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Fibromyalgia Treatments

When it comes to fibromyalgia treatments, there are lifestyle habits, medications, and alternative remedies that help decrease pain and improve sleep. Your fibromyalgia specialist may recommend physical therapy, moist heat, regular exercise, relaxation, and stress reduction to help you manage your symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to help ease the pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety that comes with the disease.

There is no one approach that best treats fibromyalgia. An approach that uses a combination of lifestyle strategies, medication, and possibly alternative remedies seems to work best to relieve fibromyalgia symptoms.

Less Pain, More Energy: See Fibromyalgia-Friendly Exercises

Is Fibromyalgia Pain Similar to Arthritis Pain?

Fibromyalgia can cause symptoms similar to arthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. Consequently, some experts group fibromyalgia with arthritis and related disorders. In addition, arthritis specialists (rheumatologists) often treat fibromyalgia. The pain associated with these other conditions is typically localized to a single area, while the pain and stiffness of fibromyalgia are very widespread and consists of deep muscle pain, morning stiffness, and painful tender points, often causing severe fatigue.

For in depth information, see WebMD's Fibromyalgia Pain.

How Is Fibromyalgia Fatigue Treated?

Along with deep muscle pain and painful tender points, fatigue is a key symptom of fibromyalgia and it can be debilitating. Not only do you feel exhausted and weak, but bed rest does not seem to help much. Many people with fibromyalgia report sleeping eight to 10 hours at night and feeling as it they haven't slept at all.

Some drugs may help ease the fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. In addition, exercise is one of the most effective strategies to help ease fatigue, minimize pain, improve quality of sleep, and improve mood.

For in depth information, see WebMD's Fibromyalgia and Fatigue.

How Does Exercise Help Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

Numerous studies show that exercise is one of the most important treatments for fibromyalgia. Many people with fibromyalgia avoid exercise because they fear increased pain. Yet exercise helps relieve the pain and stiffness and even helps with the depression that often comes along with fibromyalgia.

Regular exercise increases the body’s production of endorphins, natural painkillers that also boost mood. Starting slowly and gradually increasing the duration and intensity of exercise can help you enjoy the benefits of exercise without feeling more pain.

For in depth information, see WebMD's Fibromyalgia and Exercise.

How Does Physical Therapy Help Fibromyalgia?

Physical therapy can help relieve fibromyalgia pain and stiffness. Regular visits to a licensed physical therapist can increase confidence with exercise, help relax tense muscles, and teach you more about your body and movement.

Your physical therapist will show you the proper way to stretch painful muscles to get optimal relief. In addition, using hydrotherapy (moist heat) along with physical therapy may ease pain even more.

Physical therapy can help you regain control of your fibromyalgia. That’s because you can focus on making lifestyle changes rather than on the chronic dysfunction. Even proper posture, which your physical therapist will help you with, allows for efficient muscle function to help avoid undue fatigue and pain.

For in depth information, see WebMD's Fibromyalgia and Physical Therapy.

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