Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease which causes widespread muscle pain and tenderness. In India, it is a very common disease with more than ten million cases per year.
Muscular rheumatism and fibrositis were some of the terms used in the past for Fibromyalgia due to misinterpretation about the disease. It is not even linked with inflammatory or degenerative arthritis even though symptoms might seem to be similar. The damage is very minimal and doesn’t harm the body in the long run. To avoid deconditioning, it is very important to continue with an active lifestyle.
Fibromyalgia can be treated through medications and a proper lifestyle. A stress-free life can also cure the disease.
Symptoms approving fibromyalgia:
The symptoms may vary from person go, person. In general, there are no exterior symptoms visible. The main symptoms of fibromyalgia include widespread pain, fatigue or extreme tenderness, irregular sleep. Fatigue is one of the worst condition which disables a person to think clearly, also known as ‘fibro fog’ or ‘brain fog.’
Some other symptoms :
- Anxiety or depression.
- Morning stiffness.
- Headaches.
- Painful menstrual cramps.
- Peeing issues.
- Numbness in hands, arms, feet, and legs.
The pain may affect the whole body, or it might end up affecting a particular area. In the cold, damp, or hot weather, the pain even gets worse.
Diagnosis :
As there is no lab test for the disease mentioned above, the doctor diagnoses it by asking the patients about the symptoms they’re having. According to the symptoms told by the patient, the Doctor decides if the patient has fibromyalgia or not. At times it becomes difficult for the doctor to understand the reason behind your pain.
To get the confirmation about fibromyalgia, you need to visit several doctors. After you find the right doctor, soon, the patient will get proper treatment, and that will ultimately make the patient feel better.
Consulting a rheumatologist will help the patient get diagnosed easily, as a rheumatologist is an expert in problems with muscles, joints, and bones. If any of the family members had fibromyalgia, the chances are that the patient might also get it.
People with fibromyalgia have tenderness at certain points. When pressure is put to certain points like the back of the head, neck, shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips, the patient will feel tenderness. Apart from this, the rheumatologist will ask a set of detailed questions to confirm the presence of fibromyalgia.
Medications:
A healthy lifestyle habit, proper medicines may decrease pain and improve sleep. Antidepressant might be suggested to treat the pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety that comes along as a package with fibromyalgia.
Pill reminder can help the patient consume the prescribed medicine on time. It can also be used as a reminder to consume water and exercise timely. Along with medical support, physical therapy, regular aerobic exercise, meditation can help the patient manage the symptoms.
The cure to fatigue:
Besides muscle pain, fatigue is one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. This makes a person feel exhausted, weak, and sleeps for more than ten hours does not seem enough to them. People with fibromyalgia claimed that they slept for eight to ten hours at night, but as they woke up, it felt like they never slept.
Certain drugs may help ease fatigue. Along with that, aerobic exercise can help in the reincarnation of energy, improving quality of sleep, and boosts up the mood.
Exercise: the best way to cure fibromyalgia
Exercise is one of the most important steps in treating fibromyalgia. Generally, people who are not physically fit tends to have fibromyalgia. Some people tend to avoid exercise because they fear an increase in pain. But as a matter of fact, aerobic or exercise helps in relieving muscle pain and also helps in cutting away depression.
Regular exercise helps in increasing the endorphin level, which acts as a natural pain killer. This natural pain killer does not have any side effect, and as a bonus point, it also acts as a mood booster. Taking baby steps every day, by gradually increasing the intensity will help the person enjoy benefits of it and having a healthy lifestyle without any pain.
Physiotherapy:
With regular visits to a physiotherapist, the pain and stiffness will reduce gradually. The therapist can boost up the confidence with exercise, help relax tense muscles, and with his vast knowledge about the subject will bestow the person with more information about the body, and it’s functions.
A proper way to stretch muscles and a positive outlook is shown by the therapist for better results. Physiotherapy can help you gain control of illness.
Managing fibromyalgia:
People with fibromyalgia often end up in an unsocial and inactive lifestyle. Apart from physical issues, fibromyalgia is related to psychological aspect as well. There are certain things which can help the person diagnosed with fibromyalgia manage his life.
By exercising regularly, the person will have a healthy as well as a stress-free lifestyle. Exercising also helps in having a better sleep at night. Exercising helps in increasing the flexibility of the body.
People with fibromyalgia can opt for aerobics, swimming, cycling, or walking. Any exercise that makes a person sweat out is beneficial in treating fibromyalgia.
Yoga, meditation, and t’ ai chi also helps in reducing or rather eliminating fibromyalgia.
Conclusion:
A person with fibromyalgia can get back to normal life with proper exercise, in some cases medications and stress-free life. If stress takes a U-turn and comes back, be sure that fibromyalgia will accompany it with its symptoms of fatigue and pain. It is essential to know how to deal with it in positive terms. People with a positive outlook towards life and a socially active lifestyle will help to keep pain at bay.
It is not just the medicines that can cure fibromyalgia, but it is an amalgamation of the medicines and a healthy lifestyle that helps in keeping away fibromyalgia, and all the symptoms related to it.
