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Fibromyalgia Treatment: Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024

What is the treatment?

Fibromyalgia being very common in women is a disease that associates with long-term experience and is chronic in nature. It gives rise to tremendous pain all over the body especially parts that are consumed in muscles and also bones. The person experiences general fatigue throughout the day. Fibromyalgia results in severe damage to patients both in physical and mental form. Even the person being the victim of fibromyalgia is hugely affected socially. There is no such age dependency of this disease; this can take place in anyone even children. However, this disease is often misdiagnosed due to its variation in symptoms. Fibromyalgia may reflect the symptoms of arthritis while a continuous pain in the ligaments, tendons and muscles for about three months may lead the doctor to suspect this disease in you.

Some of the common symptoms that verify the existence of fibromyalgia are extreme fatigue, sleeping trouble, headaches, depression, concentration issues that result in incapability to focus on something, dull aching down your lower abdomen and pain in the trigger points. Often symptoms emerge as a misinterpretation of nerves and brain that leads to chemical imbalance.

Fibromyalgia includes various causes like infection from prior illness, genetically passed to the members of the family, excessive stress that leads to trauma and more. Theories say this might be a result of nerve and receptive organs being much more sensitive to sensation.

In case of experiencing any such symptoms or long-term discomfort, you must consult a doctor.

How is the treatment done?

Fibromyalgia is a long-term disease and there is no such permanent cure for it. But proper medication and diagnosis at the right time reduces the symptoms and let the victim live a normal life. Besides common symptoms of fibromyalgia that makes it looks similar to osteoarthritis, tendinitis and bursitis, some other indications include dry mouth, eyes and nose, frequent urination, high sensitivity to light, heat, cold and sound, feeling or numbness in skin like hands, arms, feet and face and even constipation and stomach pain too.

Primarily, the doctor would evaluate an in-depth research on your medical history of both the patient and family members. The doctor is supposed to check the trigger points by pressing them firmly. This is to check if they are painful. Some most common parts in the body preferably known as the trigger point include top of the shoulders, hips, knees, back of the head and outer elbows. However, nowadays checking of trigger points is an outdated method. Instead of checking trigger points, continuous three months of pain indicates fibromyalgia in the patient. The doctor may also ask you to undergo some blood test in order to cross-check his diagnosis. These are complete blood count test, thyroid function test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor test.

Further, on being diagnosed fibromyalgia, the doctor prescribes pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and often tramadol in extreme cases. If depression or stress is the cause, antidepressants are prescribed that also improves the sleep quality of the patient. Anti-seizure drugs like Neurontin and are even prescribed to facilitate fibromyalgia situations.

Sometimes, therapies are of huge help and are suggested by the doctor. Physical therapy that includes exercise to improve strength, occupational therapy to manage stress and counselling reflect amazing help in improving the condition in patients.

Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?)

If a person is experiencing severe pain In muscles, ligaments or tendons that changes migrate from one place to another, fibromyalgia is suspected. It gets confirmed if this pain lasts for more than three months. Patients, on being diagnosed fibromyalgia are eligible for the treatment.

Who is not eligible for the treatment?

Fibromyalgia often produces similar symptoms of osteoarthritis, tendinitis and bursitis. Thus, it leads to a misdiagnosis. However, patients not experiencing body pain for more than three months are not eligible for the treatment.

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Are there any side effects?

Side effects of painkillers, antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs can be noted as the adverse effect of the treatment of fibromyalgia. Some of these side-effects include nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness or fainting, dizziness, constipation, a sudden increase of appetite and weight gain, dry mouth, blurred vision, fatigue, insomnia and dizziness.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic physical disorder and once you are a victim of it, you have to bear it throughout your life. The treatment is limited to medication while post-treatment guidelines are inevitable to follow in order to lead a normal life. They include therapies especially exercise or Yoga practice that has a huge effect in reducing and controlling the pain. Added to that, meditation and occupational therapy for patients suffering from severe stress and depression remain essential in maintaining a normal life.

However, if you are suffering from fibromyalgia you must follow a strict diet that should surely include plenty of vegetables over meat, intake of sufficient amount of water, less consumption of sugar and more space for fruits in the diet.

How long does it take to recover?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that is most common in females. This is not a curable disease. But medication anyhow helps in controlling the pain and let patients live a normal life.

What is the price of the treatment in India?

The treatment of fibromyalgia involves doctor consultation fees, medication and rarely tests charges.

Are the results of the treatment permanent?

No, the painkillers or antidepressants reduce the intensity of the disease to an extent. On the other hand, strict diet and physical exercise execute great help in suppressing the symptoms.

What are the alternatives to the treatment?

Doctors generally tend to prescribe medicines that produce temporary relief from pain. At the same time, maintaining a strict diet(fibromyalgia diet) enhances the condition to lead a better life. The diet of a person suffering from fibromyalgia should include green vegetables, clean lean protein, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants(vitamin A, C and E) and fermented food. Use of Helichrysum and lavender oil remains a great addition to facilitate the condition.

It is to be remembered that consumption of excess alcohol or caffeine needs to be restricted. Food with additives may degrade the condition. Sugar to be avoided. Added to that, magnesium, fish oil, Vitamin D3, Ribose, Rhodiola and Ashwagandha are highly useful to treat fibromyalgia and is required to be included in the regular diet.

References

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Written ByDr. S.Sagin Raj Diploma in Diabetology,CCRH (certificate in reproductive health),MBBS,F.F.M(family medicine)General Physician
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