Despite physical origins, fibromyalgia can benefit from a type of treatment called mindfulness. Mindfulness uses the brain to calm the body and…. Marijuana may be effective in treating some fibromyalgia symptoms like chronic pain and sleep issues. More research is needed on its safety and…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Fibromyalgia Doctors. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Primary care doctors Rheumatologists Psychologists and psychiatrists Physical and occupational therapists Doctors who treat fibromyalgia People with fibromyalgia see many medical professionals.
Primary care doctors. Psychologists and psychiatrists. Physical and occupational therapists. Read this next. Doctors for Depression. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Symptom Severity Score Fatigue, waking unrefreshed, and cognitive symptoms are ranked by severity in this assessment.
The extent of additional symptoms typically associated with fibromyalgia is recorded, but these are not ranked by severity. Possible scores are between 0 and See How to Understand Chronic Pain vs.
Acute Pain. Some patients may be provided with an illustrated chart showing tender points and a checklist to note symptoms. A detailed discussion of symptoms is especially important due to the likelihood of coexisting conditions.
Thinking through the answers to these questions before the visit can help the doctor hone in on a diagnosis:. Writing symptoms and questions down in advance of the visit can be a good way to ensure that nothing is forgotten. The non-specific nature of many fibromyalgia symptoms, such as fatigue, can lead to an incorrect diagnosis. The diagnosis may be confused with other conditions, including, but not limited to:.
While symptoms for these conditions may overlap, treatments generally do not. Getting a correct diagnosis is the first step in learning what treatments and lifestyle changes may make life easier with fibromyalgia. Fortunately, many fibromyalgia patients see improvement in their symptoms after the diagnosis of fibromyalgia has been established and their "demon has been named," which can be a relief in and of itself.
Yunxia Wang, M. Wang, a neurologist at the University of Kansas who says that about 15 percent of her practice now involves patients with fibromyalgia. While treating her for MS, I realized that she was using her steroid medication too much. She told me it was because of pain. I wondered if it was because of the fibromyalgia, so I added her on pregabalin without changing her MS treatment.
For over a year and a half, she hasn't had an attack and she's doing much better with her pain. So a patient could have an underlying neurologic disease and also have fibromyalgia.
This is interesting and I don't want to be left out. Not all neurologists are embracing fibromyalgia, however. The patients have chronic pain, they call a lot, and they tend to have a lot of comorbidities," says Dr. Comorbidities are other conditions that exist alongside the main disorder—with fibromyalgia they often include depression, anxiety, headache, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Matallana agrees that the interest in fibromyalgia among neurologists at this point is largely among researchers, pain specialists, and those at academic centers. But Dr. Backonja argues that neurologists, especially those who specialize in pain, have a responsibility to take fibromyalgia on. In addition to pregabalin, which was the first to gain approval, duloxetine and milnacipran can also be prescribed for fibromyalgia. Duloxetine is also approved for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and painful diabetic neuropathy; and milnacipran for the treatment of depression.
Doctors may also prescribe low doses of antidepressants to boost serotonin levels, helping to improve sleep and relieve pain. None of these are right for everybody, of course. For example, some people prefer exercise therapy to yoga.
How successful are these treatments? Some of these therapists come to your home for visits while others are available at a clinic. Further, occupational therapists can help you optimize your work environment, improve function, and reduce repetitive stress injuries. Chiropractors offer a non-invasive treatment approach that can work best for patients who suffer from spinal or referred pain. Read more about the benefits of chiropractic care in one of our recent posts. New Life Outlook explains how these doctors can help:.
They diagnose as well as surgically repair bone injuries. Since many fibromyalgia patients suffer from muscle and joint pain, orthopedists can be helpful for pain remedies related to the areas affected. If fibromyalgia is seriously affecting your sleep and leading to severe fatigue, you can also visit a sleep specialist for help. They can suggest modifications, sleep medications, or other therapies.
The best functional medical practitioners integrate a number of therapies into their treatment plans. These specialists may offer treatments ranging from biofeedback therapy to acupuncture to diet modifications. They can include a number of subspecialties, including:. As with your primary team, these secondary specialists should be committed to helping you with fibromyalgia. Trust your gut, and stick with doctors that make you feel safe, respected, and acknowledged.
Before reaching out to any fibromyalgia doctors or providers in your area, have a list of questions ready. These can include:. Pay attention to their answers and your gut when listening to their answers. A good doctor will spend time answering your questions. They should be willing to work as partners in your healthcare team, suggesting treatments that work best for you and your lifestyle. Both in-person and online recommendations can help.
A local fibromyalgia support group is your best bet for finding high-quality recommendations for local fibromyalgia doctors. Find a group in your area here. And know that certain doctors match better with certain people.
Always go with your gut. You can also use review-based sites to find local doctors. We discuss this in-depth in a recent article on finding doctors near you.
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