Fibromy Algia

If you suffer from bouts of pain, fatigue and muscle aches, you might be suffering from fibromyalgia. Experts haven’t yet determined the exact cause of the disease, and there is no cure for it, so it’s essential to partner with a pain management specialist who can best diagnose and treat the disorder with a goal to best manage the symptoms. The California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, and Chula Vista areas are expertly equipped to reduce their patients’ physical pain and restore normal sleep cycles by providing the best treatment options possible. 

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic health condition that causes musculoskeletal pain and weakness throughout the body, and also causes fatigue. Often characterized by “tender points” on the body, of which there are 18 and located symmetrically, the pain appears in periods of flare-ups that cause debilitating pain before gradually decreasing. Some patients report the feelings of pain constantly, while others experience regular intervals or flare-up and remission. 

Any new pain in the body, especially in the body, is a sign of fibromyalgia. It’s important to listen to your body and reach out to a pain management specialist so diagnosis and treatment can begin as quickly as possible. 

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

As mentioned, there is no exact one cause of fibromyalgia. However, studies have found that certain health conditions, stress and major life changes might trigger its onset. A person might also be more likely to develop the disease if a biological parent has it. 

One potential cause and symptom of fibromyalgia is central sensitization syndrome, also known as allodynia, which is a common complication of chronic pain involving the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS). Injury and inflammation to localized tissue activate the PNS, which sends signals through the spinal cord to the brain. Central sensitization occurs when there is an increase in neuron activity within the CNS. What this means is that patients develop both a low threshold and overactive stimuli that produces abnormal responses to normal sensory stimuli, when it would normally respond to severe stimuli in people who don’t suffer from this condition.

Who Can Get Fibromyalgia?

Around 2% of the American population suffer from fibromyalgia. While it can affect anyone, it is most often seen in adults aged 20 to 50 years old, with the vast majority of those affected being women and those assigned female at birth. 

Other than gender, fibromyalgia risk factors can include: 

• Genetics: studies have shown a direct correlation between parents who suffer from fibromyalgia and their children, meaning that it is passed down through families
• Poor sleep: studies have shown that those who suffer from poor sleep are more likely to experience widespread and chronic pain conditions
• Infections: some patients develop fibromyalgia after suffering from an infection, especially if there were severe symptoms associated with the infection
• Chronic illnesses: People with conditions like osteoarthritis, depression, anxiety disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), chronic back pain and irritable bowel syndrome are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
• Traumas: people who suffer a physical or mental trauma, or an extreme injury can sometimes develop fibromyalgia
• Stress: experiencing stress for an extended period of time can lead to the develop of chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia

What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

In addition to fatigue, the most common symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain that is most often felt in the head, neck, upper back, elbows, hips and knees. Other symptoms include: 

• Face and jaw pain
• Anxiety and depression
• Insomnia 
• Headaches and migraines
• Digestive problems (diarrhea and constipation)
• Persistent pain often accompanied by stiffness
• Mood disorders (anger, irritability)
• Dizziness
• Memory problems
• Increased sensitivity to pain (hyperesthesia)
• Bladder control issues

How Do I Know If I Have Fibromyalgia?

The best way to determine if you have fibromyalgia is to get a diagnosis from a healthcare provider. While not a simple diagnosis, the provider will review the patient’s medical and family history, as well as attempt to rule out other possible medical conditions that might be leading to the same or similar symptoms. A good criteria for determining if a person has fibromyalgia or not is if: 

• They have experience pain for at least three months
• The pain is symmetrical and widespread, i.e. located above and below the waist
• The person suffers from other associated symptoms of fibromyalgia

Lab tests and an in-depth physical exam will help provide an accurate diagnosis for this complex disease. 

What Triggers Fibromyalgia Flare-ups?

Certain events, life changes or increase in stress can trigger a fibromyalgia flare-up. What might cause flare-ups for one person might not cause flare-ups for another person, or one trigger might not be a trigger the next time. Common triggers include: 

• Emotional stress caused by job, money or social life
• Changes in daily routine
• Hormonal changes
• Switching sleep schedule or pattern
• Lack of dietary nutrition
• Illness
• weather/temperature changes
• Changes in daily routine
• Starting or stopping fibromyalgia medications

How Do You Treat Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a dynamic and chronic condition. Treatment options that work well for one patient, or one type of flare-up, might not work for another patient or another type of flare-up. Most providers opt for multiple treatment options that treat the physical and physiological aspects of the symptoms, with a goal to have less frequent and shorter flare-ups as well as longer periods of remission. Some of the most common and effective treatment options include: 

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: exercising produces serotonin (the “feel good” hormone) and relieves stress, improves mobility, and promotes mental health. Also, eating a healthy diet that promotes health and reduces inflammation helps with healing. 
• Biofeedback: due to the fact that stress is a main cause of flare-ups, helping patients to recognize stress and control their feelings helps to better manage their pain
• Cognitive behavioral therapy: a structured and goal-oriented type of talk therapy that helps manage mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, emotional concerns, such as coping with grief or stress, and non-psychological health conditions, such as insomnia and chronic pain
• Medications: over-the-counter and prescription medications (taken as prescribed), including NSAIDs, muscle relaxers and antidepressants, have shown helpful for reducing inflammation
• Alternative healthcare: acupuncture, yoga and massages all help to relieve stress and improve mobility

Additional treatments could also include medical marijuana, Vitamin D, transcranial magnetic stimulation, TENS unit therapy and light therapy. Overall, the goal with treatment is to address the mental and physical challenges of living a life with fibromyalgia. 

If you believe you are suffering from fibromyalgia and would like more information about treatment options, please schedule an appointment today with the California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, and Chula Vista areas.