia itself does not attack the joints. Degenerative joint disease from wear and tear on the joints is perhaps the most common type of arthritis. Early diagnosis of arthritis can help prevent additional damage to the joints. Please click here if you're specifically interested in learning more about arthritis pain.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is similar to fibromyalgia in that it produces referred pain that is related to a trigger point. In the case of Myofascial Pain Syndrome, the pain is confined to one area, rather than the four quadrant pain seen in fibromyalgia. Myofascial pain is more likely to be caused by repetitive use and/or trauma to one part of the body. More on the Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome refers generally to fatigue of unknown origin that lasts over six months. This can be confusing because individuals with fibromyalgia can certainly be tired. While the differences can be subtle, in fibromyalgia the main problem is pain that won't quit, while in CFS, the main problem is fatigue that just won't go away. Many people report having some overlapping symptoms that make either of these diseases very hard to diagnose.

Fibromyalgia and Joint Pain

There have been some interesting studies over the past few years looking at the relationship between joint hypermobility and fibromyalgia. Read more here about fibromyalgia joint pain.

Fibromyalgia Pain and Disability

As more and more people are being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, we are seeing people struggling with disability issues because of their chronic pain. Read this discussion of why it's so difficult to get disability benefits for fibromyalgia.

Is Foot Pain a Particular Problem?

A number of people with fibromyalgia pain report severe foot pain, especially when they put any pressure on their feet. Read more about a specific diagnosis associated with fibromyalgia that can cause foot pain.





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