Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in the muscles and fatigue throughout the body but particularly in what are called tender points. These are sensitive points that hurt when pressed and generate pain that can be constant and cause various consequences in the body, deteriorating considerably the quality of lives of people with this condition.
- Some of these pain-causing symptoms are:
- Difficulty to sleep
- Muscle stiffness in the morning
- Headaches
- Menstrual period pains
- Numbness of hands and feet
- Problems with thinking and memory referred to as Fibro-Fog
- Muscle spasm
The origin of this disease is not known for certain, but it is believed to have something to do with the central nervous system. However, even the investigations in this field were very scarce and until a few years ago, it was considered by some doctors that some patients imagined this pain and that it only existed in their heads.
Because the disease is so little studied (and because its real cause is still unknown), it does not have an effective treatment that could cure the disease completely and investigations focus on every way to reduce and treat the symptoms so that the patients affected find a way to live a life as normal as possible.
Among the most effective treatments to reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia are the Weight Blankets. They are blankets with pockets inside where small bags can be placed with different weights, and this is made to balance the weight depending on the patient who will use it. The content of the weights varies between manufacturers, with the most professional using items easily washable. This is the same for the material of which the blanket is made, with the ideals being the ones made with hypoallergenic materials.
It is recommended that the weight does not exceed 10% of the weight of the user and for the blankets to be placed on the knees for better effects. These weight blankets are mainly used to treat stress and insomnia especially in the case of children since it comforts them at bedtime by the pressure exerted on them. For this reason, many people prefer to sleep with several blankets on them even if it is summer.
In the case of Fibromyalgia it not only improves stress and helps sleep, but it comes with other benefits such as reducing chronic pain, fibro fog symptoms, and tranquility at bedtime. This is mainly because of the pressure it causes on the body, a sensation described as similar to embracing or holding something against your chest. This same pressure causes the brain to increase the levels of serotonin and melatonin, which act as relaxants.
This is extremely important to reduce pain and relax muscles, as well as being effective in preventing muscle spasms.
In addition, it makes you want to sleep, something that usually those suffering from Fibromyalgia have difficulty achieving. The heat that it generates also reduces considerably the symptoms on muscles as if a heat therapy was being used in them.
Like all Fibromyalgia treatments, weight blankets are not 100% effective and may not work in some cases and with certain patients. The results depend on the person and ideally, they will try different treatment options that suit each patient, until they find the ones that are more effective in each case. You can also fabricate your own weight blankets with the materials that look the best and what you have at home, which allows you to even select the right size so that you feel comfortable putting it on your body since the most important factor is comfort and relaxation at bedtime.
SOURCE: http://yorkvilleblankets.com/disorders/weighted-blankets-fibromyalgia/
