Fibromyalgia is a disabling condition that affects between three to six million Americans, with predominantly more women being diagnosed than men. It has become a common condition that has traditionally been misdiagnosed. People who suffer from fibromyalgia experience a variety of symptoms that can sometimes make daily life unbearable. There is no one treatment for fibromyalgia, rather a integrated approach seems to work best and progesterone fibromyalgia treatment is one of the options.

One of the main difficulties with fibromyalgia is that it can’t be diagnosed easily. Such a disorder cannot be diagnosed through lab tests or seen through x-rays. The only diagnosis being done to detect such a condition is through locating multiple tender points in several characteristic areas in the body, the existence of widespread chronic pain and ruling out any other causes for the pain. A lot about fibromyalgia is yet unknown.

There are a number of probable causes that many physicians think may trigger it. Some physicians attribute the cause of fibromyalgia to a substantial lack of deep sleep. Sleep disorders are common in fibromyalgia patients and have always been thought of as a symptom, however more research is required before a definitive answer can be given. There are also some doctors who believe that the cause of fibromyalgia might be hormonal in nature and that low levels of progesterone may be related to the onset of fibromyalgia.

Low levels of progesterone are seen to happen more likely in women who suffer from fibromyalgia. This is seen to be a reason why there are four times more women who seem to suffer from fibromyalgia than there do men. Progesterone is used by the body in women in order to balance out estrogen.

Low levels of progesterone may make women estrogen dominant which can cause a number of fibromyalgia-like symptoms in women. Such symptoms may include aching all over, frequent fatigue that can last all day, headaches, numbness and tingling, crampy abdominal and pelvic pain, diarrhea, fluid retention and several other symptoms. One possible solution to counter such symptoms is the use of progesterone creams.

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Progesterone fibromyalgia treatments are now being used to help people cope up with the symptoms of fibromylagia. The treatment usually makes use of applying transdermal progesterone creams in various parts of the body including the neck, elbows, knees and arms to alleviate pain. Some women have also found that insomnia associated with fibromyalgia has improved while taking natural progesterone.

The applied progesterone may help in trying to alleviate some of the symptoms suffered by fibromyalgia patients. If women are interested in trying progesterone fibromyalgia treatment then they should consult with their physicians before they under take any type of treatment to help them cope up with such a disabling disorder like fibromyalgia.



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Fibromyalgia makes you feel tired and causes muscle pain and “tender points.” Tender points are places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms or legs that hurt when touched. People with fibromyalgia may have other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, and problems with thinking and memory, sometimes called “fibro fog.”

Fibromyalgia Causes

Stress

Studies have shown that stress is a significant precipitating factor in the development of fibromyalgia, and that PTSD is linked with fibromyalgia. The Amital study found that 49% of PTSD patients fulfilled the criteria for FMS, compared with none of the controls. Stress can alter the function of the HPA axis and change cortisol levels in the body, leading to widespread pain .

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Most patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. Their muscles may feel like they were pulled or overworked. Sometimes fibromyalgia symptoms include muscle twitches and burning sensations. More women than men are afflicted with fibromyalgia, and it shows up in people of all ages.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating associated with IBS are common in people with fibromyalgia.

Sleep problems

Many fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder that prevents them from getting deep, restful, restorative sleep. Medical researchers have documented specific and distinctive abnormalities in the Stage 4 deep sleep of Fibromyalgia patients. During sleep, individuals with Fibromyalgia are constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity, limiting the amount of time they spend in deep sleep.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

The most important therapy for muscle pain is regular, low-impact exercise. Keeping muscles conditioned and healthy by exercising three times a week decreases the amount of discomfort.

Medication

Antidepressant agents known as tricyclics relieve sleep disorders, reduce muscle pain, and treat depression. The tricyclic drug most commonly prescribed for fibromyalgia is amitriptyline (Elavil®).

Improved fitness through exercise is recommended. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic exercise. The best way to begin a fitness program is to start with low impact exercises, like walking and swimming.

Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilize tight, sore muscles. High-impact aerobics and weight lifting could cause increased discomfort. Symptoms may be relieved by gentle stretching and light massage, as well as acupressure, acupuncture, and relaxation techniques.

Xyrem (sodium oxybate): Clinical trials of Xyrem showed that it significantly improved sleep quality and reduced pain in fibromyalgia patients. Xyrem is a central nervous system depressant and is thought to help the patient attain the deeper stage 3 and stage 4 levels of sleep. Marketed by Orphan Medical, Inc., Xyrem is FDA approved for cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone) in patients with narcolepsy. Note: Because of its potential for abuse, Xyrem is a Schedule III federally

Muscle Stretching

A physician may also stretch affected muscles that are causing pain. Stretching involves a technique that helps to relax tense muscles prior to an injection. The muscle is then injected with a local anesthetic such as lidocaine to provide longer-lasting pain relief. The downside is that this procedure is initially painful and injections of local anesthetics are not always effective.



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