Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects the way your brain responds to pain. Each patient responds to treatments differently and finding the best treatment for you may involve a frustrating time of trial and error. IV therapy can be beneficial to some patients who suffer from this disorder.   

Causes and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Researchers aren't certain what causes this disorder, but they believe many factors can contribute to the disease. These factors include trauma to the spinal column or the brain, physical or emotional stressors. Other contributing factors may be biochemical or hormonal changes in the body. The symptoms of fibromyalgia can include aches and pains in much of the body, memory and sleep issues. Common symptoms also include mood swings, constant fatigue and other issues. 

What is IV Therapy?

This type of therapy means that you are getting medication, nutrients or other beneficial substance intravenously – or via a blood vein. This therapy is rarely painful; it is similar to getting a shot or having your blood drawn. Fibromyalgia patients who don't respond favorably to therapies that are more traditional may obtain relief through IV therapy. Receiving substances through an IV is beneficial in ways that include:

• The medication, nutrients or other substances enter your body more rapidly via an IV than by taking the substances orally. This is because it enters through the bloodstream.
• The IV therapy helps balance deficiencies in your body due to the fibromyalgia.
• Intravenous therapy helps detoxify your body; therefore, it helps reduce inflammation that is common with this disease.
• Boosting the immunities in your body that help fight disease and inflammation.

Getting the IV Therapy

Typically, the fibromyalgia patient goes to a facility or doctor's office that provides IV therapy (such as Metabolix Wellness). The technician will have you sit in a comfortable area where you can rest, watch TV or read while receiving the therapy. It generally takes about an hour or less to receive the therapy intravenously, but you may have to return several times to obtain the entire regimen. 

Patients Who Benefit Most from This Therapy

Two groups of people – those who smoke and African Americans -- don't seem to respond to IV therapy as well as other fibromyalgia sufferers. Although they may feel better, they generally don't receive significant pain relief. This difference may have something to do with genetic makeup.

Take heart if you suffer from fibromyalgia. IV therapy is just one of the many options that show promising results and help patients enjoy a more fulfilling quality of life.