The Best Long Term Fibromyalgia Treatment Available Today

Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-term) condition. It causes pain in your muscles, tendons and ligaments. Some medical researchers believe that it is caused by fatigue. However, whenever you are looking for the best treatment method, it is important to have a sure diagnosis first.

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

There are specific criteria set forth by the American College of Rheumatology that is used in diagnosing fibromyalgia. They include:

Widespread pain lasting three months or moreA minimum of 11 tender points (specific points on your body that when touched cause pain)Tests need to be done to eliminate other possible reasons that you are feeling this wayA complete medical history needs to be reviewed

Once you do receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis you will need to work closely with your doctor in order to find the best treatment for you. There are several options whenever it comes to medications (i.e. analgesics, antidepressants, anti-seizure medications) but you need to take a look at their potential side effects before making your choice.

Medications For Fibromyalgia

It is important to take a look at each of the different types of medications that are used for treating fibromyalgia. These include:

Analgesic pain relievers, which include over-the-counter drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (i.e. ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen) and prescription-strength medications too (i.e. Tramadol)Antidepressants (i.e. Amitriptyline, Duloxetine, Milnacipran) can help you sleep better and control painAnti-seizure medications (i.e. Gabapentin, Pregabalin), which were originally used in the treatment of epilepsy, can help with pain relief

Physical Therapy

Some doctors suggest that their patients undergo physical therapy. These exercises can help with both muscle balance and pain reduction. Hot and cold therapy is also sometimes used to help reduce pain. Some patients have also discovered that stretching exercises do help too.

Stress Management

Stress management is also really important. This can be done by meditation, tai chi or deep breathing exercises. Some patients will also need to cut back on strenuous activities. What it really comes down to is understanding your physical limits and acting accordingly. Of course, adequate sleep is also an important part of avoiding the severe fatigue that stress makes worse.

Mild Exercise

While you may think that exercise would be counterintuitive, it can actually bring relief. Some of the gentle exercises that are recommended include swimming, walking and tai chi. Initially this may make your symptoms worse but over time it will help to reduce them.

Source