Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Before you can understand the treatments used for fibromyalgia you must have an understanding of the disease. Fibromyalgia is a disease that is not well-known throughout the medical profession. It is linked to arthritis but the symptoms are different. Unlike arthritis which affects the body’s joints this disease affects the muscles. Parts of the body can become tender and sore to the touch due to the muscles in these areas not receiving enough oxygen.
Fibromyalgia symptoms are different for each individual and can seem to disappear completely only to return at a later date. Many times the symptoms will be worse at certain times of the day like in the mornings and during the late afternoon. The weather conditions can also increase your symptoms; damp rainy weather or extreme cold can increase the pain a person feels. The amount of stress that you deal with contributes to the symptoms along with the amount of physical activity you encounter.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
There are a lot of symptoms that are associated with fibromyalgia which is the main reason it so difficult to diagnose. Below is a list of a few of these symptoms.
• Muscle pain, spasms or leg cramps
• Insomnia or waking up still feeling tired
• Always feeling tired and having little energy
• Being sensitive to one or more of the following, light, sound, noise, odors, foods, cold and medicines
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Upset stomach
• A feeling of anxiety or depression
Fibromyalgia Treatments
Finding a treatment that works for a person suffering with fibromyalgia may be rather difficult. Everyone is affected differently and what works for one person may not benefit another at all. In looking for a treatment you want to find something that will help to reduce the pain making it easier to function. You also need a treatment that will help to decrease the feeling of fatigue and one that will help increase your sleep. Some of the treatments used are listed below.
• Medications
• Exercise
• Diet
• Rehabilitation
If you suffer from fibro the best way to treat this condition is by setting up a program that allows you to get enough rest, avoid as much stress as possible and eat right. Understanding your condition and having a set program as part of your fibromyalgia treatment will help you deal with this disease easier.
It is important that you speak to your doctor to get a correct diagnosis of your fibromyalgia symptoms and to enable you to receive proper treatment.
Tips and Advice
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My wife was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago and our lives were changed forever. I am developing an online community for people suffering from fibromyalgia. The online community, “You’re Not Alone†( http://fibromyalgia.ning.com ), will allow members to participate in fibromyalgia-related discussions in the Forum, share their thoughts and ideas in their blog, and post their personal photos and videos. There is no cost to join. Members of the site follow a simple process to create their profile page, which they can later customize including a profile photo and additional details about themselves. I created the project while participating in a Landmark Education leadership program. Part of the coursework was to create a project that benefits the community. When I had the opportunity to create a project that would make a difference in the community, it was only natural that my wife’s illness would be the inspiration.
i have severe burning feet for 3 months no amounto f changing shoes , exercise x.rays B12 shots nothing can show a reason do you think fibro may be a cause thanks karen any advise would be helpful it’s driving me nuts.
Hi Karen, I have been dealing with health problems for last 20yrs and in my travels have learned that burning feet is caused by the liver. Ask a good herbalist for herbs for it or ask at your local health food store as they always have a professional there to help. I hope this helps you. Take care, regards, Heather
I have been told i have FMS for over 8 years now. My first doctor said she was sure i had PMR/TA - polymyalgia rheumatica with temporal arteritis. Although she sent me to a rheumatologist within 24 hours he refused to even listen to my symptoms becuase of my age. I was 29 at the time. PMR/TA is taught to doctors as only occuring in over 50 year olds. After years of suffering and being ignored I have determined that FMS really is untreated PMR/TA in under 50 year olds, but an associated unclassified form of gout is active at the same time. This gout is what causes Karen’s burning pain in her feet. It is also the cause of the stabbing, piercing pain that is felt in the muscles and joints. I have found the only way to remedy the gouty symptoms [and this works if you are strict and follow it] is to eat a very low purine diet. Pretty much exclude all purines in your diet. The rapid onset fatigue that feels like it is drugging you after eating, is caused by a moderate load of ingested purines. You can take guaifenesin 300mg/day to help excrete the gouty crystals. Dr Paul St. Amand of UCLA-California has been treating FMS patients with this medication for over 40 years. It causes some symptoms in the detox period [1 mth for every year of illness] but when you get past this, there is no morning stiffness, not stabbing pain and a great degree of increased energy. The gouty symptoms of this double layered condition are very much part of the daily difficulty in functioning. Take calcium and multivitamin supplements daily with a meal, and use melatonin at night if sleep disturbance is bad.
Hi I have had FMS for over 15 years now and am on medication to help the pain and sleeping pills to get a bit of sleep. I have found it very hard to take it all in and also have had many of my friends turn their backs on me saying it is all in my head and only want the pain relief and sleeping pills plus other ones I also take as a addiction like a drug addict. Does anyone else have this problem I am alone in this and have found myself more at home rather than going out as hate the remarks I get from these people. What do other people with FMS think about this?
Bye for now.
D Gibson
i am 38 y.o and have suffered for 8 years,going to a rheumatoid specialist didnt even want to know me,,i think alot of people think it is in your head…..believe me they are all wrong …let them feel the way i do everday and then have an opinion!! i dont sleep ,tired all the time ,cant lift anything and cant take any medication for it because i am allergic to everything… only us sufferers know how we feel ,it just gets a little tough trying to prove something you cant see…….
After almost 4 years of being undiagnosed researching this disease makes me think I might have it. I would love to know if anyone can recommend a doctor who spealises in Fibromyalgia in NSW. Please contact me if you can offer suggestions
Having initially contracted Ross River Virus and having symptons and ongoing blood tests over 2 years the R/R no longer showed up in any blood tests but many symptons persisted.
After seeing doctors again ,going to a rheumatologist and undergoing bone density tests,blood tests etc the diagnosis guessed i think as nothing shows up in tests was Fibro ,the specialist who seamed very uninterested then prescribed a couple of tablets Mobic & Diopethen to help.
These tablets appeared to help for a while with the sleep & aches & pains associated but now don’t seem so good .
Anyone have some secret weapons they can suggest because if i feel like i do sometimes now at 45 what the hell am i going to feel like at 55-65.
Hi Gavin
I too was diagnosed with Ross River Virus and Barvon Forest Virus about 5 months ago and I too had blood tests and Xrays. I was given Mobic,they helped for awhile but i don’t take them anymore. If you find some secret weapon please let us know the outcome. I feel like c..p all the time. Tired,cramps,lethargic,burning feet,aches and pains and swelling of the feet.
i have suferd fibro for some time and at 43 was sick of the pain ,lack of sleep swollen joints etc but still have to work ,going to see rheumatologist next feb is the firt avail apointment doc tried me on just about every thing . about 3 week ago started taking panadol ostio and that definitly has helped not a fix but least it gets me through the day