Is There a Fibromyalgia Cure?
At present there is no fibromyalgia cure. However there are many things that you can do to ease your symptoms. While the condition can be difficult to treat, your doctor can help by finding the treatment regimen that best suits your needs. The important thing is not giving up hope and learning to live positively with the symptoms you have. It is better to focus on treatment options than to fret over a possible fibromyalgia cure.
Unfortunately not all doctors are experienced in treating fibromyalgia and it is often misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety or other disorders. It is important at the outset to make sure you find a doctor who knows how to deal with the various symptoms of your condition. Family physicians, general internists, or rheumatologists can all treat fibromyalgia. While a fibromyalgia cure is not available at present these medical professionals can help you to manage the condition.
A fibromyalgia cure is not the goal of treatment. Instead a team approach is implemented by your doctor, physical therapist or other medical professionals to help you to manage your illness. Equally important is the role that you play in your own healing. It may not be easy, initially, to find a team of people who suit your needs, however, once you do you will be able to draw on their experience to help you to cope on a daily basis.
Pain clinics that specialize in this type of disorder (along with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases) may be an ideal choice for the treatment of this disorder. Since there are no medications currently approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia, doctors make use of a variety of drugs that treat symptoms like muscle pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue. A fibromyalgia cure may not be possible right now, but these drugs can enable you to lead a normal, productive life.
If you have fibromyalgia, physical therapy, occupational therapy focused on learning pain-management, coping techniques and making sure to balance rest and activity periods can help to ease your symptoms. Implementing self-help measures can help you to experience something like a fibromyalgia cure - at least in terms of minimizing the disruptiveness of your symptoms.
You can help yourself by getting enough sleep and the right kind of deep sleep that will help to minimize the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia. Many people who have the condition have pain at night, restless legs syndrome or problems with brain-wave activity when they sleep. Many people find that a fibromyalgia cure becomes easier to visualize when their sleep patterns are corrected.
Exercise is also important in a fibromyalgia cure. Despite the fact that you may feel very tired or be in some degree of pain, making a concerted effort to stay as active as possible actually helps to minimize symptoms. If your symptoms are very severe you can start with gentle walking and slowly build your program up to an acceptable level. Aerobic and flexibility exercises are ideal.
The majority of people who have fibromyalgia can continue to work. However it may not be easy without making some drastic changes. You might need to work fewer hours or do a less intensive job. Where you can, try to remain in your job but make things easier on yourself by getting a more comfortable chair, not lifting heavy things etc. Explain to your employer that there is no fibromyalgia cure but that you are doing everything in your power to maintain a healthy and productive lifestyle.
