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Doctors often try antidepressants as the first medication for people having Fibromyalgia, because they can help relieve pain, sleep problems and fatigue.
However, it is not necessary that if it works for some people, it will work for everyone. For this reason, people having Fibromyalgia have to give other medications a shot to find the one that eases their pain. Some medicines improve your sleep and boost your energy while others can ease the ache.
Three drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia: the antidepressants milnacipran (Savella) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) and pregabalin (Lyrica) which is an anti-seizure medicine.
Although they are FDA approved, each drug to treat fibromyalgia still has side effects that range from trivial to serious in terms of intensity. Therefore, you have to figure out the best alternative with no side effects so that your symptoms remain under control.
Fibromyalgia Medications
Following are some common medications that can help in reducing the pain of fibromyalgia and improve your sleep.
Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pills such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB. Advil, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) can be helpful. The doctors also suggest a prescription pain killer such as tramadol (Ultram).
Narcotics are strictly prohibited, because they may lead to dependence resulting in worsening the pain over time.
Antidepressants: Milnacipran (Savella) and Duloxetine (Cymbalta) can help in easing the pain and fatigue that is because of fibromyalgia. The doctors usually prescribe the muscle relaxant's to help improve and promote sleep.
Anti-seizure drugs: Medications for treating epilepsy are usually used to reduce certain kinds of pain. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is also helpful in reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia, while pregabalin (Lyrica) was the first medicine to treat fibromyalgia that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Side effects of Using prescribed medications
Sometimes the doctor may prescribe medicines that are not specifically approved for fibromyalgia. These medicines are called "off-label" medications. Each prescribed fibromyalgia drug has its own side effects, ranging from mild to severe. Some of the negative effects of using prescribed drugs are:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Change in appetite
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Dizziness
Moreover, some of the most common negative effects of antidepressants that many patients experience include weight gain, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, sexual side effects, constipation, anxiety, insomnia, dry mouth, and nausea. On the other hand, the negative effects of anti-seizures include dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia, blurred vision, and tremor. However, it is better to avoid medications to treat fibromyalgia, as it can be dangerous for you in the long run.
Natural Pain Relief: Natural Alternatives to treat Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia can cause pain, pain and fatigue in the muscles of hips, arms, neck, legs, shoulders and back. Severe pain can occur if pressure is applied on the affected areas. There is no actual cure for fibromyalgia, however, some natural remedies and lifestyle changes can help ease the pain and manage the symptoms. Some of the natural remedies that can relieve the symptoms are:
- Sleep
- Exercise
- Rest
- Diet and Supplements
- Reducing stress
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Yoga and tai chi
- Flotation and Spa therapy
- Biofeedback therapy
In addition to this, TENS is an alternative therapy which is the most effective therapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) has been clinically proven to ease mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain. It provides drug-free pain ease for aching or sore muscles of the shoulder, lower back arm, leg, and other body parts.
When it comes to controlling labour pains, pregnant women have a variety of choices, however, they are often unaware of drug-free or natural alternatives. If you want to have a normal delivery, but you are concerned about bearing the labour pain, TENS is the best option.
A mild electric current is given to the pads from the device, providing a pain-free and drug-free alternative treatment for various conditions including labour pains and back pain.
Following are key positives about TENS as a form of pain relief:
- A drug-free and pain-free alternative treatment.
- It can replace other treatment methods, for example, pain medication for the patients who are not allowed or avoid taking drugs because of any side effects.
- Its effectiveness depends upon the degree of pain and individuals that are being treated.
- It is mostly done in combination with other kinds of treatment.
- It is not a proper cure for medical conditions, however, other treatments (like surgery, medication or physical therapy) are able to address the root cause.
- According to healthcare professionals, it seems to help many people in relieving different kinds of pain especially, labour pain.
- TENS is an effective treatment in treating acute pain conditions.
Would a TENS unit help improve fibromyalgia pain?
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a therapy that is used to treat different kinds of pain. During this therapy, electrical impulses are delivered by the electrodes to the close nerve pathways — which helps in relieving several kinds of pain. The electrical impulses deluge the nervous system and reduce the ability to transmit pain signals to the brain and spinal cord.
TENS therapy is mostly used for treating osteoarthritis, postoperative pain, and chronic pain.
Fibromyalgia is said to be a chronic condition characterised by extensive muscle pain, tendons, and ligaments, as well as various tender points causing fatigue. Fibromyalgia pain is not limited to a particular area, hence, TENS therapy is not usually used as a fibromyalgia treatment. However, it can help in reducing pain in people having fibromyalgia, particularly in combination with additional treatments, for instance, exercise, massage therapy, and yoga. As compared to the medications prescribed by the doctor, TENS therapy is very effective because anti-depressant and anti-seizure drugs can be harmful in the long run and can cause dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia and blurred vision. On the other hand, TENS can help in relieving pain from arthritis, tendonitis, migraines, nerve disorders, post-labour pain, back and pain and fibromyalgia. Through the pulses that are produced by portable stimulators, TENS therapy treats the pain and it is the best medication and pain-free alternative.
Take control of your pain management
Living with fibromyalgia can be an absolute nightmare. finding the right solution to the pain is a struggle for many. The balance between the effectiveness of the pain relief and the side effects is something that Fibromyalgia sufferers know much about. However, at Tenscare we believe that you should actively take pain relief in into your own hands. Pain relief doesn't always have to come with burdening side effects. Tens offers a solution to many without the nasty problems some drugs come with. If you are ready to take control of your pain relief click here to discover how thousands of people have received amazing results.
