Posted by TENA/ DIAMOND on 1/11/2009, 3:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Fibromyalgia#6"
Treatment and prevention of fibromyalgia #7
Treatment and prevention of fibromyalgia
There is no known cure or preventive method for fibromyalgia, but symptoms can be treated. Treatment usually concentrates on reducing symptoms and improving function. No one treatment method can control all symptoms. In fact, most options control only one or two. This makes finding the right combination important.
Other conditions, including many that are symptoms of or occur simultaneously with fibromyalgia (e.g., migraines, depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome) should be treated, as they may aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms when uncontrolled.
Finding the right physician is crucial in treating fibromyalgia. An empathetic physician who understands the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia and is willing to listen to and work with the patient is important. A family physician may send a fibromyalgia patient to a rheumatologist. Patients˘ self-education is a key to better results. Individuals are encouraged to keep communication with their physicians open. It may help to make a list of everything that needs to be discussed and bring it along to appointments. All treatment options, including those individuals can do on their own, should be discussed with a physician.
In 2007 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its first approval of a medication specifically to treat fibromyalgia: an anticonvulsant called pregabalin (Lyrica). This drug is also used to relieve diabetic nerve pain, post-shingles pain and some types of seizures.
Other medications may also reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia. These include:
Antidepressants. Used in lower doses when treating fibromyalgia than when treating depression, unless the patient is also suffering with depression. Even at low doses, side effects are common, including dry mouth, weight gain, constipation and lack of concentration. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) relax muscles and heighten the effects of endorphins and may be taken at bedtime to help promote restorative sleep. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) promote the release of serotonin and may reduce fatigue.
Analgesics (painkillers) . Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be used to help with the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Stronger narcotic (opioid) preparations are sometimes prescribed in severe cases. These drugs have the potential for tolerance and dependence.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Usually used to treat inflammation, NSAIDs also help to relieve pain caused by inflammation and may help ease muscle aches in fibromyalgia patients.
Benzodiazepines. A kind of tranquilizer, which acts on the central nervous system to reduce anxiety, relax tense, painful muscles and stabilize erratic brain waves. They may be administered at bedtime to help with sleep, but there is a potential for dependence in some patients, and they should not be used for long periods of time.
Muscle relaxants may be prescribed, but they are usually not very effective even though sometimes they work by acting as depressants on the central nervous system.
Most medications useful in the treatment of adults with fibromyalgia have demonstrated little or no effect in children, though TCAs have had good results in pediatric patients.
Nutrition may also play an important role in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Proper nutrition ensures that the body has what it needs to function and heal. Fibromyalgia patients have been encouraged to reduce certain foods (e.g., corn, wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, sugar). Doing so is believed to help improve symptoms of pain, depression, fatigue, headache and digestive tract difficulties.
Remaining active as much as possible is a must for fibromyalgia patients. Regular exercise has been shown to decrease pain and increase endurance and may be essential to managing fibromyalgia, but it must be done correctly. Most fibromyalgia patients will need to modify their old exercise habits. Eccentric contraction (contracting and lengthening at the same time, such as with reaching motions) should be avoided. It is recommended for fibromyalgia patients to start at a low level of exercise and increase gradually, working with low-impact forms of exercise such as walking. The type of exercise activity should be alternated at least every 20 minutes.
Fibromyalgia patients are more likely to experience more intense and longer-lasting pain than healthy individuals. Muscle soreness may be minimized with relaxation, heat, steady breathing and drinking plenty of water. Stretching is important to lengthen muscles and maintain their length, help muscles relax, improve ability to move muscles and decrease pain. Proper exercise has been shown to decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia and reduce severity of symptoms.
Striving for restful sleep is important in the treatment of fibromyalgia. A healthy sleep regimen is crucial to improving sleep and includes:
Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day
Avoiding caffeine, sugar and alcohol before bed
Avoiding eating immediately before bed
Practicing relaxation exercises while falling to sleep
Avoiding exercising within three hours of bedtime
TENA/DIAMOND
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
A ROSE FROM MOM AND I !!
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