| Fibromyalgia is a disease which manifests very | | | | P substance is responsible for transmitting and |
| much alike with flu. It gives muscular pains and | | | | amplifying pain signals to and from the brain. |
| tiredness, and can disturb the sleep. It can also be | | | | Another role in triggering fibromyalgia has the |
| characterized by tender spots which are felt | | | | genetics and exposure to physical, emotional or |
| mostly in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. The | | | | environmental stressors. |
| attachments of muscles to bones are also | | | | Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease and must be |
| affected by this disease. Joints seem to be left | | | | treated with medication and non-medication |
| unaffected by it. Besides muscles, pain in tendons | | | | methods. Some of the used drugs in treating |
| and ligaments appear also. | | | | fibromyalgia are: cyclobenzaprine, amitriptyline and |
| Until now there has not been discovered any | | | | dual reuptake inhibitors. In case a patient does not |
| laboratory test to help the doctor diagnose the | | | | respond well to this kind of treatment, long-acting |
| patient with fibromyalgia more easily. The doctor | | | | opioids can be tried but with extreme precaution. |
| is mostly guided by what the patient describes | | | | Sometimes the pain can be managed with |
| and by the presence of the tender points. The | | | | analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. |
| symptoms the patient tells the doctor about can | | | | In some cases antidepressant drugs and |
| help the doctor to eliminate any possibility of | | | | antiepileptic drugs can be used with success. |
| rheumatic disorders in that patient. | | | | Patients suffering of fibromyalgia can follow a few |
| General symptoms of fibromyalgia are: muscle | | | | sessions of therapeutic massage and myofascial |
| pain that lasts more than three months, | | | | release therapy which will help them manage the |
| tenderness in the 18 points, sleeping problems, | | | | pain this illness gives them. |
| fatigue, headaches, memory problems, abdominal | | | | Patients have to make a change in their lifestyle |
| pain associated with diarrhea or constipation and | | | | and consider the fact that they need every day a |
| bloating. People describe the muscle pain in | | | | moment for relaxation and they have to learn |
| different ways: some can feel burnings, radiating, | | | | how to perform deep-breathing exercises and |
| others gnawing, sore, stiff, and aching. Patients | | | | meditation in order to manage the daily stress. |
| say that the pain is always present but with | | | | They also have to create a schedule for going to |
| different intensities depending on the activity they | | | | bed and waking up. A diet is also recommended, |
| perform or on the weather, the stress level and | | | | avoiding coffee, alcohol and spicy foods before |
| the sleep patterns. | | | | bedtime. An active lifestyle can help a lot the |
| The exact causes of fibromyalgia have not been | | | | fibromyalgia patients. Walking, swimming, water |
| yet discovered and until now scientists found out | | | | aerobics and stretching exercises can do a lot in |
| that in patients who have fibromyalgia, the level | | | | the process of treating fibromyalgia. |
| of P substance is increased in the spinal fluid. The | | | | |