It is a sad reality that fibromyalgia can be diagnosed with a process of elimination, but even so, there are no cures. As the possibility of fibromyalgia morphs into a last resort diagnosis, new patients are sometimes surprised to learn that there is not a prescription drug that could make them feel better again. Instead, such newly diagnosed patients realize that the best physicians can do for them is begin a prescription regimen to help keep the disease at bay and minimize its overall symptoms. Usually the very first prescription drug the doctor will suggest and prescribe is a painkiller. It is a well known fact that fibromyalgia presents with a number of symptoms that are uncomfortably, but pain is the one most commonly mentioned in this connection.
The prescription philosophies vary when it comes to painkillers. Some doctors believe that it is wise to start with the stronger analgesics and allow the patient to use her own judgment when it comes to the amount of them she wants to take, or even if she wants to only take a portion of a pill as opposed to the entire one. Other doctors take a hands-off approach and recommend that patients with fibromyalgia begin by using over the counter meds and only when these lose their functionality and can no longer hold the pain at bay that it is feasible to bring out the prescription painkillers. No matter what kind of school of thought the doctor belongs to, painkillers are one of the possible fibromyalgia treatments patients will become familiar with.
The next kind of prescription a doctor may consider is an antidepressant. Off-label use for these drugs is legendary, and in the case of fibromyalgia they may double as a light pick-me-up to overcome the fatigue associated with the disease, but also as a means of keeping the body relaxed. Should this approach fail - or if the patient does not wish to take antidepressants - physicians tend to prescribe muscle relaxers. These are considered a preemptive strike against painful flare ups and the kinds of pains that later on demand the use of copious painkillers.
Of course, familiarizing yourself with possible fibromyalgia treatments also should encourage you to examine the other side of the coin, namely the holistic approach to treatment. Once again, there is no cure that naturopaths can offer fibromyalgia patients. On the other hand, rather than forcing patients to ingest numerous drugs - prescription pills or over the counter meds - that are known to have serious side effects on the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and other body systems, the holistic approach usually focuses more on dietary supplementation, a change in nutritional intake, biofeedback, and also acupuncture as well as massages. Surprisingly, these treatments are quite effective and may help patients with fibromyalgia to not have to rely on these dangerous painkillers for their daily comfort. The only downside - if it could be called that - is the fact that it demands patients to get to know themselves and their bodily responses quite well.
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