The Mayo Clinic describes fibromyalgia very accurately: You hurt all over, and you frequently feel exhausted. Even after numerous tests, your doctor can't find anything specifically wrong with you. If this sounds familiar, you may have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points - places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. Your doctor can help with medications and recommendations regarding exercise and being sure you get adequate rest. He may also recommend that you try the soothing relaxation of moist heat therapy. Here are a few ways in which heat therapy can benefit your fibromyalgia pain:
- Helps to relax stiff, tense muscles, promoting flexibility and increased range of motion
- Works to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, particularly around tender points on the body
- Helps to relieves tension, lessening chronic headaches
- Reduces stress, thereby promoting restful sleep and reduction in overall symptoms
- Heat therapy is especially useful for relieving muscle spasms and the soreness caused by restless leg syndrome
Many people with fibromyalgia suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms. RLS causes unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs, so much so that the limbs have to be moved in order to reduce the pain. RLS occurs mostly at night, between the hours of 10:00 pm and 4:00 am, though it can also occur throughout the day in severe cases. RLS is exacerbated by long periods of rest, particularly nighttime sleeping, long car rides, or airplane travel. People with RLS describe crawling, itching, burning, or aching sensations beneath the skin in their legs. These sensations are so uncomfortable that they must move their legs, either by getting out of bed, or by exercising or stretching. Many find that if they do not move around, their legs will twitch involuntarily. Typically, RLS affects the calves and lower legs, though it can also affect the thighs, feet, and arms. RLS causes major disturbances to sleep patterns. Because you are constantly being woken up or forced out of bed, many FM sufferers find that they just cannot get adequate rest. Many feel drained and sleepy during the day.
Thermophore® heat therapy products provides the intense moist heat you need to penetrate deeply into painful areas. The soothing heat can help to provide the relaxing sleep you need regenerate and refresh yourself.
