If you live with fibromyalgia, you know that relief is elusive, and every day you spend in pain takes a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health. When you need holistic care and treatments that ease your symptoms, it's time to schedule an appointment at Oasis Therapeutics. They combine innovative pain management techniques and alternative treatments to effectively ease your pain and fatigue. To learn more about your treatment options, call the office in Nashua, New Hampshire, or book an appointment online today.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that's primarily defined by its symptoms:
Fibromyalgia often flares up in response to triggers like stress and changes in the weather. During a flare, the condition causes such intense pain and fatigue that you may not be able to work or socialize.
Though no one has determined fibromyalgia’s exact cause, the condition is associated with a neurological problem called central pain sensitization. This occurs when long-term pain leads to biochemical changes in your nerves.
As a result, your nerves become hypersensitive and send more pain signals to your brain.
Your provider diagnoses fibromyalgia based on your medical history, symptoms, and a physical exam. They may run blood tests to rule out other underlying conditions that might cause similar symptoms.
Fibromyalgia generally requires multiple treatments to target your diverse symptoms. Your care plan may include:
Getting exercise goes a long way toward relieving your pain and improving your mood. However, it's just as important to balance activity with rest.
Your provider may prescribe medications that treat the nerve and muscle pain of fibromyalgia, such as Cymbalta®, Savella®, and Lyrica®, as well as other medications that target other symptoms.
Ketamine works as an anesthetic when used in a high dose. In a lower dose, a ketamine infusion effectively relieves widespread body pain and headaches. This treatment also changes the way your central nervous system processes pain, which may offset central pain sensitization.
Another benefit of ketamine is that it treats depression and anxiety. An estimated 20-80% of people with fibromyalgia struggle with anxiety, and nearly as many develop depression.
Intravenous ketamine (IV) infusion is not FDA-approved for treatment of fibromyalgia. IV ketamine infusion for treatment of fibromyalgia is considered off-label use and is not covered by insurance.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and can help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as pain intensity and fatigue.
TMS is not FDA-approved for treatment of fibromyalgia. TMS for treatment of fibromyalgia is considered off-label use and is not covered by insurance.
Talk therapy can help you deal with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. During therapy, you can learn coping skills for overcoming the many challenges you face as a result of living with fibromyalgia.
Your provider may also recommend alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and meditation. These treatments ease pain and improve your mood.
If you need relief from fibromyalgia, call Oasis Therapeutics or book an appointment online today.