| Painful and puzzling, fibromyalgia primarily strikes | | | | your mood, lower your weight and help you sleep |
| women. Why? No one seems to know, for sure. | | | | better. |
| And with details scarce about its cause and | | | | Eating well with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole |
| treatment, dealing with the condition can be | | | | grains, lean meats and dairy also will give you |
| frustrating, to say the least. Hopefully we can help | | | | more energy, lower your weight and improve |
| with some of the answers. | | | | your overall health as you battle fibromyalgia. You |
| 1. What causes fibromyalgia? | | | | can also try eliminating the following foods, which |
| Genetics may play a role in developing | | | | appear to bother some people with fibromyalgia:o |
| fibromyalgia. But no one really knows what causes | | | | Food additives like MSG and nitrates (the |
| the syndrome and there are no known risk | | | | preservative in hot dogs and bacon)o Aspartame |
| factors. The most prevalent theory is that | | | | (NutraSweet)o Sugaro Caffeine drinks |
| fibromyalgia results from a disturbance in the | | | | But remember, what works for one person may |
| central nervous system called central sensitization, | | | | not work for another. |
| which may intensify pain signals. Linked to that | | | | 6. What are the latest treatments? |
| theory is the notion that patients have higher | | | | Pregabalin (Lyrica), a fairly new medication, is the |
| amounts of a compound called substance P in | | | | first to be approved by the (FDA) for |
| their spinal fluid, which increases their sensitivity to | | | | fibromyalgia. Studies suggest that it prevents pain |
| pain. Another theory: There may be two types of | | | | and improves sleep by slowing the release of |
| fibromyalgia: "primary" fibromyalgia, which occurs | | | | chemicals associated with pain. |
| spontaneously, and "secondary" fibromyalgia, | | | | Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and muscle |
| which may be triggered by trauma - such as a | | | | relaxers can relieve pain, also. Antidepressants - |
| car accident - or by certain infections, such as | | | | especially tricyclics (amitriptyline or Elavil) - boost |
| Lyme disease and hepatitis C. Some researchers | | | | mood as well as lessen pain and improve sleep. |
| think that the primary type is caused by a sleep | | | | Supplements such as 5-HTP and SAM-e |
| disturbance, but it's also possible that the sleep | | | | (S-adenosylmethionine) may also be useful. An |
| disturbance is a symptom of fibromyalgia. | | | | amino acid, 5-HTP, converts to serotonin, a |
| 2. Sometimes you will hear fibromyalgia, chronic | | | | feel-good neurotransmitter that helps boost mood |
| fatigue syndrome and lupus mentioned together | | | | and sleep. SAM-e is an enzyme already present in |
| but are they similar? | | | | the body that affects mood and lessens pain. |
| Although the three are separate conditions, | | | | D-Ribose, a simple sugar in powder form, may |
| symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue | | | | lessen pain and fatigue when dissolved in water |
| syndrome overlap. And fibromyalgia and lupus | | | | and taken two to three times daily. |
| both involve the muscle and bone network in our | | | | Cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, |
| bodies, which can cause confusion between the | | | | hypnotherapy and biofeedback may also be |
| two illnesses. Fibromyalgia is characterized by | | | | worth trying. |
| many symptoms including muscle pain, fatigue, | | | | D-Ribose, a simple sugar in powder form, may |
| sleep disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome and, | | | | lessen pain and fatigue when dissolved in water |
| in some people, depression. Despite its consistent | | | | and taken two to three times daily. |
| general characteristics, it can be tough to diagnose | | | | Cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, |
| because symptoms vary from person to person. | | | | hypnotherapy and biofeedback may also be |
| The main symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome | | | | worth trying. Because of the fact that |
| (CFS) include:o Overwhelming fatigueo Memory | | | | fybromyalgia is associated with the spine I know |
| losso Muscle sorenesso Swollen glandso Sore | | | | several wpmen who have had great results with |
| throat | | | | chiropractic care as well. |
| 3. What are warning signs or symptoms of | | | | 7. What is the long-term outlook for a woman |
| fibromyalgia? | | | | with fibromyalgia? |
| Sorry, the symptoms arrive without warning. | | | | The good news is that fibromyalgia does not |
| They can include muscle and joint soreness, | | | | cause damage to muscles and joints that can lead |
| fatigue, sleep problems, irritable bowel symptoms, | | | | to debilitation, immobility or joint replacement. |
| morning stiffness, depression and brain fog. | | | | The bad news is that the symptoms typically |
| 4. How is it diagnosed? | | | | don't resolve. Many women simply must learn to |
| Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to be | | | | live with fibromyalgia. |
| misdiagnosed or have to see several doctors | | | | The key is finding individual or combination |
| before a diagnosis is made. Your best bet is to | | | | therapies that help. Not all treatments help all |
| see a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in | | | | patients with fibromyalgia; discovering which help |
| conditions affecting muscles and joints. He or she | | | | you is a matter of trial and error. Good Luck. |
| will look for symptoms and physical findings that | | | | The information contained on is provided for |
| may lead to a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. | | | | informational purposes only and is not meant to |
| For instance, a patient must have 11 out of 18 | | | | substitute for advice from your doctor or |
| specific tender points on her body (neck, | | | | healthcare professional. This information should not |
| shoulders, back, hips, and upper and lower | | | | be used for diagnosing or treating a health |
| extremities), and she must have had widespread | | | | problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. |
| pain in her muscles and joints lasting for three | | | | Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare |
| months or more without explanation. | | | | professional regarding any medical condition. |
| The doctor will also try to rule out other diseases | | | | Information and statements provided by the site |
| that have similar symptoms, such as lupus and | | | | about dietary supplements have not been |
| polymyalgia rheumatica (another autoimmune | | | | evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration |
| disease). | | | | and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or |
| 5. What lifestyle changes can I make to help | | | | prevent any disease. Dynamic Lifestyles does not |
| alleviate the symptoms? | | | | recommend or endorse any specific tests, |
| Get plenty of gentle aerobic exercise (like | | | | physicians, third-party products, procedures, |
| swimming or walking briskly), working up to at | | | | opinions, or other information mentioned on the |
| least 30 minutes most days of the week. Weight | | | | site, We strictly research and gives you the |
| gain commonly accompanies fibromyalgia (thanks | | | | information we have found. Reliance on any |
| to the fatigue, muscle pain and poor sleep). | | | | information provided by Dynamic Lifestylest is |
| Regular exercise will give you more energy, boost | | | | solely at your own risk. |