New Ways to Manage Fibromyalgia

You're constantly tired, you have memory problems, and you hurt all over. The doctor has diagnosed you as having fibromyalgia - and the diagnosis has left you baffled and bewildered. If this sounds familiar, it's time to learn from an expert more about your condition.

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., is medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue
Centers nationally and author of "From Fatigued to Fantastic!" and "Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now." He notes that the key symptoms of fibromyalgia include "widespread pain, persistent severe fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and insomnia."

An "Energy Crisis

In addition, Dr. Teitelbaum explains that the severity of the insomnia "is enough to distinguish fibromyalgia from other causes of widespread pain." He feels that it results from an "energy crisis," whereby the drain of energy can result in multiple other problems.

Although fibromyalgia is, according to Dr. Teitelbaum, "not an autoimmune disease," he says it "can be caused by many autoimmune illnesses," such as lupus. He also notes that "immune dysfunction with multiple associated infections is also part of the process."

According to Dr. Teitelbaum's research, certain nutrients as well as other options can help. He feels that "Most physicians are clueless about the illness, so the patient will need to guide them. For pain relief, most docs can be easily talked into prescribing Lyrica, Ultram, Neurontin, Cymbalta or
Savella--basically band aids, but helpful."

SHINE Approach

To help, Dr. Teitelbaum has prepared a free symptom analysis, available online through Vitality101.com. "This online "computerized CFS/Fibromyalgia specialist" will analyze the person's symptoms (and labs if available), determine the causes of their illness, and tailor a treatment protocol to each individual's case," according to Dr. Teitelbaum. He notes that "most of the treatments are available over the counter, so people can begin on their own."

For those who are having difficult with managing to work through the fibromyalgia fatigue and pain, the physician adds: "First, the body will not support a person's going back to a job that made them sick in the first place, so an honest appraisal needs to be done by the person on how it would FEEL (turn the brain off for a few minutes) to go back to that job." At that point, you can more effectively determine the best path to follow for your own needs.

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Source: first-person interview by journalist Joanne Eglash with Dr. Teitelbaum, M.D.