Getting the best fibromyalgia therapy possible

Imagine you're in agony and no one, not even your physicians, can figure out why. Unfortunately, many of the four million Americans who suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic, painful ailment, have had similar experiences.

Fibromyalgia patients have extensive pain, pains, and stiffness in their muscles and joints, as well as uncommon weariness. No one knows what causes this illness, and no obvious physical reason has yet been uncovered. One popular idea is that it is caused by a brain defect that amplifies normal nerve responses, enabling people with fibromyalgia to experience pain or other symptoms even when nothing appears to provoke them.

Finding support for individuals in need can be difficult at times. Seeking for a doctor that understands fibromyalgia, knows how to treat it, and can help you understand and manage with this illness is the greatest approach to discover an effective treatment strategy. Although rheumatologists and pain specialists are the authorities in this field, many general care physicians diagnose and treat it as well. There are steps you can do to increase your chances of finding the correct doctor to treat your problem.

Recognize your condition

The first stage in this procedure is to arm oneself with information.

1. Fibromyalgia is a legitimate medical condition. In 1990 and 2010, the American College of Rheumatology developed criteria that clinicians have utilized in research investigations and clinical practice. The most current effort to improve on these criteria is a 2016 modification, which contains three distinguishing features:
1. Significant and pervasive discomfort.
2. For at least three months, severe symptoms (such as weariness or "brain fog") have been present.
3. There is no other plausible explanation for these symptoms.
3. Fibromyalgia frequently coexists with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, although it is not caused by them.
4. Fibromyalgia is not "all in your head," but it is most likely caused by faulty brain activity. On functional MRI scans of persons with fibromyalgia, differences in how the brain processes pain can be observed.
5. Treatment for fibromyalgia often consists of patient education, exercise, treatment of underlying illnesses that may contribute to symptoms (such as depression or sleep apnea), and drugs.
6. The FDA has authorized three medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia: pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and milnacipran (Savella). Other drugs, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and gabapentin (Neurontin), are typically considered first-line therapy. Each of these medications is used to treat a variety of illnesses, including depression and nerve pain.

Seek referrals to doctors who are familiar with fibromyalgia.

Begin by consulting with your primary care physician to select the proper healthcare practitioner to treat your fibromyalgia. He or she may have a lot of expertise treating others who have this illness. If not, ask for a referral to a specialist (such as a rheumatologist or pain management expert) to confirm the diagnosis and guide therapy. Obtaining a referral from individuals who have the same diagnosis may be beneficial. Support groups can be a valuable resource in this situation. The website of the National Fibromyalgia Association includes support groups in each state that might assist you in making these early contacts. The association can also offer you with a list of "fibro-friendly" doctors in your area.