Fibromyalgia is a disorder that has stumped doctors and researchers alike for years. Characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain as well as a myriad of other symptoms, fibromyalgia (FM) can wreak havoc on a person’s quality of life. FM is so perplexing because even though the patient is experiencing serious pain, there are no signs of injury, inflammation, or any other cause.
How do you treat something that appears to be a mystery? This is a question the medical community has been asking for years. Thankfully, there are a handful of natural treatments that have proven to be quite effective in treating fibromyalgia. For others, the pain is persistent and does not respond to many traditional forms of treatment. But there may be a new solution for FM sufferers.
Although fibromyalgia has been classified as a musculoskeletal disorder, new research is challenging this. In fact, it is now being recognized as a problem relating to the central nervous system. This is groundbreaking for numerous reasons and has marked a shift in how the medical community both diagnoses and treats FM.
Fibromyalgia is often confused with arthritis, as their symptoms are very similar. However, joint or muscle inflammation and deterioration do not cause fibromyalgia (like arthritis). Some of the top symptoms of FM include:
This last one is a big one. According to researchers, stress is one of the most common causes of FM. Because of this, one of the best things FM patients can do is work on healthy stress management.
As mentioned above, fibromyalgia is often the result of living a stress-filled life. This is why learning healthy stress management techniques, focusing on mindfulness training, exercising, and taking vitamins and supplements to support your whole system is a must. Many people look for a “quick fix” when it comes to frustrating conditions like fibromyalgia. However, this is not always the answer. Making lifestyle changes and looking for natural remedies that address your FM concerns is a great place to start.
Other ways to treat this condition naturally include:
Recently, stem cells have been used to treat FM, working to regenerate damaged cells and get the body back in sync with itself. Stem cell therapy is one of the many pain management solutions offered at our pain management clinic in Frisco. Because we still do not know the exact cause of this condition, it is important to discuss your options with a doctor. Stress is considered a leading risk factor of FM, and it can also cause other chronic problems that are both mental and physical.
If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or think you may be suffering from this condition, we encourage you to look inward and see how stress is playing a role. When the body is in distress, it releases a naturally-occurring protein that can affect the body in different ways. To learn more about how stem cells may be able to help with fibromyalgia, or if you have questions about stress and FM, please contact Texas Partners Healthcare Group today.