Fibromyalgia

Who Develops Fibromyalgia and Its Prevalence

Whereas it is not a common disorder as it is seen only 2 or 3 percent of the society, it is more common in women than men. However, it is possible to see Fibromyalgia in all ages, from children to the elderly. On the other hand, there is the best fibromyalgia treatment in MedWorld Clinic.

Fibromyalgia Treatment Reasons

Although the main cause of Fibromyalgia is not known, there are various reasons that cause this disease. Some of these reasons are long screen time, humid environment, heavy working conditions, somnipathy, psychologic and physiologic traumas such as divorcing, losing someone, sexual abuse, childhood traumas and accidents. Furthermore, some immune system, neurohormonal disorders, viral infections, muscle problems and psychological problems like anxiety, perfectionism, depression, and stress.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

As a beginning, there are several symptoms that sign Fibromyalgia as clinical perspective. Even if the most common symptom is fatigue, muscle stiffness, painful and sensitive points in the body, widespread chronic pain and sleep disorders are other symptoms.

Antalya Med World Clinic Findings with Physical Examination Before Fibromyalgia Treatment

• Firstly, Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita: Circulatory disorders, because of sudden abrupt temperature change or infections, can cause bruises like red and purple colors on the skin.
• Secondly, goose skin.
• Thirdly, feeling heavy pain when pressured with the finger.
• Finally, dermographism, kind of hives caused by tight clothes and underwear.

Antalya Med World Clinic Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Treatment

Although it is not possible to diagnose Fibromyalgia by doing tests, radiological examinations and some tests must be done to distinguish it from other diseases similar to Fibromyalgia symptoms. However, Med World Clinic’s physiotherapist can diagnose Fibromyalgia with clinical examination and medical history records of their patients. Mostly, radiological examination is not necessary when there are no symptoms of lumbar or neck hernia and inflammatory rheumatic disorder. During the clinical examination, if Med World Clinic’s physiotherapist detects 10 painful points in the body, pain around the waist as well as a widespread pain continues for 2 months, it can be said that the diagnosis is Fibromyalgia.

These painful points in the patient’s body must meet some criteria. In other words, patients must have at least five of these painful points below:

•  Abdomen, back, neck and chest.
• Left or right upper body regions like arm, shoulder and jaw.
• Left or right lower body regions like buttock, hips, and legs.

However, your doctor may demand some tests to distinguish fibromyalgia from other resembling diseases to apply fibromyalgia treatment. These tests may include blood tests, cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test, complete blood cell count, sedimentation, vitamin D, antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, celiac and Thyroid function tests. Besides these, if you have sleep disturbances, you may be asked to sleep at the clinic to observe your sleeping.

Antalya Med World Clinic Fibromyalgia Treatment Objectives

Although there is no full recovery treatment for fibromyalgia, the purpose of the treatment is to decrease pain and regain normal body functions and enhance the quality of patients. 

Fibromyalgia Treatment Includes Physical and Complementary Therapies, Drugs and Psychosocial Approach

Physiotherapy: In Antalya Med World Clinic, our physiotherapists apply physical exercise programs and physical therapy sessions to their patients. Additionally, massage, cupping, taping, dry needling, injection, laser, hot application therapies, hydrotherapy etc. are applied in the course of physiotherapy.

For example, by applying hydrotherapy, doctors intend to reduce the pain and increase patients’ life quality.

Physical Exercise for Fibromyalgia Treatment: It is a well known fact that Fibromyalgia patients lose their muscle strength. For this reason, the primary purpose of physical exercise is to strengthen the muscles and gain proper body posture. Even microtrauma can cause pain and increase muscle injuries and fatigue because of weakness. In Antalya Med World Clinic, doing exercise in water, relaxation, stretching and muscle strengthening exercises are considered favorable in fibromyalgia cases. In addition to these, Aerobic and clinical pilates exercises are proved to be beneficial to regain normal physical functions that are important to have a quality life without pain.

Because our physiotherapists know that doing these physical exercise can increase patients’pain at first, they prefer to start with lighter exercises like cycling, walking and swimming in the first instance. In time, physical exercise program can be intensified when patients start muscling up. In Antalya Med World Clinic, each physical exercise program for fibromyalgia treatment is adjusted by considering each patient needs. It can be lighter or denser. At least 3 or 4 times, these 20 minutes physical exercises and sleeping in an orthopedic bed are advised to get a proper body posture.

Complementary Therapies: Meditation like doing yoga and TAI CHI, hypnosis, nutrition, acupuncture, and ozone therapy.

Drug Therapy: Our physiotherapists in Med World Antalya Clinic can prescribe drugs which regulate sleep, relax muscles, relieve pain, prevent muscle stiffness and some antidepressants.

Psychosocial Approach for Fibromyalgia Treatment

To succeed in every kind of health treatment in our clinic, it is a matter of principle for us to give detailed information about the disease that our patients have. It is also essential to educate them to overcome the difficulties that they experience during the treatment process. The main objective of psychosocial approach and training is to provide a positive perspective to our patients. Teaching them self-efficacy and self-management is important as well. We aim to increase our patients commitments to the treatment by doing this because fibromyalgia is not a disabling health issue. 

When mechanical stress disappears, actual psychosocial treatment starts. 

Besides all of these above, breaking bad habits like smoking, drinking too much coffee and alcohol etc. is requisite because these habits engender weak muscles and pain too. As a result of excessive caffeine intake, fibromyalgia patients undergo sleep disorders.

Our professionals also suggest our patients to avoid stress, reduce their excitement because characteristic behaviors like perfectionism is one of the reasons of this disease. Perfectionists should be told to stick to their exercise schedule, as their meticulousness may restrain them from their treatment program. 

Finally, fibromyalgia patients should work but should not sit or stand very long time. For this reason, treatment program includes regulating their working conditions and place as well.