Fibromyalgia - Signs and Symptoms

Sometimes you wake up stiff in the morning. You may hurt all over and frequently feel tired. You have gone to the doctors and they can't find anything wrong with you. If you have these symptoms then you may suffer from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is an increasingly recognized chronic pain characterized by muscles aches, pain and stiffness. Some have soft tissue tenderness and general fatigue and sleep problems. Other may have headaches, problems with thinking and memory, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and if you are a woman you have painful menstrual periods.

So far the causes for fibromyalgia are unknown. There could be a number of factors involved such as stressful or traumatic events, illness, repetitive injuries and certain diseases. Sometimes it just happens on its own. Some researches say it is genetic. Some doctors say it could be chemical changes in the brain while others say it could start from a viral infection.

Fibromyalgia affects about 1 in 50 Americans. It occurs more often in women than in men. It usually develops in middle adulthood and it can occur in children. If you have a family history of fibromyalgia you may get it too. Another risk factor could be if you have a rheumatic disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. People who have ankylosing spondylitis have been know to develop fibromyalgia as well.

Right now there is no test that can confirm fibromyalgia. Doctors need to rely on the patient's history of complaints and reported symptoms. You may have to go through a series of medical tests like blood tests and x-rays. These will probably come back normal. It has been estimated that it could take as long as five years to be diagnosed with fibromyaligia. The American College of Rheumatology came up with a general classification for fibromyalgia and the criteria that has been established is that you must have widespread aching for three months and have at least 11 locations on the body that are very tender under mild pressure. These guidelines are used to help with the assessment and study of the condition. Fibromyalgia is not progressive and doesn't lead to other conditions. The symptoms, however, can lead to depression and lack of sleep. It can interfere with your everyday life.

Fibromyalgia can be treated by changing you life style. Eat well, exercise and get enough sleep are good places to start. Over the counter pain medications may help with the chronic joint pain. The doctor may prescribe Tramadol, which is a non-narcotic pain reliever. He may also prescribe low doses of anti-depressants. This is for serotonin building that may provide relief for sleep and pain. Higher levels may be prescribed if the patient is experiencing depression as well.

People with fibromyalgia have a good prognosis. Now more than ever, the disease is getting recognition and people who suffer are more educated about the disease and after making some lifestyle changes are having a better quality of life. Most people do improve over time.

Osteoarthritis Treatments

A person's lifestyle is seriously affected by osteoarthritis. Not only does it come with pain and swelling in one's joints but also it impedes any person suffering the condition from normal day-to-day activities such as walking, climbing a flight of stairs, and running. The pain induced by osteoarthritis sometimes depending on the severity of the ailment, can even pose a threat to one's occupation.

Diagnosis

The first and most important step in the treatment of osteoarthritis is the diagnosis. Why? First, because correctly diagnosing the arthritis could spell the difference between pain and relief, aggravating and alleviating the condition, the safety of the treatment and also treatment costs.

Medication for Pain Relief

What everyone looks for in any medication or treatment, and perhaps it is the most explicit gauge of the efficacy of treatment for osteoarthritis, is how well it soothes the pain in the joints. In fact, most oral medications target pain relief more than stopping the condition from progressing.

NSAIDS – also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, meloxicam, ketoprofen, naproxen, and naproxen sodium provide osteoarthritis sufferers quick pain relief but do not treat the condition itself.

Cox-2 Drugs – such as celecoxib and valdecoxib are a special kind of NSAIDS that are less likely to have side effects.

Analgesics and Topical Analgesics – People experiencing mild to moderate pain from osteoarthritis can take analgesics (oral medicine) and or topical analgesics (externally-applied medicine) which are both easy to obtain from any drugstore counter. Tramadol, propoxyphene hydrochloride, and acetaminophen are some examples of analgesics while creams and rubs that have a counterirritants or a combination of counterirritants such as wintergreen oil, camphor or eucalyptus are examples of topical analgesics.

Injectable Glucocorticoids – Knee pains caused by moderate to severe pressure or trauma to joints surrounding the knees can be treated with injectable glucocorticoids which are steroids that provide quick pain relief. However, these may only be administered only 3-4 times a year on the same area.

Alternative Treatment

An alternative oral medicine to treat osteoarthritis is a dietary glucosamine supplement. Glucosamine supplements such as Synflex Liquid Glucosamine which fortunately comes in liquid form making absorption easier and faster, do not only provide pain relief but also reverses symptoms of osteoarthritis by repairing damaged cartilages in the joints. Synflex glucosamine contains ample amounts of anti-inflammatory substances such as yucca, manganese ascorbate, and boswellin that soothe pain and swelling in the joints. Ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate serve to stimulate the production of essential components in cartilage.

Readjusting one's Lifestyle

Of course treatment for osteoarthritis is highly dependent on the patient's willingness and participation. Sometimes the most effective treatment is the will of the patient to get well again. When the will is strong, the patient is motivated to find other ways of helping himself or herself (of course consultation with one's physician is still a must before attempting any independent treatment) such as remodeling one's lifestyle. Incorporating a nutritious diet and regular exercise to one's life can be a big help in the treatment of osteoarthritis.