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Various Means of Fighting Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia literally means ‘pain in muscles’ and it is considered a syndrome consisting of apparently unrelated symptoms. The major symptom of the syndrome is pain throughout the body.

Other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia include: tenderness of joints, stiffness, fatigue, sleeplessness, increased sensitivity to light, poor concentration, and irritability of the bowels. Fighting fibromyalgia is based on relieving the pain, sleep problems, and other symptoms through various means such as medicine, nutrition, exercise, and other forms of therapy.

Fighting Fibromyalgia with Medication

No single drug or class of drugs is prescribed to treat all the symptoms of fibromyalgia. In addition, patients of this syndrome are more intolerant of drugs and hence prescribing medication for them requires great care. Any combination of over-the-counter analgesics, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and other pain-killers may be prescribed for relieving pain that characterizes fibromyalgia.

To help the patient get sleep and cope with mood swings, anti-depressants are prescribed. Other symptoms are treated with a variety of medication including anti-convulsant agents, anti-anxiety drugs, muscle relaxant drugs, sleep-modifiers, and some anti-neuralgic drugs.

Fighting Fibromyalgia with Nutrition

Nutritional therapy is another method used as an adjunct for fighting fibromyalgia. This approach aims at removing toxic substances from the body, reducing the level of stress, and providing health-friendly nutrients to the body for recovering from the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Generally, the patient is advised to minimize the intake of caffeine, alcohol, simple carbohydrates (sugars), red meat, and processed food items. Greater use of fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended along with vitamin/mineral supplements and lots of clean water and light fluids (vegetable and fruit juices).

Fighting Fibromyalgia with Exercise

Exercise is not frequently chosen as a therapy by patients of fibromyalgia but it has been found to make a great difference in their condition, making muscles healthier and reducing the intensity of pain. In addition, exercise has been found to improve sleep, alleviate anxiety and depression, and bringing greater endurance to cope with pain and inflammation.

Some kinds of exercise recommended for fighting fibromyalgia include yoga, swimming, Tai Chi, and strength-training exercises like push-ups, weight-lifting, and muscular training by using resistance bands. It is important, however, to proceed with these exercises under the supervision of a health/fitness expert so as to avoid over-stressing the muscles and possible injuries.

Other Therapies for Fighting Fibromyalgia

A number of therapeutic techniques are used in conjunction with medication, exercise, and nutrition to alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Laser therapy by using an infrared soft laser has been found effective in relieving pain and removing toxic wastes from the body. Gentle massage and myotherapy are also beneficial therapeutic techniques for coping with fibromyalgia. However, deep-tissue massage is not recommended for patients of fibromyalgia as it can possible damage small muscle fibers.