A Multidisciplinary Approach To Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a genuine illness, with very real and debilitating side effects. While there may not be a known cure at this time, the good news is there are options and tested measures which can be taken to help in reducing the negative effects of this condition.
Exercise is an essential part of keeping your health in order. Unfortunately, it gets harder to do if it causes you pain. In order to get up and get active, a specially tailored combination of medicines is a key place to begin — reducing pain and stiffness, improving sleep, and enabling a multidisciplinary approach to be undertaken. Trigger Point Injections are an excellent option for fibromyalgia sufferers, and when medicines begin to relieve pain and stiffness and improve sleep, it is easier to embark on other forms of treatment— starting with exercise.
When it comes to exercise, it is important to have an all-encompassing programme including exercises that improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, along with joint range of motion. As always, it’s best to choose an activity you will like in order to keep motivated. However, when your fibromyalgia is flaring up, it is recommended that you reduce your exercise by half – decreasing time, resistance and intensity.
It is important to note that exercise isn’t everything. When it comes to fibromyalgia, no two patients are alike. A treatment which seems like a godsend for one, might be completely ineffective for another. This is why a multidisciplinary approach is key. The right combination of therapies can have an overwhelmingly positive result for patients in need. Various types of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), GET (Graded Exercise Therapy) and Magnets Therapy or Slow-frequency rTMS, in addition to Yoga, Tai Chi, and Acupuncture can all be very effective.
Living with fibromyalgia is extremely challenging, which is why it is vital to learn the necessary steps and precautions necessary to help improve your overall quality of life. The key to an effective plan is a proactive and bespoke approach to treatment. Most importantly, you must progress at your own pace — careful to keep pain and energy levels stable, and always listening to what your body tells you.
