Fibromyalgia Is Not Fun

As we age, we all go through the experience of some sort of arthritis in our joints and bones. We take medications for treatment of the pain even if its a short term relief. But what if I told you there was something more painful than arthritis. Imagine arthritis on steroids. I would think that pain would be unimaginable. Well the cause of that pain is fibromyalgia. Medical experts are unsure if the classification is arthritis or some other disease. The one thing they are sure about is the chronic pain your body endures from it.

What it is?

Fibromyalgia is a common musculoskeletal condition that causes widespread chronic pain all over your body. This is not the simple aches and pain from working out that eventually goes away but rather constant stinging and soreness all day long. We are talking about numbness, tingling, burning, shooting and stabbing pains. And its not just while you are awake, even while you sleep, the pain is felt which is why people with fibromyalgia suffer from sleeping disorders. With the lack of sleep comes moodiness and the inability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on tasks. The next step will lead to anxiety, depression and social introversion. Not much fun.

Cause And Treatment

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not readily understood but it can be determined from a variety of factors including genetics, infections, sudden physical and emotional trauma and to a degree the weather. Currently there is no cure for the disease since we are still trying to understand how it works. The best hope is for treatments for the symptoms. Pain management without addiction is the key to a normal life.

Let’s start with the fibromyalgia medication which is approved by the FDA for pain treatment. There are three and the first is called Cymbalta (Duloxetine HCl). Duloxetine for fibromyalgia comes into play when anxiety, depression and chronic nerve pain are the symptoms shown. Duloxetine (duloxetine fibromyalgia) is a SNRI which helps restore a chemical imbalance in the brain. The next prescription drug is Savella or milnacipran for fibromyalgia treatment. The one important drawback is that Savella for depression doesn’t work well. So you have to watch carefully when using (Savella)milnacipran for depression. The last drug of choice is Lyrica (Pregablin) which is designed to treat nerve pain.

So when considering treatment options, you can basically consult your doctor about duloxetine and fibromyalgia and using milnacipran for fibromyalgia. Most importantly, watch for signs of serotonin syndrome due to these prescription drugs. Lastly, a healthy diet and exercise will help with the pain management.

How are you managing the fibromyalgia pain?