You surely have seen the recent commercials for fibromyalgia medications. Even though most people ignore these adds, they could prove very useful. That is why you should pay attention to what they have to say.
After all, fibromyalgia is a very serious disorder that can cause massive pain. Countless people around the globe have to face this disorder every day. But, the most affected are middle-aged women.
According to the CDC, there are 4 million adults in the US that have this disorder. But, shockingly, there hasn’t been any cure yet. There are no medications that can have 100% positive effects. Nevertheless, there are still different treatments that can reduce the pain that this disorder causes.
In other words, there is a way to manage this problem properly but, there is no way to eradicate it completely. There is also another problem. Fibromyalgia can often coexist with other conditions and make the pain even more severe.
So, here is what you need to know about fibromyalgia, and how you can deal with it. Read about the symptoms, causes, natural treatments and more.
Symptoms
Fibromyalgia often makes the surrounding area tender. In addition, it can trigger these tender points where it causes pain with even the lightest pressure. However, to diagnose this disorder, doctors rarely use these points.
But, if they use them, they can easily narrow down their list of possible diagnoses. Instead, doctors combine various symptoms and medical tests to determine the cause of the pain. However, when it comes to the pain, it can be a very consistent dull ache that can affect various areas of the body.
As a result, they could be the sign and the ideal symptom of this disorder. Here are the symptoms that people might experience:
- anxiety
- depression
- dull ache or pain in the lower abdomen
- fatigue
- headaches
- inability to focus or pay attention
- sleeping a lot and still feeling tired
- trouble sleeping
As it seems, these symptoms are very common and easy to misinterpret. That is why it is difficult to diagnose this disorder.
Causes
The moment you get hurt, the brain starts to react. The nerve signals start to travel from the affected area and through the entire body until it finally gets to the spinal cord to the brain. As a result, the brain senses these signals as pain.
Moreover, this type of signal warns the brain that something is wrong. But, fibromyalgia causes pain all over the body without receiving an injury or being sick. On top of all that, the pain doesn’t go away. Furthermore, some doctors believe they know the cause behind it.
They claim that it might be a glitch in the way that the spinal cord and the brain handle the new pain signals. As a result, this disorder causes more cells to carry the pain signals than usual. Since the body has fewer cells that can slow the pain signals, the pain becomes more severe and lasts longer.
In the end, even minor bruises, cuts, or bumps can hurt more than they should. Some areas might even cause pain without a cause. But, this disorder is different for every person. Here is what doctors believe the causes of fibromyalgia are so far:
- sedentary lifestyle
- genes
- other diseases like arthritis or an infection
- posttraumatic stress disorder
- depression
- anxiety
- gender (women get this disorder more often than men)
Alternative and Natural Treatments
Of course, there is a proper medication that can help with this disease, but why rely on chemicals when there is another alternative you can try out. These treatments can help you deal with fibromyalgia and the pain that it causes.
Furthermore, they can reduce the stress and improve the overall health. Whether you decide to use them with medications or not, it is up to you. Besides, most of them are very safe to use together with the mainstream medical treatments.
However, it is important to point out that some of these alternative treatments for this disorder haven’t been properly tested yet. Therefore, there is no proper evidence or a study that can support this claim or the effectiveness.
Nevertheless, many people believe they work. Here are the treatments you can try to treat fibromyalgia:
- a healthy diet
- acupuncture
- getting enough sleep
- massage therapy
- meditation
- physical therapy
- regular exercise
- yoga
This kind of therapy can greatly reduce the stress and the symptoms of other disorders like depression. Also, you can try to attend a group therapy, since many people claim that it works best and it is very affordable.
On top of that, you can meet new people that face the same problems you do. This way you will know that you are not alone. Also, if you have any questions or would like to know about other recommendations, contact your doctor.
Foods to Eat
It is important for the body that you stick to a healthy and balanced diet. Even though no specified diet can help treat fibromyalgia, there are certain foods you should avoid that can worsen the pain.
However, have in mind that there isn’t any study or research that can completely support this claim. Nevertheless, it is best to try and eat balanced and healthy food. This way, you can get a constant supply of energy that your body will need to function.
To achieve this, you will need proper nutrition so that you can keep your body healthy in the long run. Besides, if you don’t eat healthily, there is a possibility that the symptoms can become worse and the pain more severe.
Here is what you need to consume if you have fibromyalgia:
- vegetables
- fruits
- drink water (a lot)
- eat meat in moderation
- exercise regularly
- keep a healthy weight
However, this may not be the case for some people. After all, everyone is different. That is why you need to pay attention to how your body reacts to certain meals and drinks you consume. This is the best idea to determine what your body loves and hates.
Key Notes
If you have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, make sure to take proper medication. However, there is not a single medication that can help cure fibromyalgia 100%. Therefore, you should try to implement some new changes to your life and try natural alternatives for treating this disorder.
Furthermore, the food plays a major role in the health of your system. So, pay attention to what you eat and how much you eat it.
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