Non-Invasive Treatment for Fibromyalgia
About two percent of American suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition which causes fatigue and sore ligaments, joints and muscles. Though the medical community is divided about whether it is actually a disease, many have still attempted to treat fibromylagia with non-invasive methods such as medication, physical and talk therapy, proper nutrition and alternative therapy such as acupuncture.
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Definition
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Researchers theorize that fibromyalgia is the result of the brain becoming hypersensitive to pain. When the brain is hypersensitive to pain in this way, the brain interprets pain to be more severe than it is, or interprets pain when there is no reason to do so. The cause of this hypersensitivity may be hereditary but may also be spurred by infection and physical trauma. Fibromyalgia did not have a set of diagnostic guidelines until 1990, but these guidelines now are accepted by the American College of Rheumatology.
Medications
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Both prescription and over-the-counter medications often are used to treat fibromyalgia. These include analgesics (e.g., Tylenol), anti-depressants, and anti-seizure drugs. These drugs have been shown to reduce pain and sleeplessness associated with the condition. Prescription drugs such as Lyrica are available specifically for fibromyalgia, but it is difficult to assess their usefulness when compared to over-the-counter medications because no one knows for sure what causes the condition and therefore can't truly isolate what drug or drugs would be most effective in treatment.
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Therapy
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Fibromyalgia can also be treated by physical therapy and even counseling. Physical therapy may reduce pain by stretching and working muscles of the body and properly aligning the body. Counseling, or talk therapy, can help those suffering from fibromyalgia to reduce the stress and anxiety that may cause muscle tension and pain.
Diet
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Diet will affect the body's function and the chemical balance of the brain. Those suffering from fibromyalgia should should eat carefully and healthfully, consuming the recommended daily allowance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. In particular, those with fibromyalgia should eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish) and protein from lean, non-red meats or seeds. Diets that include acids and proteins are essential to proper muscle tissue development and inflammation reduction and may therefore reduce pain.
Alternative Treatments
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Acupuncture and massage are alternative therapies designed to restore harmony to the body and reduce stress and tension. In acupuncture, tension is removed from the body by inserting needles into pressure points on the body--theoretically, these points coordinate with other parts on the body, so by inserting the needle in one area, balance is achieved and tension is released. In massage, a therapist manually stimulates tense muscles, relaxing them. Since muscle tension is a primary symptom of fibromyalgia, these treatments may reduce pain related to it.
Chiropractic Care
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If the body is improperly aligned, this may cause muscle tension and pain. Chiropractic adjustments may help relieve muscles that are overworking because of poor posture or bad skeletal alignment. Those with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to the pain that results from the muscles working too hard from poor alignment.
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