Fibromyalgia and Menopause Facts For Women

Are you suffering the symptoms of menopause? If they include symptoms such as muscle stiffness and soreness, tenderness around the knees, elbows, hips and other joints, or pain and numbness in the hands or feet, then you may have the beginning of what's known as fibromyalgia. What is it? It isn't a disease as such but a condition that affects the joints and soft tissue including the muscles, and also includes fatigue in most cases. It also affects mostly women, which leads many doctors to believe it may be related to menopause.

The reason many doctors and others believe that fibromyalgia is related to menopause is that the majority of sufferers are not only women, but women over the age of 40 (approximately 80% according to statistics). So how are they related? That remains to be seen, but many researchers believe that an imbalance in hormones is partly to blame, even though they cannot find evidence of which ones specifically as of yet. Current focus is on the brain chemicals that control sleep cycles and mood, hormones released by the pituitary which are sensitive to estrogen, and possibly even changes in growth hormones. This link is likely because many women who suffer fibromyalgia are approaching menopause, have recently had a baby and are over 35 years of age, and women who have had either a tubal ligation or a hysterectomy.

The worst part about fibromyalgia is that there is no cure as of yet, only treatments that can help ease the symptoms. Treatments vary according to varying symptoms but include certain exercises specific to affected areas, pain relieving medications or muscle relaxants to help ease discomfort, and in some cases injections of analgesics to specific areas. There are other therapeutic treatments such as massage therapy, heat therapy, and a new therapy called hydrotherapy which involves movements in the water that help with circulation and don't involve putting pressure on the joints like other forms of exercise.

Some doctors and health specialists think that diet can play a role in helping to prevent fibromyalgia, eating more holistic foods that are full of nutrients such as phytochemicals and antioxidants, for instance. Eat more organic foods such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and even dried fruits. Drink plenty of water each day, which many people hear about but fail to follow through on, make it a habit. Some dieticians believe that lowering your intake of sodium rich foods and completely eliminating additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG's) and artificial sweeteners like Aspartame can help to relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia. Recent studies show that the practice of eating a vegan diet may even help alleviate symptoms.