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Stop The Pain And Fatigue Of Fibromyalgia: Fibro Treatments

Since fibromyalgia produces a wide range of symptoms among patients, treatment programs must be individualized to prove effective for fibromyalgia suffers. According to most experts, treatment plans that combine patient education with stress reduction, exercise and medication have been shown to work the most in alleviating the symptoms of fibromyalgia in patients.

Patient Education

Patient education is essential in helping patients understand and cope with the wide range of debilitating symptoms like constant muscle pain and fatigue caused by fibromyalgia. Since not all doctors intimately know about the ambiguity of symptoms caused by fibromyalgia, patients are advised to join support groups organized by local hospitals and the local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation.

Stress Reduction

Stress reduction in the treatment of fibromyalgia must also be individualized, because we all have a different threshold for stress. For example, spilling a glass of water for one person may cause a great deal of anxiety, whereas, missing a flight going home may cause little stress and anxiety to another person.

Fibromyalgia patients often experience a worsening of symptoms with environmental changes, such as noise and temperature. So, their treatment plan may include the following stress-reducing techniques:

• Biofeedback
• Relaxation tapes
• Psychological counseling

Exercise

Staying fit and regular exercise seems to enhance energy levels in fibromyalgia patients. Doctors believe exercise may help promote a deep level of sleep in patients.

The exercise that proves effective in most patients includes low-impact aerobic exercises that are performed every other morning. These low-impact aerobic exercises include:

• Swimming
• Cycling
• Walking
• Using stationary cross country ski machines
  
• In addition, fibromyalgia patients are advised to avoid the intake of alcohol or caffeine before sleeping to help promote deep sleep.

  Medications

  Traditional medications used to treat depression, such as tricyclic antidepressants, are one of the most effective treatments for fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia patients take a reduced amount of tricyclic antidepressants before bedtime. Tricyclic antidepressants work by interfering with the neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin. By doing this it helps combat fatigue, muscle pain and spasm, and promotes deep sleep (non-REM sleep) in fibromyalgia sufferers. Common types of tricyclic antidepressants used in the treatment of fibromyalgia include amitriptyline (Elavil) and doxepin (Sinequan).