I don't want the title to mislead you.  There's no foolproof way to prevent all pain when you have fibromyalgia.  But understanding how the FM pain cycle works can enable you to lessen the pain much of the time and even prevent some pain altogether. 

The first thing we need to understand is that people with fibromyalgia have a problem processing pain correctly.  Normally, pain is supposed to be an alert to tell you something is wrong that needs to be tended to.  If you cut yourself, the pain tells you to stop the bleeding and apply an antiseptic.  Once the wound is treated and begins to heal, the pain lessens and soon goes away altogether – unless you have fibromyalgia.  Read more...

The FDA has approved Cymbalta for the management of fibromyalgia – almost exactly one year after Lyrica received the distinction of being the first drug ever approved to treatment this painful and often debilitating illness.   

Lyrica's approval gave legitimacy to fibromyalgia in the minds of many who questioned whether it was a real disease.  The approval of a second medication for FM can only add to its credibility.  It also gives physicians more options for treating FM patients, thereby increasing the number of doctors who are willing to try.

To learn more about Cymbalta, its use for fibromyalgia, and research findings, read "Cymbalta Approved for Fibromyalgia."