Treatment for Fibromyalgia: How to Effectively Manage your Symptoms

When you struggle with the pain, fatigue, and other troublesome symptoms of fibromyalgia, you need to gain control over those symptoms so you can return to a normal life. Let's take a look at symptom management and treatment for fibromyalgia.

Doctors can't always identify the specific causes of fibromyalgia. However, the condition seems to involve an abnormally sensitive pain response due to chemical and/or nervous system imbalances. Many sufferers develop it after a physically or emotionally traumatic incident, or in association with extreme stress. However, it can also appear for no known reason.

Fibromyalgia can disrupt your life in many ways. Typical symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Dull, aching pain that affects multiple areas of your body.
• Crippling fatigue, may occur partly due to restless legs syndrome or other painful issues that interrupt normal sleep.
• "Fibro fog," is a kind of cognitive impairment often reported by fibromyalgia sufferers.
• Associated pain problems such as headaches, bladder pain, digestive issues, and TMJ.

How to Manage Fibromyalgia Symptoms Effectively

Since fibromyalgia has no cure, sufferers focus on getting their symptoms under control instead. The following approaches may help you gain some temporary relief from your symptoms:

• Yoga - This combination of physical exercise and mental discipline can clear the mind, calm you down, and relax aching muscles.
• Tai chi - This ancient Chinese martial art doubles as a relaxing way to improve your balance, mental focus, and range of motion.
• Over-the-counter drugs - Ordinary anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications can provide brief breaks from your discomfort.

Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia

If self-care options fail to help you manage your symptoms, it's time to seek outside treatment for fibromyalgia. Options include:

• Medications - You may benefit from antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications that help you cope with the emotional effects of the disorder. Anticonvulsant drugs may ease fibromyalgia-related nerve pain.
• Acupuncture - Acupuncture can help your body release its own natural painkillers, easing chronic pain. It can also improve blood flow and normalize other physical functions.
• Physical rehabilitation - Exercises that help you build strength and flexibility may help you combat fibromyalgia musculoskeletal aches and pains.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy - This form of mental health care can help you manage your psychological and emotional reactions to your symptoms.
• Chiropractic care - As you'll see below, chiropractic care can prove invaluable for managing fibromyalgia symptoms by helping you identify and master negative thoughts.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help Patients with Fibromyalgia?

Chiropractic care can help your whole body work better. A skilled chiropractor can perform adjustments to correct alignment problems that interfere with nervous system function. By allowing the nervous system to communicate with various parts of your body more effectively, these adjustments can:

• Reduce nerve pain, headaches, and other pain problems.
• Improve your posture and balance, thus taking abnormal, uncomfortable stress off your muscle groups.
• Help you get more refreshing sleep.
• Relieve digestive and urinary system symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Relieve Fibromyalgia Symptoms

The most comprehensive approach to symptom management combines professional fibromyalgia treatment with self-care. Lifestyle changes can play an important role in helping you manage your day-to-day symptoms.

Relaxation is key, so find time to stop working and simply focus on being calm. If fibromyalgia interrupts your sleep, schedule more sleep time to compensate. Since fibromyalgia and insufficient Vitamin D seem to go together, consider taking a Vitamin D supplement. Avoid common symptoms triggers such as exposure to cold weather and stressful situations.

Resources and Support for People Living with Fibromyalgia

You don't have to face your fibromyalgia battle alone. In addition to the guidance and treatment offered by chiropractors and other medical experts, you can take advantage of many fibromyalgia support groups and other resources. Examples include the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology, and the National Fibromyalgia Association.

Let Us Help You Manage Your Fibromyalgia

Complex challenges such as fibromyalgia often call for expert advice and treatment as well as symptom self-management. If you need help overcoming the limitations placed on your life by fibromyalgia, contact Hogan Spine & Rehabilitation to learn more about our all-natural treatment for fibromyalgia.