Monday, January 26, 2009

Has your Chronic Symptoms been Mis-Diagnosed?

By Lydia Peru

You know something is wrong. You are tired far too often, and the pain you feel is constant. Your body temperature is off kilter as well. Is it the result of depression, or is the depression another symptom of some physical problem?

Its not always the easiest task to properly diagnose a chronic condition. Many are diagnosed based on the collection of symptoms, like fibromyalgia, and through a process of elimination.

It seems logical that when properly diagnosed that an appropriate course of treatment will be given. In this perfect world scenario we also would find these disabling conditions magically cured. Welcome to the real world.

Since so many of the autoimmune conditions we face these days have similar symptoms there is often a trail and error diagnosing process, eliminating possible causes. MS, for example, is difficult to diagnose, and is often seen in the progression of symptoms. There is no clear answer as to the cause of MS. Treatment is also variable, and usually manages the symptoms instead of improving the state of health.

Rheumatoid arthritis is another of the autoimmune conditions that falls in the classification of chronic disease. Additional autoimmune conditions include chronic fatigue, lupus, and fibromyalgia. All are diagnosed through a process of elimination rather than definitive proof.

Another player has joined the chronic illness field. Lyme disease may seem to be remote, but is quickly spreading. This condition is traced back to the transmittal of borrelia bacteria through a tick bite. Many do not believe that they can contract Lyme disease. Diagnosis is difficult when this autoimmune disease is not even considered in the diagnosis process.

It is admitted that the diagnosis of chronic pain and fatigue related conditions is difficult. Even with an accurate diagnosis the treatment is not always effective. Over the years the commonly used and over prescribed antibiotics have lead to resistance, making treatment more difficult. It has become more widely accepted to turn to the unconventional treatments to find solutions. - 16650

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