Fibromyalgia Symptoms Beyond Pain

Fibromyalgia affects everyone differently which is one of the reasons diagnosis is difficult to make. There are no simple blood tests to take. Practitioners one by one omit other conditions and check for fibromyalgia and tender points in order to make a diagnosis.

The foremost symptom is body pain however, there are other symptoms in which may just not be noticed. Knowing what these symptoms are and seeking treatment may help.

Anxiety and depression

Enduring continual pain can end up with a person suffering anxiety and depression. Many people seem to manage daily despite the pain. Experts state accepting and learning how to decrease the pain can help. There are numerous alternative therapies which can provide relief from the constant pain.

Digestive problems

Most patients usually have digestive issues such as irritable bowl syndrome, which symptoms include stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea.

Dr. Daniel J. Clauw, director of the Chronic pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan, states fibromyalgia is more than just pain it's an array of symptoms including chronic fatigue, IBS and interstitial colitis.

Fatigue

Over 80% of fibromyalgia patients experience fatigue. On a side note fibromyalgia has been compared to chronic fatigue syndrome and has been diagnosed as such. According to Dr. Clauw, almost half the patients of fibro meet the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Both of these have symptoms of being tired that are so strong, school, work and daily activities are hampered.

Headaches

Besides body pain patients are apt to have chronic headaches. A 2004 study had discovered that 76% of patients seeking treatment for fibromyalgia also reported chronic headaches and 63% had migraines.

Sleep problems

Patients often have sleep related problems with fibromyalgia. Sleep can possibly ease the pain but the problem is fibro patients have a hard time falling asleep or staying a sleep which leaves them feeling exhausted when they wake up.

Stiffness upon wakening

Patients with fibromyalgia may wake with stiffness and it has a habit of staying around for an hour or two. This in itself makes it very difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

There are several alternative therapies that can aide fibromyalgia, here are a few:

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has been demonstrated by science to be safe and effective. Many patients with fibromyalgia seek out chiropractic care to help with aches, pains, sleeplessness, headaches and other symptoms. Patients have been know to respond better to chiropractic and nutritional counseling.

Fibromyalgia lots of times is not diagnosed or noticed by conventional practitioners. This can lead to up to five years or even longer before a diagnosis is reached. A well trained chiropractic will diagnosis this condition with good communication with the patient. Chiropractic care is a tremendous help in making it easier to diagnosis this condition

After a diagnosis is reached, the chiropractic will administer the required adjustments of the entire spine. These adjustments are to correct any subluxations in the spine. One a patient is properly aligned pain and other accompanying symptoms become remarkably decreased which include fatigue, weakness and sleeplessness.

Herbal, lifestyle changes and other type of treatments may also be recommended. There is no cure for this condition but numerous fibromyalgia patients have reported a great decrease in symptoms and increased quality of life with chiropractic care.

Acupuncture

Oriental medicine does not acknowledge fibromyalgia as just one disease pattern but many. It provides treatment to the specific symptoms on each individual patient. Care is based on the patients health, intensity and location of pain, digestive health, sleep patterns and other symptoms. Treatments are designed to each individual patient. Different points, herbs and lifestyle changes are different for each person. Sources:

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