Healthy Living

Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic musculoskeletal disorder with symptoms of widespread and persistent muscle and soft tissue pain, fatigue, and tenderness in several key points of the body such as the neck, shoulders and hips. Fatigue is often present in the more severe cases of fibromyalgia, and the degree of pain also depends on the severity of the disorder in the individual.

Fibromyalgia can be caused by stress, muscle injury or overusage of the muscles. Alternative therapies for fibromyalgia are currently being perfected, and there are some promising therapies and treatments in development that can help improve people's lives.

Treatments for Fibromyalgia

There are many traditional and alternative therapies prescribed to treat fibromyalgia. They range from traditional treatment with NSAID's (a powerful prescription pain killer which inhibits pain-triggering chemicals from releasing in one's body and reduces swelling which often contributes to pain) and other anti-inflammatories, to magnet therapy, physical and massage therapy, and herbal treatments.

One of the best lifestyle changes for fibromyalgia patients is moderate movement. It is imperative to feed the muscles oxygen through a constantly flowing blood supply. This reduces swelling and resulting pain while providing the necessary nutrients (oxygen and blood circulation) to the muscles for proper function and healing.

Be sure to incorporate adequate amounts of minerals such as zinc, magnesium and calcium in your diet. These minerals are indirectly responsible for the health and oxygen absorption of your major muscles. Adequate amounts of these minerals, like exercise, ensures adequate oxygen delivery and offsets any type of fatigue caused by the disorder.

Also be sure to get plenty of antioxidants in your diet. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, which are often responsible for the destruction and aging of tissue, including the muscle tissue. Antioxidants are vitamins found in abundance in dark leafy green vegetables and brightly colored fruits and vegetables like peppers and oranges. Should you be concerned about your daily intake of these vitamins, a dietary supplement makes up for any deficiencies.

In addition to these lifestyle guidelines, you may want to try a good herbal pain control remedy to manage fibromyalgia flare ups, or as a herbal supplement to reduce daily pain. Formulated with the right combination of botanical and medicinal herbs, herbal supplements can reduce the pain naturally, without the sometimes addictive, health threatening side effects of commonly prescribed anti-inflammatories. As a supplemental therapy, it can prove to be a huge benefit in fibormyalgia patient's lives.