The Mayo Clinic says individuals with fibromyalgia as experience pain in various areas of the body, including joints, soft tissue, muscles, tendons and cartilage. Touching tender points produces pain in fibromyalgia sufferers as well. Research published in the journal "Pain" indicates that individuals with fibromyalgia also endure fatigue, headaches and depression. Some sufferers often require every ounce of energy to get through daily activities.
Step 1
Identify the main symptoms affecting the fibromyalgia sufferer. Some of the common symptoms, as defined by the Fibromyalgia Symptoms Organization, include pain, soreness, lack of energy, dizziness, stiffness, headaches, depression symptoms and sleep dysfunction.
Step 2
List the prescription medications known to relieve symptoms in fibromyalgia. Drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration include pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran. Duloxetin and milnacipran fall under the classification of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, whereas pregabalin is an anti-seizure medication. The drugs decrease pain and fatigue to allow better physical functioning.
Step 3
Identify nonpharmaceutical treatments to alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms. The journal "Current Opinions in Rheumatology" describes regular exercises, pool exercises, strength training and massage as activities shown to produce positive outcomes in improving sufferers' lives. The activities can increases endorphins, the body's internal pain reliever.
Step 4
Outline a daily schedule to include rest periods throughout the day to deal with fatigue. According to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, a rest period helps to boost the brain's ability to function.
Step 5
Identify one primary care provider to oversee health care. Individuals need many different physicians and other health care givers to address the complex and multifaceted fibromyalgia syndrome, but require one main provider to oversee and coordinate all care and prevent fragmentation in care.
Step 6
Record a list of websites offering information on fibromyalgia. Sufferers can find many helpful programs online for dealing with the difficulties of the disorder. The National Fibromyalgia Association's lone mission works to improve the quality of life of sufferers and supplies links to other useful sites.
Things You'll Need
- List of symptoms
- List of medications
- Description of exercises
References
- Mayo Clinic: Fibromyalgia
- "Pain"; "Enhanced Central Pain Processing of Fibromyalgia Patients"; R. Staud, et al; 2009
- Fibromyalgia-Symptoms Organization: Fibromyalgia Symptoms
- "Current Opinions in Rheumatology"; "Fibromyalgia Treatment Update"; Daniel Rooks; March 2007
- Pain Awareness Organization: Fibromyalgia
