Fibromyalgia Pain Relief

By Author: Steven Johnson
Total Articles: 494
Comment this article

Fibromyalgia is a health problem that is quite spread in America, yet there's still not much known about it even taking the fact that millions suffer from it. As for now, there's not even a standard way to diagnose the condition so it's hard to asses how many people exactly are suffering from it. However, The American College of Rehumatology has proposed a way to diagnose fibromyalgia by describing it as widespread body pain present in at least 11 out of 18 specific areas in the body, persisting for at least three months. Of course, there may be other symptoms and ways to asses the condition, yet the main aspect of fibromyalgia is the pain associated with it. And if you feel like this condition is what you or someone you know suffers from, here are some hints on how to address the condition effectively.

Because there's no standard classification and diagnostics of fibromyalgia, it's really hard to identify the actual causes leading to the condition. One theory states that the condition is caused by an excess of a certain substance produced in the brain that enters the spinal chord and causes painful sensations all over ...
... the body. To be more precise, with an excess of this substance the sensitivity and response to pain triggers becomes higher and faster compared to healthy persons thus making even the slightest pain triggers the cause for chronic pain sensations. Another very common symptom of fibromyalgia is sleep disturbance, which in turn can make the painful sensations even more severe because of the increased stress and pain sensitivity associated with insomnia.

The main symptom behind this condition - pain - is often described as an all-over-the-body sensation that can be particularly severe in joint areas when there's some pressure applied to them. This pain is often characterized as chronic pain, and as with most chronic pain conditions additional symptoms include constant tiredness and stress, which occur due to the lack of proper sleep and rest. Headaches may also occur more often in fibromyalgia patients due to the fact that the neck and the back are the most commonly affected areas. Add the increased sensitivity to touch, smell, sound and light and you'll have a picture of a really unpleasant health problem that can seriously affect a person's quality of life.

Is there any way to overcome fibromyalgia? The answer is positive, since there are several drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition. Yet, because the actual cause behind the condition is still unclear and needs more data on it, the effectiveness and the potential drawbacks of these medications are yet to be analyzed. That's why most doctors choose to go the traditional way and prescribe effective painkillers as part of the treatment for fibromyalgia. Drugs like Ultram, which is often used for chronic pain conditions, can be really helpful for dealing with this tricky health problem. Ultram can provide the necessary pain relief, which in turn allows getting proper rest and reduce the intensity of the symptoms in the future. Yet, using drugs like Ultram should be within your doctor's discretion so make sure to discuss your options with a professional healthcare provider before making any choice on your own.