Posted by James
Physicians do not have successful treatments for fibromyalgia, which has made this a very attractive area for alternative medicine providers who often claim to have successful treatments. Patients with fibromyalgia are more likely than the general population to seek out alternative medicine, with up to ninety one percent of these patients seeing alternative providers. Several therapies have become standard fare for the fibromyalgia patient seeking alternative care. The Internet has become a major source of information with over 100,000 sites showing up on an alta vista search. The following are some of the more common treatments that fibromyalgia patients use.
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Posted by James
The patient most likely to be diagnosed as having fibromyalgia is a women between 25-50 years of age.. Almost all patients with fibromyalgia will have some pain in the head and neck area. The pain is described as tingling, aching, soreness, flowing, and diffuse. Since the disease takes so long to diagnose, most patients suffer from chronic pain syndrome by the time their symptoms are taken seriously and they have trouble localizing the pain to discrete areas. Another common theme in these patients is fatigue. The fatigue is severe, sometimes preventing any movement at all. Sleep in non-restful and not restorative. People wake up feeling like they need eight more hours of sleep. Another frequent complaint is swelling of the hands that is not obvious to the examiner, but the patient is clearly able to discern a difference, regardless of whether the swelling effects the ability to wear jewelry, clothing, and can be shown to not effect the shape and size of the fingers. Forgetfulness and an inability to concentrate and think or plan for long term events is also a hallmark of this condition. This last symptom is called fibrofog by the afflicted and is one of the most bothersome symptoms.
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Posted by James
The most common complaint in people with fibromyalgia is that they “feel bad”. One third to one half of patients with fibromyalgia relate the onset of the condition to a traumatic experience often can recount the day and time the condition started. Chronic widespread pain not associated with inflammation is considered the hallmark of the disease. Chronic fatigue, cold fingers and feet, impaired memory, frequency and awareness of urination, depression (stipulated as reactive and not clinical), sleep and balance disturbance, muscle twitching, muscles aches, pain, dry mouth, headache and sore throat are all common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Symptoms occur daily, but vary in severity. Patients are never symptom free, but at times may reach functional levels in which time they typically see no need for treatment. Symptoms of the condition and the body awareness eventually become a large part of the person’s life. Desires to get better and full awareness of the abnormalities differentiate this entity from depression. A search for normalcy and a focus on the symptoms often aggravate intrafamily relationships and get the affected individual labeled as an “emotional vacuum cleaner” and worsen otherwise minor family issues.
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Posted by James
INTRODUCTION
The fibromyalgia syndrome is seen amongst all socioeconomic classes in most countries, most ethnic groups, and in all types of climates. It is a common condition frequently seen in primary care settings. An estimated 6 million Americans have fibromyalgia, and between two and six percent of people presenting to a primary care physician’s office will have the illness. Making an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia is important, patients are often relieved that there is a diagnosis which reduces anxiety and tension. Once diagnosed, consultations and laboratory tests can be used in a more judicial manner.
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Posted by Alex
TREATMENT-NONPHARMACOLOGIC MODALITIES
Education-Patients with fibromyalgia seem to be comforted once the diagnosis is confirmed by a healthcare professional. Much of what we can do is to “witness” the disease along with the patient. Even though we do not have successful treatments we can help people understand the disease process, what will worsen it, and how long the exacerbations will last. People also do better when they are given some part in their recovery. Relaxation and breathing exercises can be used to help a person maintain their functional ability at work. There also is benefit in “uncoupling” of the sensory component of the pain and the cognitive appraisal of the pain. Celebrex arthritis
Exercise-As muscles atrophy, the pain worsens and prospects for full recovery diminish. Maintaining muscle tone needs to be a priority in treating fibromyalgia. Exercise programs need to start off with stretching. Exercises should be low load, low repetition and focus on strengthening. If aerobics are done they should be low impact. Pain limits should not be exceeded, and when pain develops exercise should stop. Water aerobics are particularly well tolerated. Buy canadian Sumatriptan
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Posted by Alex
AGGRAVATING AND ALLEVIATING FACTORS
Fibromyalgia patients do not respond uniformly to external factors. It is generally accepted that cold weather, humid weather or a rapid change in temperature can bring on an exacerbation of fibromyalgia. Lifestyle patterns involving sleep, exercising past the point of exhaustion, anxiety, remaining inactive for long periods of time, missing sleep or meals, and allowing oneself to become severely phys ically or mentally fatigued can cause a flare-up in the syndrome. Other triggers include surgery, medical illness, hypothyroidism, even the activation/infection of HIV or Lyme disease can trigger fibromyalgia. This is not a universal response and in different populations different responses to these stimulii can be found. Imitrex migraine
The protective factors are considered to be staying on a strict schedule, living in warm or dry weather and maintaining a moderate activity schedule.
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Posted by Alex
Fibromyalgia is the name given to a collection of symptoms with no clear physiologic cause. The constellation of symptoms are clearly recognizable as a distinct pathologic entity. The diagnosis is made through clinical observations made by the examiner. Differential diagnosis must include other somatic syndromes as well as disease entities like hepatitis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalance, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Diagnostic criteria are given as guidelines for the diagnosis, not as absolute requirements. Treatment of this condition remains individualized and relies heavily on having a therapeutic relationship with a provider. Treatment of this syndrome needs to be looked at as an ongoing process. Goal oriented treatment aimed at maintaining specific functions can be directed at helping a patient get restorative sleep, alleviating the somatic pains that ail the patient, keeping a person productive, regulating schedules or through goal oriented agreements made with the patient. Since this syndrome is chronic and may effect all areas of a persons functioning the family and social support system of the person being treated need to be evaluated. Patients often seek alternative medical treatments for this problem including diet therapy, acupuncture, and herbal therapy. Treatment must involve more than just the symptoms presented and the patient can only be treated successfully if they are willing to work at changing their own perceptions, and ways of relating to stressors in their world. Omnicef 125 5 mg/ML
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