Treatments For Fibromyalgia

Dealing with fibromyalgia is not a simple matter and doctors have been realizing this for years. With each person, the symptoms are different and the treatment options are just as broad. For many people, the pain in various places is more than they can bear. That is why doctors have to be able to diagnosis the symptoms for each person separately. Through batteries of tests, doctors come up with the best treatment options for each individual.

At present, there are only three FDA approved drugs for the treatment of fibromyalgia, which are Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. Lyrica is a form of muscle relaxant, but researchers have yet to find how or why Lyrica works; all they know is that the drug works in the treatment of fibromyalgia. The drugs Cymbalta and Savella help boost the serotonin and norepinephrine in the body and are neurotransmitters. When there isn’t enough serotonin or norepinephrine present in the body, the neurons in the brain are affected and pain increases.

In most cases, doctors and researchers have found that sleep has a lot to do with fibromyalgia. Doctors have found that people with this disorder have sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and disordered breathing. By increasing the quality of sleep in patients, pain has been decreased in most cases. This treatment is in the form of sleep aids such as Ambien, Lunesta, Clonazpam, and Trazodene. Even acupuncture has helped people control pain and sleep better. Besides drugs, there are other treatment options, such as injections into pain areas, physical therapy, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, and exercise programs. Each person is different and treatment for fibromyalgia is determined by tests and a doctor's opinion.