Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Adam Shuster, DO – Pain Management Consultants of SWFL
Have you had trouble sleeping? Do you go through your day with constant fatigue? Are you feeling chronic pains in your muscles, back, or neck? Do you get long-lasting headaches? Do you have endless anxiety or depression? These are general symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
More than 12 million Americans are affected by Fibromyalgia (Center for Musculoskeletal Pain Research). It is the second most common musculoskeletal condition. Women from the ages of 25 to 60 are the most likely to have this disease. They are 10 times more probable to be diagnosed than men. If you have a family member with this disease, you also have a better chance of its development (American College of Rheumatology).
Fibromyalgia can cause complications that hinder your lifestyle. In fact, 50% of people with this disease have high difficulty performing their daily activities (Health Central); some cannot perform them at all. It has caused 30-40% of its sufferers to change careers, or stop working completely. Without treatment, people with Fibromyalgia are generally hospitalized once every few years.
However, there is hope. Though, there is no cure for Fibromyalgia there is treatment. Treatments can reduce the above unsettling statistics. The first step in getting treatment is finding the right doctor. Certified doctors commonly specialize in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine; Doctor Adam Shuster is a pain specialist that is Board Certified in both. Attending Michigan State University/College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Shuster graduated in 2004 earning the Healthgrades Honor Roll.
Evaluation is the second step regarding treatment. Dr. Shuster performs a variety of diagnostic tests to help create a unique comprehensive treatment plan for you. This plan is tailored to your specific needs. Dr. Shuster’s medical center provides widespread and multidisciplinary care for his patients. The clinic offers both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Although Anesthesiology is known to relieve pain during surgery, it can also be delivered outside of the surgical setting. Being an anesthesiologist, Dr. Shuster offers pain managements plans for acute and chronic conditions. Acute pain appears suddenly and can become severe. It usually goes away in about two weeks. Pain is termed chronic when it becomes an ongoing obstacle and lasts longer than first anticipated.
People with Fibromyalgia have reduced blood flow to the parts of the brain that help their body deal with the pain (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases). Dr. Shuster’s goal is to alleviate and manage this pain. Some treatments he uses are trigger point and epidural injections, prescription of medications (ex. nerve blocks), surgical implants, bioelectric therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy (TENS), physical therapy, and more. An alternative medical treatment, such as acupuncture, is also made available.
If you or a loved one has symptoms of Fibromyalgia, call Dr. Shuster at (239) 939-1975.
With his clinics’ friendly staff and wel-coming atmosphere, you will find that your needs are placed first. Dr. Shuster’s strong passion and experience will help you relieve the pain.
Florida Pain Centers
239.333.1177
