Conventional Treatments of Fibromyalgia
Treatment for myofascial pain syndrome typically includes physical therapy, trigger point injections or medications. No conclusive evidence supports using one therapy over another. A physical therapist can devise a plan to help relieve your pain based on your signs and symptoms. Physical therapy to relieve myofascial pain syndrome may involve:
- Stretching - A physical therapist may lead you through gentle stretching exercises to help ease the pain in your affected muscle. If you feel trigger point pain when stretching, the physical therapist may spray a numbing solution on your skin.
- Massage - A physical therapist may massage your affected muscle to help relieve your pain. The physical therapist may use long-hand strokes along your muscle or place pressure on specific areas of your muscle to release tension.
- Finding causes of pain - A physical therapist can help you identify and correct factors that may contribute to your pain. For instance, if poor posture is causing muscle stress in your lower back, the physical therapist may guide you through exercises to correct your posture.
Trigger point injections is another protocol for treating Fibromyalgia. During a trigger point injection, your doctor inserts a needle into a trigger point in your muscle. The needle may be inserted into several places in and around your trigger point. Trigger point injections, sometimes called needling, may relieve the tension in your muscle that causes the trigger point.
Your doctor may inject a small amount of a numbing medication, such as an anesthetic, each time the needle is inserted. Corticosteroid medications also may be used to relieve pain and inflammation around the trigger point.
Medications are also used to help treat the signs and symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome, including:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - These drugs may relieve muscle pain, though some people find they aren't helpful. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve). Other NSAIDs are available by prescription.
- Depression medications - A class of medications for depression called tricyclic antidepressants may help relieve pain and help you sleep.
- Analgesic Therapy - Chronic opioid analgesic therapy, or COAT, is a treatment technique that uses opioids to reduce symptoms of chronic pain.
- Cognitive Behavior Training - helps determine how well a patient manages their pain and teaches them how to take control of it.
- Growth Hormone Therapy - Now that growth hormone deficiency has been pinpointed in many fibromyalgia sufferers, various growth hormone therapies have been developed to help alleviate the symptoms of the illness.
Patients Medical's Fibromyalgia Treatment
The good news is that there is help and success in the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Our philosophy is to utilize a comprehensive approach to the problem. A mind-spirit approach, coupled with sound scientific knowledge, formulates the protocol we use in treating our patients. A customized regimen of nutrition, vitamins, supplements, food allergy testing, stress management and an individualized exercise program are all crucial. Because we are an integrative medicine center, we bring the knowledge of a number of different treatment modalities in our search for success. Massage, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, acupuncture and psychotherapy are all tools that can be utilized, when necessary, to achieve the desired results. Prescription medications are utilized carefully and only when absolutely necessary.
Fibromyalgia is usually characterized by longstanding generalized musculoskeletal pain and chronic fatigue. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy HBOT helps to treat this through increasing oxygen concentration in all body tissues even with reduced or blocked blood flow, and it stimulates the growth of new blood vessels to locations with reduced circulation. Currently, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), is recommended by numerous Fibromyalgia support associations for the treatment of Fibromyalgia, including the FMS community.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a relatively new treatment for fibromyalgia. However, initial studies seem to illustrate that Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has a positive effect on the symptoms of fibromyalgia, including muscle pain and tender points.
Fibromyalgia patients receiving Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) reported a decreased number of tender points and an increased pain threshold. In fact, after 15 sessions, the patients recorded half the number of original tender points and twice their original pain threshold. Those patients who received placebo HBOT recorded no improvements.
Patients Medical Fibromyalgia Supplements
The most to effective supplements which are recommended by Patients Medical are:
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) - Although many factors can influence the stiffness, pain, and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia, evidence from several studies indicates that low serotonin levels may play a role in the development of this condition. 5-HTP has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce pain, stiffness, anxiety, and depression in individuals with fibromyalgia.
Fibroplex Plus - This mineral and amino acid formula is good for reducing the fatigue.
UltraInflamX Plus 360 Medical Food - This supplement helps in giving a comprehensive nutritional support.
Magnesium - Preliminary studies suggest that a proprietary tablet containing both malic acid and magnesium may improve pain and tenderness associated with this health condition when taken for at least 2 months.
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) - is a naturally occurring compound that is involved in many biochemical processes in the body. SAMe plays a role in the immune system, maintains cell membranes, and helps produce and break down brain chemicals such as serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine as well as vitamin B12. This supplement seems to improve pain, fatigue, morning stiffness, and mood in those with fibromyalgia.
Definitions of Various Terms
Lupus - It is an autoimmune disease. It mostly affects the skin, heart, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, and brain.
Hypothyroidism - Hypothyroidism is the state of under active thyroid that develops when the thyroid gland fails to secrete or produce the perfect amount of thyroxine (T4) required by the body.
Next Steps:
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We are located at: Patients Medical PC, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 900 (Between 42nd & 43rd Street), Manhattan, NYC, New York, NY 10017.
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Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009