Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain throughout your whole body, particularly in muscles, connective tissues, and bones. Some people who have fibromyalgia also experience abdominal and pelvic pain. In addition to pain, fibromyalgia can cause difficulties with memory and concentration, known as fibro fog, and:

• Chronic fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Headaches
• Depression

If you have fibromyalgia, you’re more likely to have certain other conditions, such as:

• Arthritis
• Autoimmune disorders
• Endometriosis
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sleep apnea

It’s not unusual for several members of the same family to be affected by fibromyalgia.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia isn’t clear. Research into the condition shows that pain signals from the nerves may be extreme, or patients may become oversensitive to normal pain signals.

This indicates a relationship to neuropathic (nerve) pain and conditions such as allodynia — when pain develops from stimuli that should not cause pain — and hypersensitivity, as well as autoimmune disorders, but no single causal factor has come to light.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

There isn’t a definitive test for fibromyalgia, but the experienced team members at Pain Specialty Group can diagnose fibromyalgia from your symptoms and by excluding any other possible causes.

The widespread nature of fibromyalgia pain is a good indicator, and people with fibromyalgia tend to have tender points on their body that cause severe pain if pressed. Your practitioner tests these pain points, which are in specific places on the neck, back, chest, elbows, hips, buttocks, and knees, to check your response to pressure.

What treatments are available for fibromyalgia?

There’s no cure for fibromyalgia, but the team at Pain Specialty Group can help you manage your pain and improve your quality of life. Because each patient has different needs, everyone receives a personalized treatment plan and ongoing care and support. Treatments that may be in your plan include:

• Prescription pain relief
• Antidepressants
• Anti-seizure medications
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Psychological counseling
• Trigger point injections containing anesthetic and corticosteroids

A combination of different types of therapy is usually best. Using painkillers alone may help with the pain to some degree, but if you don’t look after your body by eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and finding ways to relieve stress, your fibromyalgia symptoms are likely to worsen. 

Gentle exercise like yoga and tai chi is excellent for people who have fibromyalgia, especially if you don’t feel able to hit the gym.

Learning how to live with fibromyalgia through counseling and occupational therapy is also highly beneficial. You learn how to carry out everyday tasks in different ways so they’re more manageable, and you get insight into vital self-care tools, such as being able to pace yourself and learning not to waste energy fighting the pain.

If you have fibromyalgia or think you might have, call Pain Specialty Group today to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.