HopelesslyJoan

You may be a man or woman who has fibromyalgia. Next, your brother or sister may have fibromyalgia, you daughter has it; you even suspect that your mother has it as well, although she has been diagnosed with it just yet. All the key women in your family have fallen victim to fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Just when you though that it could nor get any worse, your best friend is also experiencing some signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia that sound an awful lot like the ones that you and your relatives all share; Widespread pain, fatigue, sleep difficulties and other common symptoms of fibromyalgia.

So what’s the big picture? Almost anyone can develop fibromyalgia, even you. As frightening as this very well may be, it is just as important to recognize that there are general patterns among the people who are most likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. For example, women are between 7 to 10 times more likely than men to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia (Although men can and do have fibromyalgia) Secondly, adults are more prone to being diagnosed with fibromyalgia than are children. Finally, as we revealed earlier fibromyalgia does not discriminate against age and gender; the same holds true for race and socioeconomic status.

So, could you be the next victim of fibromyalgia? Maybe you’ve already fallen to this chronic condition for all these years without even knowing that you had it. If that may be the case, the best advice that I can give you is to educate yourself as much as possible regarding what fibromyalgia means for you. Gather as many resources as possible through support groups, associations, books and even doctors who may be able to diagnose you to determine if you have fibromyalgia. Knowledge and education are power; in this case they may be clues to a better quality of life.

In this article ‘Fighting Fibromyalgia With 5-HTP’, you will discover:

• The facts about 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP)
• How can 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) help in fighting fibromyalgia?
• What dose of 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) do you need to take to help in fighting fibromyalgia?

The Facts About 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP)5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) comes from the amino acid tryptophan.

5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) is converted into serotonin which acts upon the brain to influence appetite and improve your feeling of well-being.

Apart from helping in fighting fibromyalgia symptoms, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) can also help with the following health conditions:

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Insomnia
• Migraine
• Obesity
• Panic Attacks

How Can 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) Help In Fighting Fibromyalgia?

5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) can help in fighting fibromyalgia symptoms by increasing serotonin levels.

Research has shown that people suffering from fibromyalgia have low levels of serotonin in their blood.

Clinical trials have shown that 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) can help fibromyalgia sufferers in fighting fibromyalgia by relieving some of the symptoms associated with it.

What Dose Of 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) Do You Need To Take To Help In Fighting Fibromyalgia?

To help in fighting fibromyalgia, try taking 100 mg of 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) supplements three times per day on an empty stomach.

Warning: as with all supplements, please consult your doctor before taking 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP).

Although side-effects are rare, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) can cause drowsiness, headaches, congestion, nausea and constipation.

It should not be taken if you are pregnant or breast-feeding or taking antidepressant drugs.

So, to sum up…

5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) comes from the amino acid tryptophan.

5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) can help in fighting fibromyalgia symptoms by increasing serotonin levels which can help to improve your mood and feeling of well-being.

Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and the soft tissues of the body.

Who gets Fibromyalgia?

According to statistics, it is commonly seen in women between the ages of 20 and 56. Men are also prone to Fibromyalgia, just not as much.

Symptoms:

Sleep abnormalities are seen as one of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been closely associated with FMS. Another sign of Fibromyalgia is an increased sensitivity to pain and touch, as well as hot and cold.

Some treatments/remedies for FMS are:

Massage Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy (Light therapeutic touch; is not Massage Therapy)

Neuromuscular Therapy (Therapeutic)

Relaxation Massage

Steam packs

Accupuncture

Massage therapy is known for being a very therapeutic and healing modality to help release some of the pain and stress of Fibromyalgia.

A thorough medical examination by a Board Certified Medical Physician, D.O., Chiropractor is essential with a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Then, a prescription for therapy is advised - to be obtained from a licensed practitioner in massage.

Massage therapy relaxes the muscles and helps further the oxygen and blood flow to the areas of tightness, pain or sensitivity. Massage also helps encourage the endorphins to produce more energy and less tiredness, as well as a relaxed state of mind and body.

If you have seen your doctor and he or she has diagnosed you with Fibromyalgia, you could benefit significantly from the various types of massage and alternative treatments mentioned in this article. Check with your doctor to see which of the above options may be best for you.

Fibromyalgia is sometimes categorized as primary or secondary. In primary fibromyalgia, also known as idiopathic fibromyalgia, the causes are not known whereas in secondary fibromyalgia the causes can be identified. Primary fibromyalgia is the more common form.

Many experts believe that primary fibromyalgia is not a disease but rather a chronic pain condition brought on by a dysfunctional biologic response to stress. Individuals are thought to be more susceptible to stress because of traumatic personal histories, genetic factors, or both. Physical injuries, emotional trauma, or viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr, may act as triggers for the onset of the disorder.

In secondary fibromyalgia, a specific cause can be identified. Possible causes of secondary fibromyalgia include:

• Physical injury. As an example, secondary fibromyalgia developed in over 20 percent of patients who had neck injuries. The symptoms are identical to those of primary fibromyalgia but are more difficult to treat. Another study reported a high incidence of fibromyalgia in workers with repetitive stress injuries, although it is not clear which condition caused the other.
• Ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints located in the low back where the sacrum meets the iliac bones.
• Surgery. Trauma, particularly in the upper spinal region, may trigger the development of fibromyalgia.
• Lyme disease. According to one study, between 10- and 25-percent of patients with Lyme disease subsequently developed fibromyalgia, which did not respond to the standard Lyme treatment consisting of antibiotics.
• Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C may prove to be a trigger for some cases of fibromyalgia.
• Endometriosis. Approximately 30 percent of women with the painful condition known as endometriosis go on to develop fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, a related illness.

There are several fibromyalgia risk factors to be aware of, it is a good idea to review this list to see if any of the risk factors relate to you. Although the numbers vary depending on the source, statistics say that there are between 3 million and 10 million people in the United States that suffer from fibromyalgia.

There are four main fibromyalgia risk factors:

The first risk factor is your gender. Fibromyalgia symptoms are much more common in women than men. Between 80% and 90% of all fibromyalgia patients are women. Also, it seems more common for women to develop symptoms during menopause.

Age can also be a risk factor, a middle aged person (between the ages of 25 and 60) are more likely to develop fibromyalgia symptoms than an older or younger person.

Another fibromyalgia risk factor is difficulty sleeping. To be honest, doctors have not been able to pinpoint whether sleep problems are cause fibromyalgia or if it is the other way around (that fibromyalgia causes sleep problems), but it has been found that sleep problems can develop fibromyalgia.

Family history can be a risk factor, if you have a history of fibromyalgia within your family then you may be more susceptible to experiencing pain related to the condition. It is not clear whether genetics or psychological factors play a role in the heredity of this condition.

A person who has other chronic conditions (such as osteoarthritis and lupus) may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia symptoms. Also, it has been found that higher levels of stress may cause fibromyalgia to develop in a person.