Can Fibromyalgia in Children be Treated Without Medication? Save

The hallmarks of fibromyalgia -- widespread pain, poor sleep, effort intolerance, fatigue -- are difficult to manage and usually require medication and a multi-modal approach.

A recent Medscape report details the success of Dr. David Sherry, director of the Amplified Pain Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and his unique approach to FM in children.

In their study of 64 children (with a 2 year history of pain), they employed intense physical and occupational therapy that included 5-6 hours a day of very aggressive, intense, aerobically based exercises and desensitization for children with tenderness to light touch. Children were taken off of pain medications, sleep medications, and any other medication used to treat fibromyalgia symptoms.

Prior to the program initiation, pain intensity averaged 7.1 out of 10. Children were treated with this intense exercise program for an average duration of 23 days. At the end of that time, reported pain intensity had decreased to approximately 2.5 out of 10. One year later, when the children retuned to be evaluated again, their pain had decreased further to an average of 2.0 out of 10. One third of the children reported absolutely no pain whatsoever, and one half reported pain intensity of less than 1 out of 10.

Dr. Sherry contends that FM is a very treatable condition in childhood. The symptoms do not require medications but can be treated directly with physical and occupational therapy and counseling. Most of these children can be well off medication.