How to Use Pain Management for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia sufferers experience a barrage of pain all over their bodies. The condition is often triggered by an infection. In some cases, fibromyalgia is brought on by physical or emotional trauma. Read on to learn how to use pain management for fibromyalgia.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Cranial electrotherapy stimulator
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• TENS unit

1. Turn to acupuncture. Many fibromyalgia sufferers report that the use of this Eastern approach to pain management garners results.
2. Tap tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs are typically used to treat depression, but they have proven quite effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia pain. This group includes drugs like amitriptyline and doxepin.
3. Seek aid with analgesics and cortisone. By injecting these medications into areas that ache, sore soft tissues find relief, and chronic pain may be alleviated.
4. Use biofeedback. This treatment route gets to the heart of fibromyalgia by seeking to corral the stress that can cause it.
5. Use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to quell fibromyalgia pain. In this approach, a light electrical shock is administered, via a TENS unit, to the nerve endings associated with your pain. Portable and small as a deck of cards, the TENS unit may be worn throughout the day for steady pain management.
6. Find relief via percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS). This approach is similar to that offered by the TENS device, except in this case, the shock is delivered via a needle that is injected into the skin. PENS is thought to be a more effective treatment route than TENS in most cases, and it must be administered by a physician.
7. Feel better by using cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES). In this approach, a mild electric current is sent through your head via electrodes that are clipped to your earlobes. This treatment is said to manage fibromyalgia pain by gently encouraging your hypothalamus to ramp up its generation of neurohormones.
8. Utilize hypnotherapy for fibromyalgia pain management. Under this method, the body is encouraged to heal itself via a message delivered to your subconscious by a hypnotherapist.

Tips & Warnings

• Exercise is an important part of your fibromyalgia pain management protocol, as it has been shown to relieve symptoms. Choose aerobics, exercising for at least 30 minutes each day. Turn to walking, a stationary bicycle or an elliptical machine for your workout. Aim to make this a regular part of your routine, not just something you endure until your symptoms lift.