Chiropractor in Laurel

Fibromyalgia Facts

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects an estimated 10 million Americans, mostly women. FM is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause. FM is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and often psychological distress. Fortunately, FM is not a serious life-threatening illness and can be diagnosed properly by a physician who is knowledgeable about this condition.The National Fibromyalgia Association (http://www.fmaware.org/) is a nonprofit organization that provides educational information and support for Fibromyalgia patients and their family members; it is an excellent resource for gathering more information on this elusive disorder

>
The tender point locations of fibromyalgiaMense S, Simons DG. Muscle Pain. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2001.


When should I see a doctor?
As with many other medical problems, proper diagnosis is half the cure. People with FM tend to look healthy on the outside but feel miserable on the inside, and therefore it is important that a physician knowledgeable about FM be the person to make the appropriate diagnosis. Many physicians are still not well educated about the diagnosis of FM and may be too quick to give a diagnosis of FM. It is important that you first have standard laboratory tests performed – before a diagnosis of FM is given – in order to rule out some other medical problems that could be the cause of widespread pain and fatigue.Many other medical problems can mimic the symptoms of FM including anemia, Lyme Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, low thyroid, diabetes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and other chemical imbalances. Sometimes the key symptoms of FM - widespread pain and fatigue – can be caused by reactions or side effects to common medications such as statins for high cholesterol, some blood pressure medications, and even some anti- depressant medications. Your doctor should be able to rule out these other causes of widespread pain and fatigue with standard laboratory tests. The diagnosis of FM should only be given after a thorough physical examination and laboratory tests fail to detect another medical problem. As noted above, FM is a complex pain disorder that requires a multifaceted treatment approach including the following components:

Pain management with various medications

Gentle exercises

Sleep management

Nutritional guidance

Psychological and emotional support

Complementary therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture and massage.

There is no single cause or single treatment for FM, and each individual with FM requires an individualized treatment approach using a combination of the above therapies. It is normal to worry about the cause of your pain and the impact it may have on your life. Talking with your healthcare provider about these worries and concerns can be helpful. Although the pain of FM can be debilitating at times, you and your healthcare provider can find many ways to relieve the symptoms and get you back to your normal activities.


When should I see a doctor?

Keep in mind that staying active with your normal activities is the best thing you can do to limit the effects of fibromyalgia on your life. You may have to modify the way that you perform certain activities of daily living, slow down your pace and intensity of physical exercise. However, you need to keep moving and exercise within the limits of your abilities. Many FM patients find that gentler forms of exercise are better tolerated, such as Tai Chi and Yoga. Avoid intense or aggressive forms of exercise, such as high impact aerobics or heavy weight lifting.Proper sleep hygiene is an extremely important component to the successful management of FM. You should avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol, as these substances can alter your normal sleep cycle. Regular exercise can be a helpful aide in promoting good sleep. It is important that you try to maintain a normal bedtime and time to awaken in the morning; keeping to a routine sleep cycle is very helpful. Some patients will require certain medications for improving their sleep, which should be discussed with an appropriate licensed healthcare provider. Emotional stress and depression tend to afflict many FM patients. Taking classes in stress management, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and relaxation therapy may be very helpful in the self-management of these emotional states. Some FM patients will have severe depression and/or anxiety that need to be treated with therapeutic doses of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications often in conjunction with a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. It is important to note that this does not mean FM is a psychiatric condition; patients will simply find it easier to cope with their FM symptoms when their mental health needs are addressed. Many FM patients experience specific areas of muscle pain, in addition to the overall sense of widespread pain and fatigue. For these discrete areas of muscle pain known as myofascial trigger points, various types of massage or manual therapy can be very beneficial. As a rule, most FM will not respond well to heavy or aggressive types of deep tissue massage. Instead, FM patients should consider lighter forms of massage that do not involve deep friction or stripping of the tissues. Deep breathing and relaxation, along with massage, can aide in the relaxation of tight painful muscles.

Rehabilitation
The FM patient can benefit from the assistance of a trained rehabilitation specialist who understands that FM must be addressed with more gentle types of exercise than other patients with musculoskeletal pain. It is important for both the FM patient and their rehabilitation specialist to understand that “hurt does not mean harm”. FM patients can expect to experience a modest amount of post-exercise soreness, but this should not be excessive or debilitating. As a rule, exercises should be performed at a very low intensity and gradually increased to a level that is tolerable for the FM patient. Mild aerobics and strength training are indicated for the treatment of FM, with many patients reporting that yoga and tai chi exercises are excellent adjuncts to a standard rehabilitation program.One simple way to get started with an exercise program is begin a daily walking program. You could start by walking just 5 minutes the first day, and gradually keep adding 2-3 minutes per day until you are walking 30-40 minutes a day. When the weather is bad, you can substitute the use of a stationary bicycle indoors. Keep track of your time on the bicycle and set a goal of reaching 30-40 minutes. Some fibromyalgia patients prefer to exercise in the water, by treading water, swimming a few laps, or taking a beginner’s water aerobics class. One benefit of pool based exercise is the fact that the buoyancy of the water takes a lot of pressure off your joints.The type of exercise you choose is up to you. It's important that you start exercising and keep doing it. Exercise relieves much of the pain fibromyalgia causes. Some people even find that exercise makes all their pain go away. You will also feel better if you have some control over your own care and well-being, by doing things to help yourself get better.

Sources from Clinicalrehabspecialist.com