You Don’t Have to Live with Fibromyalgia Pain: You Have Options

Fibromyalgia is one of the most frustrating pain conditions to have. There’s no widely accepted diagnostic test for fibromyalgia, which means the condition often goes mis- or undiagnosed. 

In fact, men are 20 times more likely to have fibromyalgia than are diagnosed, and women are three times more likely. 

However, at the West Texas Pain Institute, we understand the complexities of pain and exhaust our entire list of diagnostic tools to reach an accurate diagnosis. 

If we discover you have fibromyalgia, pain management specialist Dr. Raul Lopez and our team create a treatment plan designed to alleviate your symptoms and improve your overall health. 

Here’s a closer look at how we address fibromyalgia from start to finish. 

Diagnosing fibromyalgia

There’s no single test or examination we can use to diagnose fibromyalgia, but that doesn’t mean we can’t uncover it. 

When you present with the tell-tale symptoms of fibromyalgia (tenderness, fatigue, sleep disruptions, and hypersensitivity), we begin with an extensive consultation. During this visit, we discuss your symptoms in detail and conduct a physical exam. Simple blood tests and other lab work are also helpful in ruling out other pain conditions. 

Treating fibromyalgia

If you’re like most with fibromyalgia, you haven’t found the right treatment to relieve your symptoms (or even a specialist to diagnose you correctly). When you see Dr. Lopez and our team, you can rest assured that we leave no stone unturned in your journey to a pain-free life.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of fibromyalgia treatments we offer. 

Medication

We can recommend a few medications for fibromyalgia. Some address aches and pains, and others aim to boost energy or improve sleep. Some patients take a combination of drugs to get the best results. 

We typically start with over-the-counter medications but can recommend prescription medications such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants if you need something stronger. 

Spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation involves inserting electrodes into the epidural space of your spine. The electrodes are connected to a device that allows you to control the intensity and frequency of the electrical pulses. 

The goal of spinal cord stimulation is to disrupt pain messages traveling along your spine, effectively relieving symptoms like pain, numbness, or weakness in your legs.

Spinal cord stimulation isn’t right for every fibromyalgia patient, but if we suspect your nerves are playing a role in your symptoms, it may be an effective treatment. 

Regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is an umbrella term for treatments like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Both therapies use naturally occurring substances to reboot the body’s healing system, reduce inflammation, and ultimately temper pain symptoms. 

Massage and physical therapy

Many of our patients also respond well to manipulative therapies like physical and massage therapy. Physical therapy relieves pain by increasing strength, while massage therapy encourages relaxation and improves circulation.

We can help you decide if one type of therapy is best or if a combination of physical and massage therapy will most impact your symptoms. 

Heat and cold therapies

Alternating between heat and cold therapy is another great way to relax your tired, tender muscles. Heat therapy increases blood flow, which relaxes muscles and reduces pain and stiffness; cold therapy numbs the painful areas of your body and reduces inflammation. 

It’s easy to perform heat and cold therapies from the comfort of your own home. A heat pad, bag of ice, or even a warm bath will do the trick. 

Lifestyle adjustments

We may also recommend that you make certain lifestyle adjustments to manage your fibromyalgia symptoms. Getting enough exercise, eating a balanced diet, and even investing in talk therapy are simple ways to reduce pain and improve overall health.  

If you’re stuck in a cycle of undiagnosed symptoms or you know you have fibromyalgia and can’t find relief, we should be your next call. Dr. Lopez and our team are standing by to get to the bottom of your pain and help you find the best solution. 

To schedule a consultation with our expert, call or click to make an appointment at our El Paso, Texas, office today.