How does understanding pain help with treating fibromyalgia?
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Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Chronic, widespread pain -- unlike the pain of, say, a broken bone or an arthritic joint -- is a primary symptom of fibromyalgia. If you have fibromyalgia, finding effective ways to control the pain is essential. Your doctor can prescribe medications that help with the pain, but establishing helpful lifestyle habits, like getting regular exercise, practicing stress-reduction techniques, and taking steps to avoid your fibromyalgia triggers (which your doctor can help you identify) are also key components of an effective treatment plan. Its important to understand that stress can make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. Finding ways to get your stress under control should help reduce your pain.
If you are struggling with pain and other persistent fibromyalgia symptoms, tell your doctor.
Chronic, widespread pain -- unlike the pain of, say, a broken bone or an arthritic joint -- is a primary symptom of fibromyalgia. If you have fibromyalgia, finding effective ways to control the pain is essential. Your doctor can prescribe... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Pain is one of the hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia. If you have fibromyalgia, it's important for you to find a doctor who understands pain and knows how to treat it. Treating pain is a complex science and some doctors know more than others do about strategies that bring relief. In particular, try to find a physician who treats other patients with fibromyalgia. You may need to see several physicians before you connect with one who understands how to treat your pain and other symptoms.
Pain is one of the hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia. If you have fibromyalgia, it's important for you to find a doctor who understands pain and knows how to treat it. Treating pain is a complex science and some doctors know more than others... More -
Celeste Cooper answered:Pain can be generated from many sources, but in fibromyalgia our pain becomes centralized, meaning that the constant pain messages from the periphery, such as from myofascial trigger points (which are found in most FM patients), keeps the brain in a constant state of instability in relaying messages for comfort.
If we understand this, we can learn to target aggravating factors to our pain and fatigue, such as myofascial trigger points, sedentary life styles, poor nutrition, poor posture, stress, and neglect of comorbid or coexisting conditions.
It is important to track medications and treatments to identify frequent offenders. There are many helpful tools for doing this in our book. It not only helps you, but your healthcare provider too.
Generally, medication alone is not enough. Bodywork, stretching and building movement slowly after treating myofascial trigger points, warm water therapy, biofeedback, meditation, myofascial release, specific MTP therapies, electrical stimulation, and other therapies depending on your needs, such as lymphatic drainage, etc. are helpful.
All blogs, posts and answers are based on the work in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN, and Jeff Miller, PhD. 2010, Vermont: Healing Arts press and are not meant to replace medical advice. http://www.thesethree.com
Find out more about this book: Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofa...
Pain can be generated from many sources, but in fibromyalgia our pain becomes centralized, meaning that the constant pain messages from the periphery, such as from myofascial trigger points (which are found in most FM patients), keeps the brain in a... More
