Fibromyalgia is one of the most common widespread pain conditions in the United States. Fibromyalgia doctors estimate it to affect more than 5 million Americans. Fibromyalgia is a term used to describe widespread pain and tenderness to touch. Other symptoms include fatigue and sleep disturbance. Fibromyalgia often occurs with other chronic conditions such as lupus and, arthritis. Fibromyalgia may overlap with other conditions such as TMJ, Irritable bowel, chronic headaches and depression. Start your fibromyalgia treatment at Newport Pain Management.
Fibromyalgia relief is possible with the right combinations of pain therapy. The first step is to attack the fibromyalgia symptoms. Many fibromyalgia doctors beleive that fibromyalgia is in part caused by hypersensitivity of normal touch and pain nerves in the body. It has been found that there are several classes of medications can act on these hypersensitive nerve endings to reduce pain. Epilepsy medications such as gabapentin have been used for over 20 years to treat fibromyalgia symptoms. Newer cousins to gabapentin such as pregabalin (Lyrica) are now specifically FDA approved to treat fibromyalgia. Lyrica has been shown to reduce pain scores, enhance sleep, and improve activity levels. Other medications such as antidepressants have been shown to be helpful. Amitriptyline and nortriptyline are generic pain medicines found to be helpful in reducing pain and helping sleep. Newer cousins such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella) are approved for fibromyalgia therapy. All these medications can have serious side effects and should only be taken after consultation with a fibromylagia doctor.
Newport Pain Management fibromyalgia treatment Center focuses on you, and getting you better.
It can be hard to find fibromyalgia doctors. Dr. Scott has the experience you need to get fibromyalgia relief. Dr. Scott is a leader in fibromyalgia in Newport Beach. As a fibromyalgia expert he will take the time to do a thorough history and physical exam, and review the results with you. He will lay out a comprehensive fibromyalgia treatment plan to get you on the road to pain relief. Dr. Scott has expertise in fibromyalgia pain medications, and therapy options.
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Fibromyalgia diagnosis is not made by taking x-rays or doing blood tests. However these tests can rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. For a fibromyalgia diagnosis, a very specific exam can be done by a trained fibromyalgia specialist to hone in on the diagnosis. First, the pain must be present for at least 3 months. You must have pain in both the upper and lower halves of your body and on both the left and right sides. During the exam, your fibromyalgia specialist will push his thumb on 18 standard positions in your body with a precise pressure of almost 9 pounds. Pressing with the thumb just the right amount takes practice, and many specialists practice the technique on a scale. You must be tender in at least 11 of those 18 locations.
Center for Fibromyalgia in Newport Beach
Fibromyalgia Therapy
Body Fitness
Exercise and stretching is key to keeping fibromyalgia symptoms under control. But too much of one type of exercise can aggravate symptoms as well. Your body likes variety. Too much sitting, standing or laying down will aggravate fibromylagia pain. When you have fibromyalgia, it is better to do stretches and walking in many small bits through out the day, than a big intense session once a day. At Newport Pain Management, we recommend keeping an activity log. Over time, with consistent exercise, you will see your activity levels increase and your body aches go down. For fibromyalgia pain relief, we recommend you do a variety of exercises including walking, swimming, biking, stretching, Yoga and Tai Chi.
Stretching should be done consistently for fibromayagia pain relief. Stretches can be done in bed, or more formally using Yoga or Tai Chi techniques.
Walking is a good treatment for fibromyalgia pain. It is best to start off slowly and gradually build up the speed and distance you walk. Taking long strides stretches the back and shoulders more than short strides. An inexpensive pedometer or pedometer app for you phone can be helpful in tracking your activity levels over a day.
Swimming can provide fibromyalgia pain relief as the water can relax your tight muscles and take weight off your joints allowing you to get a good stretch and even an aerobic work out. Body boards and pool noodles can be very helpful in the pool.
Fibromyalgia Therapy
Other Potential Therapy
There are many other fibromyalgia therapies which can help. Acupuncture, massage, topical medications, muscle relaxants, and herbal therapy have all been tried with some success in some individuals. Some good success has been seen with low dose naltrexone, available as a compounded medication.
Ketamine Infusions
Ketamine therapy has had some positive results, however it is important to go to an experienced clnicial for this type of therapy as there is little standardization in ketmaine dose or medical knowledge about long term outcomes.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy for fibromyalgia is trending, but has mixed results in outcome.
One thing is clear however, is that chronic narcotic medications for fibromyalgia therapy is controversial due to tolerance and other issues.
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The information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with the Pain Doctor's at Newport Pain Management Medical Corp. or a qualified healthcare practitioner. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
Fibromyalgia Therapy
Fighting Fatigue
Fibromyalgia therapy is done with a combination of treatments, including medications and exercises. With Fibromyalgia it is important to exercise both the mind and the body. Gentle exercise can fight the deconditioning due to pain, and help reduce fatigue. A good diet fuels the body and helps fight fatigue. Exercising the brain is also important to keep "fibro fog" at bay. Volunteering, crossword puzzles, computer brain games, Church and school activities are just a few ways to keep the brain sharp and focused with
fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia FAQs
Fibromyalgia Therapy
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are local areas of tenderness that can cause pain to radiate in other areas. A common trigger area is the back of the neck, which can cause headaches. President John F. Kennedy had chronic pain, and one of his doctors, Janet Travell, wrote a textbook detailing the common trigger areas of the body. These areas are so common in fibromyalgia that initially scientists thought that fibromyalgia was a problem of the muscles. We now know that fibromyalgia is much more complex. These trigger points can be treated with injections. Such "trigger point injections", while not curative, can help reduce pain flares.