Fibromyalgia is a unique condition characterized by pain sensations throughout the body. An affected person usually complains about widespread muscle pain, fatigue, mood swings, inability to sleep, and other problems.

A traumatic event usually triggers the onset of fibromyalgia, but there are cases where symptoms gradually become worse without any triggers. Although researchers are not quite sure about the exact causes behind this painful condition, they believe it has something to do with how our brain processes different nerve signals.

Read on to learn what we know about fibromyalgia so far, the possible causes, and how to deal with this painful disorder.

The Most Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The typical fibromyalgia symptoms include widespread pain, chronic fatigue, and cognitive impairment.

Fibromyalgia pain is dull, and it occurs throughout your body. That means both sides, below and above the waist. Because the perceived pain is not sharp, people sometimes don’t seek immediate medical attention and try to manage their constant aches at home. 

In addition to widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia experience chronic fatigue. They often wake up tired even though they get enough sleep. Or their sleep is commonly disturbed by pain, and they wake up frequently throughout the night, causing them to feel tired. In addition, accompanying sleep disorders like restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea are common.

Lastly, people with fibromyalgia have cognitive difficulties that make it difficult to focus and concentrate on mental tasks. That impairs their mental functioning and the ability to retain information, causing a drop in their work and academic performance.

In addition to these symptoms, fibromyalgia often goes hand in hand with other disorders like:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Tension headaches
• Migraines
• Postural tachycardia syndrome
• Arthritis

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

According to the estimates, around four million people have fibromyalgia in the US. Symptoms usually appear during middle age, and this condition is twice as prevalent in women. In addition, fibromyalgia sometimes runs in families, suggesting that genetic factors play a part in the onset of this condition.

However, we are still not sure what causes fibromyalgia. Some doctors think that our central nervous systems are to blame, as they create a distorted perception of pain. In a sense, our brain amplifies incoming pain signals and misreads the neuron impulses unrelated to pain, causing constant discomfort.

Fibromyalgia typically develops after a traumatic event such as:

• Injury
• Operation
• Car accident
• Having a viral infection
• Giving birth
• Death of a loved one
• Emotional or physical abuse
• Premature birth

How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?

Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms overlap with many other conditions, and it usually develops with other health disorders. The treatment for fibromyalgia aims to alleviate the pain and other symptoms and make everyday tasks more manageable. However, there is no cure for this condition.

The doctor will usually recommend a variety of treatments, medications, and lifestyle changes to identify what works best for you. They may suggest activities such as swimming, hydrotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, exercise programs, and relaxation techniques to ease the symptoms and improve the quality of your life.

Chiropractic care is another treatment approach, as it can help regain skeletal integrity. Chiropractic adjustments and light stretches can help you minimize the pressure, manage pain, and improve sleep. For the best treatment option, contact Joint and Spine Center, led by Dr. Jeffrey Pruski.