Peripheral Neuropathy And Fibromyalgia - Connection, Symptoms and Treatments

Through approximately 150 years of medical studies, fibromyalgia, whose complex and particularly controversial set of syndromes are currently well-recognized and gained increasing medical recognition among doctors as an existing state of health instead of being known as the “depressed woman’s hypochondria”. Its painful and exhausting symptoms can still be managed medically though the cure for fibromyalgia has not been discovered,. Nevertheless, peripheral neuropathy ,one symptom found to be associated with fibromyalgia is gaining increasing recognition due to its similar manifestation .

Most commonly associated with many metabolic conditions such as, connective tissue diseases, liver disease, diabetes and auto-immune disorders like lupus, Peripheral neuropathy, is in general characterized as a tingling, burning, twitching or numbness of the hands and/or feet. Peripheral neuropathy often coexist with fibromyalgia as both are considered a connective tissue condition and an auto-immune disorder.

Though rheumatologists regard fibromyalgia as a form of sub-clinical lupus due to their similarities, the difference in fibromyalgia and lupus lies in the missing symptoms such as the infamous red “butterfly rash” on the patient’s chest or face as well as a conclusive lab test called a “sed rate.” Other than these, lupus and fibromyalgia cannot be easily differentiated. Hence, peripheral neuropathy present in fibromyalgia is much more common than it recognizably regarded.

Treating Peripheral Neuropathy with Fibromyalgia
As absolute remedy has not been found for both fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy, the objective is on the symptoms management. The receivable medical procedures in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy that coexist with fibromyalgia has only a slight difference as compared to traditional treatment for other types of peripheral neuropathy.

Helpful in relieving the pain, burning and numbness of peripheral neuropathy, will be the medication Neurontin (gabapentin). Which acts by interrupting pain signals to the brain rather than masking them with an addictive opiate, as in the case of narcotic pain-relieving medications. Reliable and proven medications for fibromyalgia with or without peripheral neuropathy also includes low doses of amytriptaline (Elavil), the old-style tricyclic antidepressant.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (The NSAIDs) – such as ibuprophen (Aleve, Motrin, and Naproxen) are useful in relieving the swell and pain associated with fibromyalgia peripheral neuropathy. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is known to be helpful for the purpose of simple pain relief. However, the key to being comfortable lies in the necessity in finding a regimen that is effective and to be used consistently. Many patients see the necessity of keeping warm on the hands and feet by wearing gloves and heavy socks throughout the year to minimize flare-ups. While others feel relieved by wearing tight and comfortable canvass shoes and even sleeping in them.

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