Treatment approaches for fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, a condition affecting the central nervous system, causes widespread pain as well as other symptoms—such as sleep disruptions, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating—that adversely affect the patient’s quality of life. There is no specific diagnostic test for fibromyalgia, but a variety of tools are used to evaluate the patient’s symptoms in order to confirm the diagnosis. Although several classes of medications, such as antidepressants, are useful for treating fibromyalgia pain and other associated symptoms, nonpharmacologic treatments such as exercise, mindfulness techniques, acupuncture, and others have been shown to be equally effective—if not more effective—options.