Fibromyalgia Treatment Overview
Current Medical Approach supported by study results
Multi-Modal Management Strategies for Fibromyalgia
- Patient Education – Understanding what Fibromyalgia is and what it is not
- Medications – to address the symptoms of pain, sleep disturbances, & mood
- Physical Therapy – Exercise program – gentle stretching, walking, therapeutic pool, …
- Psychological support – psychotherapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), support groups, mindful meditation …
- Alternative Therapies – restorative Yoga, Tai Chi, hydrotherapy, massage, …
Targeting Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
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Current Thoughts on Fibromyalgia
Research findings in Fibromyalgia point to a malfunctioning of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord. Dysfunctional interplay between the CNS and peripheral systems is believed to be the source of the many body-wide symptoms.
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There are a number of ways of understanding Fibromyalgia, including as a rheumatological illness, as a neurological illness, and as a chronic pain condition (but not exclusively any of these conditions).
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There are a number of ways of understanding Fibromyalgia, including as a rheumatological illness, as a neurological illness, and as a chronic pain condition (but not exclusively any of these conditions).
Understanding Pain
Definition of Pain:
NEW! "Pain is a mutually recognizable somatic experience that reflects a person's apprehension of threat to their bodily or existential integrity." (December, 2017, IASP)
"Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage." Old definition (IASP)
FACTS
Pain can be helpful in diagnosing a problem. Without pain, you might seriously hurt yourself without knowing it, or you might not realize you have a medical problem that needs treatment. Once you take care of the problem, pain usually goes away.
Chronic pain
Please Note: Everyone is unique. We may have similar experiences but each person needs to find their own coping strategies to manage their specific Fibro symptoms. I call these "tools for our Fibro Toolbox". As you hear strategies from other people decide on which ones you want to try. If one works - add it to your Fibro Toolbox. Over time you will collect many tools - some are for short term use (eg. flare ups) while others can be added to your everyday life. Only YOU know what YOU need to manage YOUR symptoms. Consider all the things on this site as a possible tool for your Fibro Toolbox. Take what you need and put the rest out of your mind! Wishing you all the best on your journey.
Video links:
NEW! "Pain is a mutually recognizable somatic experience that reflects a person's apprehension of threat to their bodily or existential integrity." (December, 2017, IASP)
"Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage." Old definition (IASP)
FACTS
- Pain is always subjective.
- Pain is a sensation in a part, or parts, of the body,
- Pain is always unpleasant
- Pain is an emotional experience
Pain can be helpful in diagnosing a problem. Without pain, you might seriously hurt yourself without knowing it, or you might not realize you have a medical problem that needs treatment. Once you take care of the problem, pain usually goes away.
Chronic pain
- the original cause may have been an injury or infection
- Chronic Pain is a feeling set off in the nervous system.
- There may be an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis or cancer.
- If chronic pain remains untreated, the pain signals are embedded in the central nervous system like a painful memory.
- Chronic Pain may be sharp or dull. It may come and go, or it may be constant. You may feel pain in one area of your body, such as your back, abdomen or chest or you may feel pain all over, such as when your muscles ache from the flu.
- With Fibromyalgia there is no clear cause found yet!
Please Note: Everyone is unique. We may have similar experiences but each person needs to find their own coping strategies to manage their specific Fibro symptoms. I call these "tools for our Fibro Toolbox". As you hear strategies from other people decide on which ones you want to try. If one works - add it to your Fibro Toolbox. Over time you will collect many tools - some are for short term use (eg. flare ups) while others can be added to your everyday life. Only YOU know what YOU need to manage YOUR symptoms. Consider all the things on this site as a possible tool for your Fibro Toolbox. Take what you need and put the rest out of your mind! Wishing you all the best on your journey.
Video links:
- TED Talk How does your brain respond to pain - Karen Davies (4:27 min)
- TED Talk an how pain meds work (NSAIDS) (4:19 min.)
- Understanding Pain in less than 5 min. and what to do about it.
