Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain Fibromyalgia is a generalized pain condition. However, due to the pain associated with this condition along with fatigue, patients may find exercise and daily physical activity more difficult. Lack of exercise can naturally result in weight gain.
Unfortunately, it's easy for chronic pain patients to gain weight. Chronic pain patients are often in too much pain to get up and cook a healthy meal or exercise, so the pounds can add up after years of battling chronic pain.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized primarily by chronic pain, fatigue, many times with significant weight gain, and sleep disturbance that affects approximately 3-8% of the general population (1–3).
Available evidence suggests that obesity is common in FMS. Studies report that 32%–50% of FMS patients are obese and additional 21–28% are overweight [39; 40; 61].
There is not significant research at this time to support that Fibromyalgia as a condition is the sole cause of weight gain. Fibromyalgia is a generalized pain condition. However, due to the pain associated with this condition along with fatigue, patients may find exercise and daily physical activity more difficult.
Or your thyroid, which regulates metabolism, could be dysfunctional. That can slow the body's ability to burn calories. Plus, the condition itself causes a metabolic slowdown. “Fibromyalgia patients have a 25% lower metabolism, on average, than someone without fibromyalgia of the same age and body weight,” Dr.
Diet. Some experts say what you eat may play a role in fibromyalgia -- just not the same role for everyone. Certain foods and ingredients -- such as aspartame, MSG, caffeine, and tomatoes -- seem to worsen symptoms for some people.
Weight loss also takes some of the pain out of fibromyalgia. Losing about three body mass index points (BMI) reduced fibromyalgia symptoms in a research study published in Clinical Rheumatology.
People with fibromyalgia should generally avoid activities that involve fast, sudden movements and high impact activities, such as running and jumping, although some people may progress to this level of activity.
There are no lab tests that can diagnose fibromyalgia. However, because many other conditions have symptoms similar to those or fibromyalgia, your doctor may order tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Experts typically recommend any low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physical therapist on exercises specifically aimed at reducing pain and stiffness and improving function.
It's very possible that people with FM are aging more rapidly than usual; the reduced physical activity that comes with FM by itself could be causing that.
Fibromyalgia isn't a progressive disease, so it doesn't get worse over time and may even improve. It's never fatal, and it won't harm the joints, muscles, or internal organs. Medications may help relieve some—but not all—symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Results: There were four parent stages of FM identified and labeled: 1) regional FM with classic symptoms; 2) generalized FM with increasing widespread pain and some additional symptoms; 3) FM with advanced and associated conditions, increasing widespread pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; ...
Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, so genetic factors are likely to contribute to the disorder, but little is known for sure about the specific genes involved. Researchers believe that environmental (nongenetic) factors also play a role in a person's risk of developing the disorder.
Magnesium
Not only is it credited with keeping the heart, kidneys and bones strong, it also helps us avoid muscle spasms, weakness and back pain, Dr. Teitelbaum says. Women with fibromyalgia may be deficient in magnesium, studies suggest. And magnesium may help relieve fibro pain and other symptoms.
The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. Normal painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) aren't recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Drinking water can indeed help with managing fibromyalgia symptoms. Dehydration can lead to increased pain and fatigue, common symptoms of fibromyalgia. By staying hydrated, you can help prevent these symptoms from worsening. “Staying well-hydrated is a key part of managing fibromyalgia symptoms.
Common clinical features of fibromyalgia that may be influenced by neurogenic inflammation include cutaneous manifestations, local soft tissue swelling and fluid retention, reticular skin discoloration and livedo reticularis, and increased levels of fibronectin, which is a tissue marker of endothelial activation.
Over-exertion
But overdoing, even when you feel good, will usually come back to bite you in the form of a fibro flare. It's better to increase your activity level gradually so that hopefully you'll have more good days with fewer setbacks.
Your fibromyalgia may go away
But does FMS ever really go away? Recent research suggests that it may. If you've been suffering from FMS for two years or less and have relatively mild symptoms, you stand a good chance (up to 80%) of remission, meaning your symptoms will disappear.