Canadian doctors have issued guidelines for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Its recommendations focus mainly on non-pharmacological strategies, especially in the use of physical exercises.
An established definition
“Fibromyalgia syndrome is a set of symptoms in which the main one is chronic pain (lasting more than three months), extensive and diffuse, continuous, fluctuating, increasing mainly with efforts”, defines the High Health Authority (Haute Autorité de Santé – Has). “This singular pain is accompaniedby fatigue, sleep disorders, depressive states andanxiety.”
In Canada, doctors at McGill and Calgary Universities published the first (from their country) good practice recommendations for managing this condition. They are based on “non-pharmaceutical interventions such as exercise, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy. As well as medicines adapted to the individual needs of patients.” The authors explain that “the main objective is to improve quality of life by relieving symptoms.” The pain, especially.
Move…
These recommendations are similar to that established in France by Has, which made a guidance report on the subject in July 2010. As Anne-Françoise Pauchet-Traversat (department of chronic diseases and patient follow-up of SAH) explained, “the watchword adopted at the moment is activity. We must promote the resumption or gradual continuation of the physical activity of these patients (…): at least half an hour of physical activity, adapted, every day.”
She adds that “the drug is not necessarily the first measure to be taken. It is the clinician’s doctor who should decide, depending on the symptoms and their impact on everyday life.” Anne-Françoise-Pauchet Traversat stresses, finally, the importance of “regularly evaluating the effectiveness of each treatment adopted in relation to its benefits, side effects and its cost”.
Unknown causes
Remember that in 80% of cases fibromyalgia affects women and 9 out of 10 patients under 60 years of age. Its prevalence is from 1.4% to 2.2% in the general population. Regarding their causes, they remain unknown. If you are worried, talk to your doctor.
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