Fibromialgia is a condition which affects both men and women
Its causes are not well understood, although there are theories that it is related to a person's age, the type of job they are in, their body weight, and their general health. There are many different types of fibromialgia and its symptoms vary. However, if you are experiencing pain in your front, left or right shoulder or lower back, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you seek medical attention for fibromialgia, the more likely you are to overcome it and live a pain free life.
Fibromyalgia pain comes in all forms. The pain can be intense and sudden and it can be debilitating. If you are experiencing fibromyalgia pain you should see your doctor as soon as possible to rule out other serious conditions. A physical exam will give your doctor a good idea of what is going on with your body and whether or not you are suffering from a more serious illness. Your doctor may also conduct a thorough examination of your shoulders or back to determine if your pain is caused by an injury or a more serious health issue. Your doctor may order tests to rule out any type of bone or joint pain, but will most likely be checking the muscles and joints of the front, left or right of your shoulder and back.
You can suffer from fibromyalgia pain for a long time before your doctor has the opportunity to discover the cause of the pain. Once your doctor has determined that you do have fibromyalgia he will ask about your symptoms and how often they occur. From this information your doctor will determine if you are experiencing a medical issue and the next step will be to rule out any serious medical condition.
If your doctor determines that fibromyalgia is causing your pain, he or she may recommend treatment and possibly medication for your pain. Your doctor may prescribe some type of over the counter medication or he or she may decide to refer you to a pain specialist. In either case your doctor will review your medical records, do a physical exam, and will probably perform x-rays. He or she will be looking for abnormalities that may indicate a more serious medical problem.
If the condition is found to be caused by a muscle or joint issue, your doctor will most likely prescribe a muscle relaxant or a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) which will help reduce the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Muscle relaxants help reduce swelling and can provide relief for pain in a lot of situations. Pain medications which contain nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are available which are also effective in reducing the pain and inflammation of fibromyalgia. Other pain relievers such as aspirin can help too. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs will not provide relief of pain but will provide relief from inflammation and will relieve muscle spasms.
In some cases your doctor may recommend surgery as a way of dealing with fibromialgia. However, this approach is rarely used as most doctors agree that the cause of fibromyalgia pain is not a major cause of injury and usually is caused by a health problem. Surgery is not recommended unless it is a major problem which cannot be addressed any other way. Some people opt to treat fibromyalgia with physical therapy and exercise. Exercise is important as it strengthens and stretches the muscles and helps to prevent the pain from becoming chronic and repetitive. This helps prevent the pain from getting worse.
One of the reasons for this is that muscle is one of the major muscle groups in our bodies and if it becomes weak it can lead to stiffness, pain and even pain in the shoulder. This causes the muscles to contract and become ineffectual. If these muscles become stiffer and less supple the pain will get worse and the risk of further damage to the muscles increases. By strengthening the muscle groups it helps to keep the muscles relaxed and this helps to reduce pain.
The treatment of fibromyalgia depends largely on the doctor's recommendation and what the person is currently doing. If the doctor thinks you have a more serious underlying issue the treatments may vary from those just described. Your doctor may suggest more intense forms of physical therapy, medication, or even surgery.