Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

I first read about Fibromyaligia in 2000, when a doctor suggested that, because I was tired and in pain some of the time (like any other mother of three small children under the age of 5 years) that I must have Fibromyalgia. He offered me a crooked copy of faded newspaper article about the condition and told me that I should read it, because there was no cure, no help, and very few people would ever believe that I had anything other than a mental illness if I told them I had Fibromyalgia.

Because I was rarely ever in pain, and it was later discovered that I had severe anemia (thus the fatigue), I tossed the barely legible paper out and did my own research. In my misdiagnoses, I had discovered many other people who had this dibilating disorder. I have spent more than one visit to the doctor's office being misdiagnosed with something - sometimes serious, sometimes benign. But each time has reinforced for me the truth that many women get ignored and pre-judged by their physicians. It is important to learn all you can about a diagnoses before even accepting it yourself.

Most people who hear about Fibromyalgia do so in only vague terms. Now there are commercials toting the miracle blessings of Lyrica (an anti-convulsant used for diabetic neuropathy and shingles pain) on a body greatly fatigued by this strange disorder. Its success rate is lower than average, and can result in some serious side effects. Patients should weigh the options before jumping into a Lyrica treatment plan. I was prescribed the medication for neuropathy once, and it caused my right pupil to be constantly dialated. This triggered a series of daily migraines that lasted for more than a year.

However common the Fibromyalgia problem is, ironically, very few people understand much about this very real disorder. It is not new at all. In the early 1820's a doctor in Scotland gave Fibromyalgia its original name - which was "Fibrositis", because it was first believed that Fibromyalgia was caused by a swelling in the fibrous tissues of the body.

Of course, back before there were MRI's and CT scans, as with all hardly understood diseases, Fibromyalgia was placed in the mental illness category of medicine, and most people diagnosed with it were told limit the stress in their lives, stop being so dramatic, or to take anti-depressents once they became widely available for victims of the disorder.

Once it was discovered that Fibromyalgia was not really Fibrositis at all, it received its new name in the late 1970's and science began to research the causes of the disease. In 1981, scientifically proven tenderpoints were found throughout the bodies of people who had Fibromyalgia. By 1990, the American College of Rheumatology wrote guidelines for the proper diagnoses of the disease and in 1997, Americans suffering from the condition reached their goal of educating the general public, healthcare practitioners and scientific America about Fibromyalgia by forming the National Fibromyalgia Association. Today, it is thousands strong.

Several unsuccessful treatments have been suggested throughout the years for Fibromyalgia, and many more medications have been handed off to those who suffer from it. From Cymbalta and Prozac and other heavy anti-depressants to Lyrica, Fibromyalgia sufferers have been pumped full of conventional medications that have only offered minimal relief, if any at all.

Some widely accepted and strongly proven successful alternative medical treatments have also been made available to Fibromyalgia sufferers:

Exercise is one of the most important aspects to conquering and managing this disease. While it sounds counterproductive, it is important for those in pain to get moving. Always with the guidance of doctors and physical therapists though. Some easier-on-the-muscles exercises include: Walking, light jogging, water aerobics, and stationary bycicling. Recently, it has been even suggested that weekly hiking in fresh mountain air can provide, both, a frequent sense of freedom and relaxation from the disease. Yoga and pilates can also build muscle strength while easing muscle pain at the same time.

Better sleep is absolutely necessary for staving off the pains of Fibromyalgia. Making your room an organized place of peace and rest, avoiding alchohol and caffeine in the afternoon, and exercising not in the morning, but closer to the when the sun goes down can minimize the after-exercise pain level and take advantage of the Fibromyalgia-related physical fatigue at bedtime.

Acupunture has been proven successful in many cases for those with Fibromyalgia. It is important to find a practitioner certified in the Chinese medical form of this treatment in order to get the most out of your hour.

Avoiding hot tubs is important for those with connective tissue and circulatory issues, but an occasional warm and soaking bath can have the affect of spending the afternoon at a medical spa.

There are also many herbal supplements available to effectively treat Fibromyalgia:

One of the more promising and more scientifically tested has been SAMe. It is a natural immune inhancer made normally in the body, but those with Fibromyalgia and similar illnesses (like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), seem to make less of it. Taking the supplements regularly for six months, has shown great differences in pain levels in recent studies for those suffering from Fibromyalgia. It increases the level of Seratonin in the body, and also regulates how the body uses it, dispersing at the correct levels for those who do not this naturally on their own. *Those with bipolar disorder should not take this supplement.

Magnesium, a mineral lacking in the fast food diet of most Americans (because we fail at taking in the much-needed amount of green leafy vegetables needed in our hectic day), has also shown great results in combating the pain of Fibromyalgia. Most health food stores can direct a sufferer in the right direction and the correct amount of Magnesium that is needed for them.

Vitamin D, something most Americans are also deficient in - and many severely so - will find that taking a regular dose of this vitamin will aid in relieving the pain, and especially the fatigue, of fibromyalgia. Most adults (under 60) are encouraged to take 400IUs a day, and those over 60 are told to take up to 1000 IUs a day. Check with your doctor for correct dosage amounts though, as individual health needs vary.

5-HTP has been proven to significantly reduce the amount of pain in individuals with Fibro if taken regularly for, at least, four weeks.

The side effects of most conventional medications can be weighty, and for people with life-intrusive Fibromyalgia, the consequences might just be too high. Considering the many alternative treatments available can save the sufferer time, money and many visits to the pharmacy.

***As with any alternative treatment plan, always discuss any herbal supplements, vitamins and even exercise with your doctor.