ProHealth
Oct 11

Fibromyalgia Treatment Options

While there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, there are many different treatment options available meant to help you cope with your condition and your symptoms. With so many treatment options available, you don’t have to suffer anymore. However, you need to keep in mind that many treatment options will result in a change of lifestyle for you. You need to be willing to make the changes to improve your health and well-being.

Here is a list of some of the many treatment options available – both common and the not-so common. Many sufferers try different treatment options until they find one or two that work best for them. You might try several fibromyalgia treatment options in addition to a change in diet and lifestyle to improve your overall condition.

Types Of Treatments

If you see a particular treatment option you would like to know more about, you should ask your health care specialist to provide you with more information.

•    Acupuncture
•    Tender Point Injections
•    Myofascial Release Therapy
•    Spray and Stretch Technique
•    Therapeutic Massage
•    Acupressure
•    Capsaicin Cream
•    Malic-Magnesium Supplements
•    Melatonin
•    Mindfulness Meditation
•    Relaxation Training
•    Valerian Root
•    Theracane/Backnobber
•    Stress Management Techniques
•    Self-Hypnotherapy
•    Self-management

Choosing Your Own Treatment Plan

You should never start a new treatment plan without first talking about it with your doctor. He or she can advise you as to the best options for your needs. However, many people try several different treatment methods until they find one that works for them. Since fibromyalgia affects different people in different ways, there is no set treatment plan that works for everyone.

Make sure that you stop anything that makes you feel worse or if you get additional symptoms or pain. Discuss it with your doctor. Also, do not take anything orally without first discussing with your doctor, even if it claims to be natural”. There are many things that may have an adverse reaction with your medication that you could currently be taking.

Oct 8

Fibromyalgia Is Not Just a Female Disease.

While 9 out of 10 fibromyalgia sufferers are women, men still get the condition as well. The downside to being a man with the condition is that there is not as much support for men with chronic pain or fibromyalgia.

There is also a stereotypical belief that men are supposed to be “tougher” and not complain over pain. This can make it emotionally harder for a man who is suffering for the condition. It is thought that the actual number of men with fibromyalgia may be higher but we don’t know because they often go undiagnosed. They come forward with their pain a lot less for fear of judgment.

Change in Lifestyle

Once being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, there may be need for a big change in lifestyle. Many men are very physical people and this will increase their pain and symptoms from fibromyalgia. It can even affect their jobs if they work in a hard labor profession or even a tedious profession such as something that requires typing a lot.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can cause a man to have to change his lifestyle.

Some fibromyalgia symptoms include:

•    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

Therapy/Support Groups:

Men with fibromyalgia can benefit from psychological support for:
•    Stressful life conditions
•    Prolonged pre-diagnostic phase
•    Depression and/or anxiety
•    Abuse histories
•    Adjustment issue to chronic illness
•    Poor support system

If you are male and have fibromyalgia, you do not have to suffer alone. There are treatment options available to you. There are even support groups plus more to help you get both the moral support and the general information that you need.

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Oct 5

When you have a condition like fibromyalgia, you may feel like you are alone in the world. You likely feel as if no one knows and understands how you feel. You have probably been told by friends and family and possibly even doctors that it was “all in your head” and that there was not really anything wrong with you. This can be a crushing blow to your spirit and your self esteem.

Local Fibromyalgia Support Groups

If your doctor has not already told you, there may be support groups in your area where you can meet with other people that also have the same condition. This can be a very helpful way to get not only moral support but also more information about your fibromyalgia.

To find support groups in your area try:

http://www.immunesupport.com/supportgroups/

You can also look here http://www.fmaware.org/fame%20newsletter/famesupprt_direct.htm for a support group directory to your area. Ask your doctor if there are known support groups in your town for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Online Fibromyalgia Support Groups

The internet has made it even easier for people to stay in contact and this includes people with conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Some online support groups include:

•    www.fibrohugs.com
•    www.friendswithfibro.org

A simple search engine search will likely show you that there are many more online support groups and “webrings” for you to take advantage of in regards to this disease. You can meet people from all over the world that share your condition.

A good support group makes a great addition to your fibromyalgia treatment. You don’t have to feel alone anymore. You can have the moral support of other people that suffer from the same illness. It will also help you stay up to date on new treatments and techniques, fibromyalgia news and more.

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