fibromyalgia is a clinical nomenclature used to identify the presentation of widespread, non-specific pain continuing over a period of three months or longer and responding to a variety of tender bodily points found during physical exam., according to Dr. Robert Bennett of Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon, Pain is often characterized as muscular and sometimes felt in the joints accompanied with stiffness. Fatigue on all levels, mental, physical and emotional is experienced as well as problematic sleep patterns. Bennett notes that, "There is some evidence that fibromyalgia patients can be helped, but not cured, by a multi-disciplinary approach..."
How to Treat Fibromyalgia & Chronic Widespread Pain
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your doctor or a rheumatologist for a full workup if you experience chronic pain and think it may be fibromyalgia.
Step 2
Consider using conventional medication to relieve fibromyalgia pain. Scientific American reported in January 2009 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Savella--milnacipran HCL in the generic--a dual selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitora and antidepressant. The FDA has previously approved two other drugs for the treatment of chronic pain, Lyrica and Cymbalta, the former an anti-depressant and pain killer and the latter an anti-seizure medication found effective for the treatment of fibromyalgia. All three medications require a doctor's prescription.
Step 3
Avoid monosodium glutamate, a food additive, preservative and flavor enhancer found in many foods. In their recently released book, "Nutrition and Rheumatic Disease", Laura A. Coleman and R. Roubenoff discuss the effects of MSG on chronic pain mentioning numerous side effects, many mimicking the symptoms of fibromyalgia including mental fogginess, dizziness, fatigue, disorientation, headaches, body pain and depression.
Step 4
HolisticOnline.com suggests eliminating sugar, alcohol and caffeine as well as processed white flour from your diet. These products offer little or no nutritional value and aggravate fatigue, increase muscle pain and disturb sleep.
Step 5
Try regular massage therapy to relieve pain. Find a rhythm or treatment schedule that is right for you.
Step 6
Get a good night's sleep every night. Good, restful sleep translates into an inexpensive method of treating pain by allowing your body to relax and rejuvenate. To help you sleep more easily, take two teaspoons of organic raw honey in warm milk or straight at bedtime. Honey is high in potassium and easy to digest. If you awaken during the night another spoonful will help you fall back to sleep.
Step 7
Investigate whether you have food sensitivities. According to RevolutionHealth.com, "potato, tomato, peppers, eggplant and paprika,... They all contain a toxin that most people can properly handle, but some of us are unable to properly process, the result being lots of pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc." Some people also find they are sensitive to dairy and wheat products.
Step 8
Visit a homeopathic practitioner to discuss alternative options available for chronic pain, fatigue and depression. For example, common homeopathic remedies for chronic pain are Bryonia, Rhus Tox and Ruta Gravolens. Because homeopathy treats patients as individuals, each needing a specific and possibly different remedy, there are no general suggestions for treatment that will cover everyone's situation.
Step 9
Alkalinize your system by changing the way you eat. Choose foods that will alkalinize your body such as apple cider vinegar, lemons, and the more alkaline grains, amaranth, couscous and millet. Dr. Theodore A. Baroody's book, "Alkalinize or Die" discusses a wide array of foods to enhance your diet and assist you in learning to eat to alkalinize the system, increasing resistance to chronic pain, sleeplessness, fatigue and depression.
Tips and Warnings
- You may have to combine treatments to achieve the pain relief and mental pick-me-up your are looking for. Add new supplements and treatments to your routine carefully, assessing their efficacy one at a time.
References
- HolisticOnline.com-Fibromyalgia
- Organized Wisdom
- "Nutrition and Rheumatic Disease (Nutrition and Health)", Laura A. Coleman and R. Roubenoff , 2008
