Getting the perfect therapy in your fibromyalgia – . Well being Weblog

Imagine you are in pain and let your doctor tell you that it is all in your head. Unfortunately, this is not an unusual experience for many of the six million Americans living with fibromyalgia, a chronic, painful condition.

People with fibromyalgia experience widespread aches and pains, aches and pains, and stiffness in muscles and joints throughout the body, and unusual tiredness. Nobody knows what is causing this condition, and no obvious physical cause has yet been identified. The most likely culprit is brain malfunction, which increases normal nerve responses and causes pain or other symptoms in people with fibromyalgia when nothing seems to trigger them.

For those looking for help, finding help can sometimes be a challenge. The best way to find a successful treatment strategy is to see a doctor who understands fibromyalgia, knows how to treat it, and can help you understand and manage this condition. There are ways you can improve your chances of finding the right match.

Understand your condition

The first step in this process is to arm yourself with the facts.

• Fibromyalgia is a real disorder. The American College of Rheumatology has established criteria that doctors can use to make a diagnosis (a patient-friendly version can be found at this link). It is recognized by national and international health authorities, including the World Health Organization.
• Fibromyalgia is often associated with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, but it is not caused by any mental illness.
• Fibromyalgia is not “in your head” but is related to brain activity. Differences in the way the brain processes pain can be seen during functional MRI scans of people with fibromyalgia.
• The FDA has approved three drugs specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia: pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and milnacipran (Savella). These drugs work against nerve pain and are also used for other diseases.

Look for referrals to providers who understand fibromyalgia

In order to find the right healthcare provider, it can be helpful to reach out to those who already have experience in the field. Support groups provide a natural starting point. The National Fibromyalgia Association website lists support groups in each state that can help you find those early connections. The organization can also provide a list of "fibro-friendly" doctors in your state.

You can also contact your GP to help you find the right direction. Many doctors can recommend a specialist who can help manage your condition.

Once you've decided on a potential provider, make sure that it is right for you. Ask the office staff if the doctor sees patients with fibromyalgia frequently and provides ongoing treatment. Also, ask what treatments the doctor usually prescribes. Find out what kind of services they offer; For example, do you offer telemedical appointments? What services will they provide remotely and which will require an office visit? If the answers are not what you want, or if the office doesn't seem receptive to your concerns, don't be afraid to look elsewhere.

Connect your medical team

Once you've found the right provider, make sure he or she is ready to communicate with your other providers. Many people with fibromyalgia need multiple doctors to manage their symptoms. Visiting multiple specialists can increase the risk of medication errors or harmful drug interactions that are prescribed by different doctors. In addition, your doctors can duplicate laboratory tests or other services. This can unnecessarily increase the cost of your care.

Finding the right doctor for your needs may not always be easy, but increasing your chances of successfully treating your condition is worthwhile.