Lesson 6: Alternative treatments: Non-traditional medicine.
Occupational Therapy. Massage therapy. Physical therapy. Guaifenesin treatment.
Investigating your Options
Given the large number of symptoms that go along with a diagnosis of FMS, no one is surprised to find medical practitioners advocating a somewhat holistic approach to treatment. Dr. Pellegrino, the author of your text, uses this approach, as do many other doctors.
Many patients seek out alternative therapies on their own as well. Remember that if you are using some alternative treatment your physician needs to be aware of it. Sometimes two different treatments can conflict with each other and end up creating more problems. Even the "natural" approach, using herbs, can be dangerous if you are also taking prescription medicines.
Since medical science is beginning to accept many of the alternative therapies don't be embarrassed to tell your doctor about other ways that you have sought relief. It will be safer for you, and you may find your physician surprisingly understanding - even approving.
The alternative methods of treatment fall into 6 categories - biochemical, structural, movement functional, energy therapies, mind-body therapy and environmental approaches. As Dr. Milton Hammerly, author of The New Integrative Approach to Fibromyalgia points out, these all have a counterpart in traditional medicine. Biochemical treatments are like pharmaceutical treatments. Structural treatment is related to surgery. Movement therapy is almost the same in traditional medicine, except that the traditional approach is more aggressive. In general Western medicine tends to be more expensive, more aggressive and more passive. Using alternative and Eastern forms of treatment the patients feel that they are taking a more active part in their own healing.
One word of warning - just as every traditional treatment carries risks, has potential side effects and may prove ineffective to an individual, so it is with alternative treatments. Don't expect miracles. Do thoroughly investigate any alternatives (and alternative practitioners) that you intend to try.
