Fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases throughout the world.
It is a chronic condition that affects as much as three to six percent of people.
The condition is most prevalent among women as 75 to 90 percent of all cases of fibromyalgia affect the female population.
It causes deep pain in the muscles and bones and makes it difficult to perform ordinary, everyday tasks.
Generally, the condition is widely misunderstood and there is no definitive known cause or cure.
Additionally, although fibromyalgia can be treated with certain medications, there are long term side effects, some of which may be serious.
It is believed that PEMF therapy can help to manage fibromyalgia symptoms and improve the quality of life of individuals struggling with the medical condition.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is, unfortunately, a very misunderstood condition.
It is chronic in nature and difficult to diagnose, affecting women far more than it does men.
It affects the bones and muscles and can leave a mark of severe skin tenderness in its wake as well.
People who suffer from the condition often have a deep-seated ache, discomfort, or severe pain that can feel debilitating.
Because the general cause of fibromyalgia is widely unknown, individuals who struggle with it are often misdiagnosed by doctors as having another medical condition.
Testing is also relatively ineffective, which has led to many doctors questioning whether fibromyalgia is even a real condition.
In some cases, doctors diagnose patients with depression because that is a symptom that is commonly present with the condition.
With the advancements of medical technology and medications, however, fibromyalgia is steadily becoming more understood.
More doctors are now accepting that the disease does exist and treatments are improving while becoming less invasive than those previously administered.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is the existence of trigger points.
These are the tender, super-sensitive areas of the body that experience pain even with a slight touch.
There may also be a continuous dull pain in other areas throughout the body.
However, there are additional symptoms that can be present as well.
They include the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Inability to focus or concentrate
- Lower abdomen pain
- Sleep disorders
Fibromyalgia Causes
In spite of all the advancements in medical technology over the years, fibromyalgia is still widely misunderstood.
As a result, doctors still have not been able to pinpoint the cause of the disease.
In spite of this, many years of research have allowed medical professionals to gain a better understanding of fibromyalgia.
It is believed that the following are factors that can cause the condition to develop:
- Genetics
- Infections
- Stress
- Trauma
Some medical professionals believe that fibromyalgia may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
This is widely due to the fact that the condition results in the brain lowering the threshold for pain, resulting in a severe sensation of pain even with the slightest touch or amount of pressure.
Fibromyalgia Treatment
Of course, since the underlying causes of fibromyalgia are still relatively unknown, the medical condition is treated through addressing its symptoms.
Certain medications are prescribed by doctors to keep the symptoms under control and include the following:
- Antidepressants like duloxetine or milnacipran
- Anti-seizure medications like pregabalin or gabapentin
- Pain relievers that are prescribed like tramadol or over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen
Doctors also help patients to engage in a self-care routine to effectively manage their fibromyalgia symptoms.
The best treatment options in addition to medication include acupuncture, yoga, consuming a well-balanced diet, getting a full night’s sleep, mediation, and PEMF, a type of alternative treatment also known as pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.
There has been a positive correlation between PEMF therapy and fibromyalgia as it is growing in popularity and proving to be effective at combating the condition’s symptoms.
PEMF Therapy and Fibromyalgia
In general, the first time a doctor diagnoses a patient with fibromyalgia, he or she will prescribe them painkillers so that they can cope with the pain.
This can help on a temporary basis, but patients need something that can help them for a longer time.
After taking painkillers for a certain period of time, the patient begins to build up a tolerance to their effects, which can result in the drugs being less effective and the person’s symptoms becoming more pronounced.
In contrast, there have been a number of years of research in the area of PEMF therapy.
It has been shown to greatly help patients who struggle with pain in general, which is why it has been an effective form of treatment for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.
Although fibromyalgia is still a very widely misunderstood medical condition, it is believed that poor circulation and a lack of oxygen circulating to various tissues in the body may be the cause.
As a result, PEMF therapy can help a patient with fibromyalgia considerably as it works to increase blood flow.
The increased blow flow in the body leads to a reduction of fatigue and pain and can give the individual more energy in general.
Many people who struggle with fibromyalgia have difficulty sleeping and may suffer from a number of sleep problems.
This is chiefly due to the immense pain they deal with on a daily basis and naturally results in a constant feeling of fatigue.
PEMF therapy can give individuals with fibromyalgia that pep they haven’t felt in a long time, as well as improve the function of the lymphatic system.
The therapy can allow more oxygen to get to the tissues throughout the body while the blood vessels eliminate toxins from the lymphatic system and blood.
This is an important aspect of PEMF therapy because it improves the person’s circulation and helps to get rid of dead cells that can result in inflammation, swelling, and pain.
A study that was performed at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London in 2006 showed that low levels of PEMF therapy helped patients with fibromyalgia.
The double-blind study, which was also randomized and placebo-controlled, took into consideration both the study participants’ level of pain and level of anxiety.
Participants were divided into two groups, one getting PEMF and the other the placebo.
The 18 participants were all female with an average age of 51.
The group receiving low levels of PEMF experienced pain relief and relief from other symptoms.
There were no adverse side-effects during the course of the research, which suggests that the therapy can be used on a long-term basis to improve the quality of the life of people with fibromyalgia.
