One of the many topics patients ask
me about is Fibromyalgia. I thought I would write this to help
answer any questions our patients, or future patients may have.
Fibromyalgia affects at least 2% of the population in the United States and it
continues to be poorly understood. It is characterized by widespread pain and a
multitude of symptoms that include fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep
disturbances and mood disorders among others. The theory behind this syndrome
is that the nervous systems in unable to regulate the pain signals and that
it’s highly sensitive to the painful stimuli vs. non-fibromyalgia patients.
Current treatments focus on
multi-disciplinary care involving the use of aerobic exercise, nutrition,
antiepileptic medication, antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medication, modalities such as a massage, heat, ice, acupuncture, biofeedback,
cognitive behavioral therapy among others. Low dose naltrexone has been
used in research and in clinical practice to reduce inflammation in
fibromyalgia patients. Intravenous micronutrient infusion has also been
utilized in patients with fibromyalgia with promise in the management of
fibromyalgia symptoms.
In my experience, one of the frustrations of fibromyalgia patients is the feeling that others don’t understand the pain they experience daily. Hopefully, increasing awareness and with more public figures identifying themselves as suffering from fibromyalgia, this will further research efforts and bring forth more knowledge about this medical condition and treatments.
In my experience, one of the frustrations of fibromyalgia patients is the feeling that others don’t understand the pain they experience daily. Hopefully, increasing awareness and with more public figures identifying themselves as suffering from fibromyalgia, this will further research efforts and bring forth more knowledge about this medical condition and treatments.
Melissa Alvarez Perez, MD
