Fibromyalgia is sometimes called the invisible illness.
For reasons that are not clearly understood, it affects twice as many women as men.
(In 2017, Lady Gaga revealed that she suffered from fibromyalgia.)
The main symptom is chronic widespread pain and extreme sensitivity to touch.
Other signs include numbness, tingling, fatigue, depression and even digestive problems like bloating and constipation.
There is no clear cause for fibromyalgia.
The following three prescription drugs are approved by the FDA specifically for treating fibromyalgia.
Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen have not been proven to help fibromyalgia.
Ask Lynne Matallana, founder and president of the National Fibromyalgia Association.
I was told I was crazy.
I was told I was lazy, she says.
Even her mother didnt believe her.
Matallana finally found a doctor who identified fibromyalgia.
She had no idea what that was, but was relieved to have some answer to her pain.
He told me, you oughta do your part and I will do my part, Matallana says.
That was life-changing for me.
She found that advice life-changing because the doctor told her she could take charge of her treatment.
Today only about 47 percent say they want a pill.
The rest are interested in alternative and complementary treatment choices.
These treatments, singly or combined, include:
1.
Gentle exercise
Exercise is an important part of fibromyalgia treatment, according to the American College of Rheumatology.
Experts recommend sticking to low-impact aerobics like swimming orwalking.
But a person in pain may not be so anxious to exercise.
Activity can mean something as simple as walking around your house.
Start slowly and build up.
Every week just add half a minute to your walking routine, Matallana says.
