What is fibromyalgia? how is it treated?

Nerve sensitivity: Fibromyalgia is a widespread pain disorder caused by increased nerve sensitivity. In addition to pain, fibromyalgia patients also can experience a range of other symptoms including fatigue, poor thinking, poor sleep, depression, anxiety and stiffness. There are 3 fda approved medications used to treat fibromyalgia: lyrica, Cymbalta and savella (milnacipran). Exercise is also an important treatment.

Over-diagnosed!: The term "fibromyalgia" is substantially over-diagnosed in the medical community today. It has become a junk term when some can't find the underlying cause of a person's symptoms. There is usually many other contributing causes of the and symptoms that can be treated. True fm is rare and has no good treatment. So hopefully you have the more typical causes of pain and not fm. Ask your doc.

Answer part one: Fibromyalgia refers to a poorly undsyndrome of increased pain. Some docs may think it is overdiagnosed since there is no objective test and it certainly should not be dianosed when accompanied by any other explanation for increased pain. However, there are some patients who have a poorly understood process where increased pain signals reach the brain and they truly suffer.

Answer part two: Treatments for fibromyalgia include amitriptyline, Cymbalta and any agent with norepinephrine reuptake effects. Also, Neurontin and Lyrica (pregabalin) are effective. Just this week, they presented low dose Naltrexone (4.5 mgs) at the aapm meeting as beneficial.