Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread chronic pain in muscles, joints, and tendons accompanied by sleep problems and fatigue. This pain is also associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Fibromyalgia equally creates tender points on the body, which makes certain areas on the body exhibit excruciating pain from the slightest pressure applied.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

More than 12 million Americans are affected by Fibromyalgia.  Some of the many symptoms it causes include:

  • migraines/chronic headaches
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • irritable bladder
  • insomnia
  • hypersensitivity to cold/hot
  • swelling
  • fibro fog (inability to concentrate/focus)
  • difficulty remembering
  • numbness
  • stiffness
  • decreased energy
  • noise, light and odor sensitivity
  • skin sensitivity
  • widespread pain
  • tender points
  • incapacitating fatigue
  • anxiety
  • depression

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of treatments and therapies focus on reducing the amount and frequency of pain. They also aim to improve sleep. Therapies such as exercise, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic care aim to manage symptoms without pharmacological interventions. Prescriptions manage pain, improve sleep, and combat depression, too. Symptoms may come and go, lasting a few minutes, an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year, however we at Progressive Pain & Rehabilitation can help you with fibromyalgia, please set an appointment and we will guide you on your way to a better health.

Causes of Fibromyalgia Pain

Currently, there isn’t any known cause of fibromyalgia; however, its symptoms can be seen after emotional or physical trauma. It’s also possible for fibromyalgia pain to be triggered via genetics or infections. Most times, patients with fibromyalgia will experience a lower pain threshold through phenomenon called central sensitization which is the primary reason behind the painful symptoms associated with the condition. Central sensitization causes an increase in the brain’s sensitivity to pain.

A recent study has discovered that a nerve chemical known as substance P is elevated in fibromyalgia. Also found in the research, serotonin, which is another chemical that counters depression, is typically lower in fibromyalgia patients. With recurrent nerve stimulation, this illness leads to transformations in the brain concerning pain processing; which in turn, leads to fibromyalgia patients being over-reactive to pain signals.

Risk Factors Associated with Fibromyalgia

Individuals with a family history of rheumatic diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis have a higher chance of being afflicted with fibromyalgia. It is also a disease which is more prominently found in women than in men.

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Before being diagnosed with fibromyalgia by a health expert, you must have experienced a pain that has lasted for a minimum of three months and have about 11 out of 18 total possible body tender points. Blood tests are also carried out to exclude other conditions with related symptoms and once these conditions are ruled out, the fibromyalgia expert can perform a fibromyalgia diagnosis of exclusion. Progressive Pain and Rehabilitation health experts can carry this diagnosis in the least invasive way, contact us today.

Treatment Options Available For Fibromyalgia

There are several fibromyalgia pain management treatment methods available which health experts might suggest and they include:

  • Medication Management
  • Biofeedback
  • Myofascial Release
  • Trigger Point Injection
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Pain Psychology
  • Treatment of Contributing Pain Generators

At Progressive Pain and Rehabilitation, our fibromyalgia pain management center and health experts value the vital importance of an interdisciplinary approach to fibromyalgia pain management. We offer fibromyalgia pain management services that ensures you get back to your best feeling. This is in addition to other excellent quality wellness care and medical services. You can contact us now to schedule your evaluation and get the best chronic pain relief in The Woodlands, TX.