Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

This is a condition where there is muscular pain in the body that is accompanied with fatigue, sleeping disorder, behavioural problems and memory issues. With Fibromyalgia, the sensation of pain is heightened because the disease affects how pain is processed by the brain. Fibromyalgia is muscular pain that is widespread. Signs of Fibromyalgia are felt when pressure is applied to tender points, such as the back of the head, shoulder blades, upper chest, upper hips and knees.

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Hydrotherapy:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence shows that hydrotherapy may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Acupuncture:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence, though very little, shows that Acupuncture may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Meditation [1]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence, though very little, shows that meditation may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Taichi [2, 3]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence, though very little, shows that tai chi may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Relaxation Techniques [4]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence, though very little, shows that relaxation techniques may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Yoga [5]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence, though very little, shows that yoga may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Massage [6]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (available evidence, though very little, shows that massages may help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22398352

2. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0912611

3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25633475

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22398352

5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22398352

6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20306046

Public Discussion