HealthyLiving
Fibromyalgia:
A medical puzzle of Symptoms? Diagnosis? Treatment?
Putting the pieces together
Fibromyalgia is categorized as a soft
produce marginal effects, while narcotic
fibromyalgia is not a one-size-fits-
tissue, non-inflammatory musculoskeletal
pain medications prove little to no
all, and if your current therapy is not
condition with no known specific cause.
effect. Physical therapy and exercise
working well to control the symptoms,
The American Medical Association
are encouraged and often lessen the
consult with your healthcare providers
and World Health Organization did not
symptoms.
for other options. Remember there
even recognize the condition until 1987 is no cure for fibromyalgia, but
and 1992 respectively. It is estimated
Non-Traditional Therapies
improving the symptoms associated
that about two percent of the world
Physicians from the Academy for Anti-
with this condition is the key to
population, most commonly middle-aged
aging Medicine and the Academy of
preventing debilitating situations and
Caucasian women, have fibromyalgia,
Integrated and Alternative Medicine
improving quality of life for you or for
which is characterized by fatigue, sleep
are gaining good control of symptoms
the person suffering from this illness.
disturbances, pain, stiffness, depression,
of fibromyalgia by checking and
digestive disorders, headaches, anxiety,
balancing levels of sex hormones, stress
and urinary urgency. Because these
hormones, neurotransmitters, adrenal
symptoms are often wide spread, the
Written By Jeanne Meredith,
hormones and thyroid hormones. Many
diagnosis can be difficult at best. The
Director of Pharmacy Education at
of the prescribed treatments include
most significant symptom is pain, with
Precision Compounding Pharmacy.
taking supplements of magnesium or
tenderness in at least eleven of eighteen
magnesium/malic acid combinations,
specific anatomic sites, lasting over 90
prescribed T therapy
days. There are approximately six
(thyroid hormone),
million diagnosed cases in the U.S. with
5-HTP (natural anti-
an average annual cost of $2250 per case.
depressant), prescribed

hormone combinations,
Theories of Causes
melatonin, guafenisin
While researches do not fully understand
Laura Pfaffenberger, Denise Orwick,
therapy, and prescribed
Doctor of Pharmacy Registered Pharmacist
the causes for fibromyalgia, there
trigger-point therapy
is evidence to support theories of a
medications. They also
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connection with imbalances in serotonin,
encourage the use of
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magnesium, triiodothyronine (a thyroid
acupuncture, regular
hormone), sex hormone, adrenal
massage, chiropractic
hormone (corticotrophin releasing),
adjustment, cognitive
stress, sleep, and ATP. Symptoms
behavioral therapy
are often aggravated by poor posture,
along with improving
weather changes, stress, fatigue, PMS,
nutrition (increasing raw
peri-menopause, menopause and illness.
vegetables and fruits),
and regular exercise.
Traditional Therapies
Call today to speak with Denise or Laura.
Traditional medical therapies usually
If you think you may
•Look and feel younger
begin with treatments for pain and sleep.
be suffering from or
•Physician referrals available
WOMEN
Some antidepressants, anti-seizure
have been diagnosed
•Affordable saliva testing
p
in
g
type medicines, and muscle relaxants
with fibromyalgia, •Insurance accepted for compounds
WOMEN
H
e
l
are often used to assist with restoring
please consult with
recuperative sleep. Aspirin and other
your physician.
PCCA
The Kelley Building
non-steroid, anti-inflammatory drugs
The treatment of MEMBERS
2113 State Street, Suite 3
New Albany, In. 47150
812-941-9300
22 July/August 2009
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