| Is it true that if you are diagnosed with | | | | Other forms of treatment for fibromyalgia include |
| Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome follows? | | | | heat and massage therapies. These help to |
| Well, these two conditions are classed as separate | | | | increase the blood flow to the muscles to |
| disorders but there does appear to be an overlap | | | | encourage healing. Medications are also available |
| between the two. | | | | and include painkillers, antidepressant medications |
| Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder, with the pain | | | | for elevating moods, sleep drugs and muscle |
| symptom being widespread musculoskeletal pain | | | | relaxants. However the best results seem to |
| and the presence of multiple tender points. There | | | | come from patients who use a combination of |
| are 18 specific tender points and doctors will | | | | medication, exercise, diet modifications, physical |
| usually look for the patient to express pain for at | | | | therapy, and meditation and relaxation in their |
| least 11 when pressed using mild force. , They can | | | | fibromyalgia treatment programs. |
| be found in the areas near the neck, spine, | | | | Continue reading for CFS treatments and discover |
| shoulders, hips, knees and elbows. Fibromyalgia | | | | more natural ways to combat fibromyalgia by |
| patients also exhibit a myriad of other symptoms, | | | | signing up for the free newsletter below. |
| with the most common being sleep disorders, | | | | Treating chronic fatigue syndrome uses similar |
| morning stiffness, fatigue, headaches, irritable | | | | methods to the fibromyalgia treatments. It has |
| bowel syndrome, depression and anxiety. | | | | been observed that patients with the condition |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is also a chronic | | | | are also more likely to improve their condition if |
| disorder, which is also known as chronic fatigue | | | | they use an integrated treatment approach in |
| and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), or | | | | their programs. |
| myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). People with CFS | | | | As symptoms and severity can vary so much |
| feel a persistent fatigue that does not improve | | | | from patient to patient, doctors will normally try |
| with rest. They will feel tired immediately even if | | | | to address the worse symptoms first. There are |
| they were just doing ordinary and normal | | | | medicines that can target sleeping problems, |
| activities. They can feel exhausted for no | | | | cognitive difficulties and pain, however CFS |
| apparent reason and be housebound or bed-bound | | | | patients are often sensitive to these so dosages |
| for long periods of time. | | | | are normally lowered. |
| Studies have indicated that about 80 percent of | | | | Herbal treatments are an option and although |
| patients diagnosed with CFS were observed to | | | | your doctor won't prescribe these, anecdotally |
| have an overlapping diagnosis of fibromyalgia. | | | | CFS sufferers have experienced significant |
| There is some speculation that because of this | | | | improvements. |
| close relationship fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue | | | | You should be aware however, that herbal |
| syndrome are actually part of a wider spectrum | | | | treatments can inter-react with other medicines |
| of disorders and therefore are linked. | | | | and you should seek medical advice before taking |
| When treating fibromyalgia, doctors and experts | | | | anything. |
| recommend having a holistic approach. Treatment | | | | Amending your diet to remove caffeine, refined |
| programs for fibromyalgia are not piece-meal | | | | sugar, and alcohol is also recommended as many |
| processes. Everyone involved should be an active | | | | CFS sufferers report sensitivities to these |
| player. The patients, the doctors, the therapists, | | | | products. If you smoke you should try and give |
| and the family and friends should play active roles | | | | up, if not for your lungs, but because it can make |
| in the treatment programs. The support group of | | | | symptoms worse. |
| patients with fibromyalgia should be as strong as | | | | Some patients have found relief through |
| their will power will need to be to recover from | | | | alternative treatments like gentle massage, |
| their condition. | | | | acupuncture and mediation. If you wish to try an |
| There are a number of treatment programs that | | | | alternative treatment method try to find a |
| patients can adopt that reduce symptoms. For | | | | practitioner who has experience of CFS. |
| one, low impact aerobic exercises have shown to | | | | Just like fibromyalgia, medications alone don't |
| have positive impacts, with fibromyalgia patients | | | | normally succeed in alleviating all the CFS |
| reporting reduced pain and improved sleep. These | | | | symptoms. By combining conventional medicines |
| exercises include swimming and walking both of | | | | with treatments like meditation or relaxation, |
| which targets the muscles making them more fit | | | | stress management, emotional and mental health |
| which reduces muscle pain and tenderness. | | | | counseling, and sleep management both |
| Exercise also releases certain hormones and | | | | fibromyalgia chronic fatigue syndrome can be |
| chemicals that can block pain receptors and boost | | | | better managed. |
| the immune system. | | | | |