​There’s no specific medical test for fibromyalgia, which makes it quite complex to diagnose.  The symptoms of this condition are varied and resemble other medical conditions.  Typically, medical professionals will test and rule out other conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 

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As this is written, there’s no known cure for this condition and the only course of action is to treat the pain and relief the symptoms.  A common conventional treatment is prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressant, anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants. Sleeping pills are also often suggested.  Although these drugs can be quite effective with pain and symptomatic relief, they do not come without side effects and depending on which ones you take you’re looking at an increased risk of mania and bipolar disorder, drowsiness, dizziness, weight gain, and swelling of the extremities. Additional side effect can include increased risk of certain cancers and increased risk of morbidity. 

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On the other hand, safe, natural and holistic remedies can also be used to alleviate fibromyalgia pain and symptoms. These include:

• Acupuncture

•  massage therapy

•  Yoga

• tai chi

• essential oils such as:

  • For pain relief - lavender, chamomile, lemongrass, ginger and black pepper.

  • For stress relief – clary sage, frankincense, sweet orange, grapefruit, ylang ylang and jasmine.

  • For sleep – Neroli and Roman chamomile.

  • For headaches – Peppermint and marjoram.

• Supplements to complement a healthy diet. For example:

  • Magnesium deficiency can contribute to the muscle pain which is associated with fibromyalgia so taking magnesium supplement may help.

  • Krill oil which has anti-inflammatory properties

  • Melatonin – for sleep problems

  • Vitamin D – know to hinder the production of cytokine which is a protein that is known to cause inflammation.  Vitamin D can be obtained through sun exposure or supplements.

• K-laser therapy enhances micro-stimulation which in turn help reduce pain and inflammation whilst promoting tissue healing.  It also increases venous and lymphatic return as a result of oxygenating tissues.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – can help deal with chronic pain and stressful situations. CBT usually only offers short term relief but it’s very useful for dealing with chronic stress.

• Mild physical exercise - Low impact exercise such as walking can bring oxygen to the joints and decrease pain and stiffness. Gentle stretching is also recommended. Other options include light weight lifting and aquatic exercise in a heated pool.