1. Know the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain of an unknown origin in specific areas of the body. The areas of the body that may experience pain differ from person to person. Usually, the painful areas are tender to the touch, sometimes not tolerating touch at all. There seems to be no reason for the pain, and it often comes on without prior warning. An attack of fibromyalgia can last for several months and often recurs throughout a person's life. People who experience fibromyalgia often have secondary symptoms, as well, such as fatigue, headaches and a sensitivity to light and noise.
2. Understand the Causes of Fibromyalgia
Right now, medical science isn't sure what causes fibromyalgia. In fact, until recently, most doctors didn't believe it really existed and labeled patients with symptoms of the disease as mentally ill. Recent studies have shown, however, that fibromyalgia is real and really does cause people pain. Its acceptance as a real disease by the medical community has lead to more research into its causes. One current theory is that people with fibromyalgia have abnormal nervous systems. Their nervous systems overreact to normal sources of stimulation, causing painful sensations where such sensations shouldn't exist. Other theories claim that fibromyalgia could be caused by injuries, infections or lack of sleep.
3. Learn How Fibromyalgia is Diagnosed
Because fibromyalgia mimics a lot of other diseases, it isn't easy to diagnose. Many people with this disorder are falsely diagnosed many times, by many different doctors, before they finally learn they have fibromyalgia. The American College of Rheumatology has declared that doctors may diagnose someone with fibromyalgia if that person has had pain of a non-specific cause for at least three months and has at least 11 tender spots on their body that cause intense pain when touched with medium pressure. However, some doctors believe this diagnostic guideline is too rigid and results in some people not being properly diagnosed.
4. Understand the Available Treatments
Standard treatment for fibromyalgia now consists mainly of painkillers. Most doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers or simply tell their patients to take over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or aspirin. For patients who develop depression because of their condition and its limitations, doctors may prescribe antidepressants. Other doctors prescribe sleep aids for those who have trouble sleeping due to the pain, though most physicians opt for non-addictive drugs rather than narcotics.
