How To Treat Fibromyalgia Pain – Effective Ways And Modern Therapies
30-Second Summary
● Fibromyalgia is a painful condition marked by widespread body pain, anxiety, fatigue, and digestive issues.
● This condition enhances the pain sensitivity in the body, which can adversely impact the patient’s quality of life.
● While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown, risk factors include being overweight, sustaining repetitive injuries, hereditary factors, and stress.
● The condition does not have a cure, but the pain and symptoms can be treated and managed effectively.
● Some popular treatments for fibromyalgia include pain medication, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and joint supplements.
● Alternative therapies like Biofeedback and regular exercise accompanied by a good diet may reduce the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms.
Introduction
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain in the body and is often accompanied by emotional distress and fatigue. Moreover, those suffering from fibromyalgia have a higher pain sensitivity and often have to deal with jaw pain, digestive issues, poor memory, tingling in hands and feet, apart from body pain and tiredness.
While the exact cause behind the condition is not fully known, more than 2% of the adult population in the United States suffers from fibromyalgia.
Since the condition causes body pain, depression, poor sleep, and fatigue, it can adversely impact the quality of life of the patient. It is important to understand the possible treatments for fibromyalgia and lead a healthy lifestyle to minimise its symptoms.
What Are The Risk Factors And Causes Of Fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not yet known, although it may be due to genetic factors. However, experts have identified some risk factors for the condition, as listed below.
● Age – People in their middle age are more likely to acquire this condition
● Gender – Women are more prone to fibromyalgia than men, as per the statistics
● Weight – Obese or overweight people have a higher risk of fibromyalgia
● Injuries – Those who have suffered from repetitive injuries may develop this condition
● Trauma – People suffering from chronic stress or PTSD are at a higher risk
● Family History – Those with a family history of fibromyalgia are more likely to suffer from the condition
● Other illnesses – People who suffer from viral infections, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus are prone to developing fibromyalgia
Lifestyle Remedies To Treat Fibromyalgia
While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, it can be effectively treated and managed with medication and other treatments. Moreover, studies have identified various non-pharmacological techniques to help the patients. These include daily exercise and self-management skills training to deal with the symptoms of the condition.
Furthermore, consuming a healthy diet to improve joint health and practicing meditation for stress relief can be beneficial. Additionally, Yoga, support groups, and therapy can help you live your life with it. Pairing these techniques with your prescription medication can allow you to navigate your symptoms with ease.
10 Effective Ways To Treat Fibromyalgia Pain
Yoga – Yoga is often useful in reducing the pain and psychological symptoms of fibromyalgia. It not only offers the benefits of exercise to the joints but also relaxes the brain. A combination of meditation, gentle poses, and breathing exercises is beneficial for fibromyalgia patients.
Acupuncture – Acupuncture may be effective in reducing the pain caused by fibromyalgia. In this treatment, the therapist punctures the skin with tiny needles positioned as per the pain areas. The pricking encourages faster healing in the body, improves blood flow, and affects neurotransmitters to lessen pain.
Physical therapy – Physical therapy includes muscle strengthening exercises that also improve your range of motion. With the help of a therapist, you can improve your flexibility and muscle strength, which will allow you to manage your pain better. Physical therapy helps those with fibromyalgia to continue their tasks and physical activity like before.
Manual Lymphatic Massage – Besides leveraging the benefits of exercise, you can also look into a manual lymphatic massage to relieve fibromyalgia pain. The condition is marked by increased pain sensitivity, which triggers a fight or flight response in the body. This, in turn, leads to fluid buildup in the lymph nodes. A manual lymphatic drainage massage that drains the fluid can reduce stiffness and pain in the body.
Essential Oils – Essential oils have a soothing effect on the mind and also offer pain relief. Some essential oils are known to reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients when applied topically in diluted form. These include lavender oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and sandalwood oil. You can try these therapeutic ingredients for relief from fibromyalgia pain.
Weight Loss – The chronic pain from fibromyalgia can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain. Furthermore, this additional weight might worsen your pain and other symptoms. To minimize the pain, you must try to reduce the extra weight. For this, follow a healthy diet and regular exercise to lose weight effectively.
Movement – Physical movement, be it in the form of low-intensity workouts, walking, or other exercises, is highly recommended for fibromyalgia patients. It can help you keep your weight under check and improve your muscle and joint strength. Leading a healthy lifestyle with daily physical activity can minimize your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Pain Relievers – Pain relief medication can offer instant relief from fibromyalgia pain. Some OTC medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen may help. However, it is advisable to get a prescription from a doctor for the appropriate pain relief medicines.
Antidepressants – According to studies, some antidepressants and anticonvulsants may provide relief from fibromyalgia. These include antidepressants like Fluoxetine and Sertraline and anticonvulsants like Pregabalin. Consult your doctor to know if these medications can help with your symptoms, and get a prescription accordingly.
Other Supplements – A joint pain supplement contains a combination of nutrients and ingredients to improve joint strength and reduce inflammation. For example, FlexoPlex is a joint supplement with organic sulfur to reduce joint inflammation and chondroitin to reduce joint pain. It also contains a combination of other ingredients to improve flexibility by reducing joint stiffness. Therefore, try it for fibromyalgia pain relief.
Are There Any Alternative Treatments For Fibromyalgia?
● Tai chi – Tai chi is a mind-body technique that combines breathing exercises, meditation, and controlled physical movements. It claims to improve stamina and muscle strength while rejuvenating the mind. It may help you manage fibromyalgia symptoms better.
● Biofeedback – Biofeedback is a kind of therapy that helps you control your body functions. It may help to reduce muscle strain and relieve fibromyalgia pain. You can ask your doctor for a good therapist to help you with this technique.
● Medical Marijuana – Medical Marijuana may offer relief from fibromyalgia symptoms. It may reduce joint pain, relax the muscles, and alleviate stress. Your doctor can review your symptoms to determine whether this treatment may work for you. You can also opt for CBD patches that provide 24 hour pain relief.
Conclusion
Fibromyalgia is still quite a mysterious condition, considering how its causes are not completely known. However, its wide range of symptoms, such as joint pain, anxiety, poor sleep, digestive disorders, and fatigue, can adversely impact various aspects of the patient’s life. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the appropriate treatment for the condition.
Apart from pain medication, there are various lifestyle changes and therapies that may reduce fibromyalgia pain. These include regular exercise, acupuncture, biofeedback, and lymphatic massage, to name a few. Furthermore, a joint pain supplement can improve your joint strength and reduce fibromyalgia pain.
Thanks to these modern medications and therapies, fibromyalgia can be managed effectively, and you may continue to lead a normal life. Try out these tips. Also, consult your doctor regarding these therapies if you have been looking for an effective treatment for fibromyalgia.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5662432/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2990568/