The central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) transmits information all over your body through a network of specialised cells. Changes in the way this system works may explain why fibromyalgia results in constant feelings of, and extreme sensitivity to, pain.
Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, and you may find that even the slightest touch is painful. If you hurt yourself, such as stubbing your toe, the pain may continue for much longer than it normally would.
The pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress. This condition is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50.
Nature of the pain: Words commonly used to describe fibromyalgia pain include aching, dull, numbing, burning, tingling, pins-and-needles, throbbing, pounding, shooting, sharp, stabbing, blinding, knife-like, needle-like, and others.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that is often a lifelong condition. But fibromyalgia is not a progressive disease, meaning it will not get worse over time. It also does not cause damage to your joints, muscles, or organs. Taking steps to treat fibromyalgia can help relieve your 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.
Your fibromyalgia may 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. But the longer you live with it, the lower your chances of remission.
It is rare that a person with fibromyalgia would need to visit a hospital's emergency department. If you feel that you need an injection to help control the pain or the pain is different this time, check with your doctor before going to the hospital.
Cognitive symptoms are often referred to as brain fog or fibro fog. These specific symptoms may include concentration problems, memory issues (especially short-term), difficulty with information retention, and a general feeling of being in a fog mentally.
The most helpful treatment approach for fibromyalgia is a combination of self-care, physical activity and cognitive-behavioral therapy. But medication may also be needed.
Fibromyalgia pain differs from general chronic widespread pain in many ways. Fibromyalgia pain is not only characterized by its widespread musculoskeletal pain, but the fatigue, cognitive difficulties and other symptoms it causes (i.e. headaches, depression, restless leg syndrome, etc.).
It can happen anywhere in your body. Chronic pain can interfere with your daily activities, such as working, having a social life and taking care of yourself or others. It can lead to depression, anxiety and trouble sleeping, which can make your pain worse. This response creates a cycle that's difficult to break.
Persistent pain is very complex and may be caused by a number of factors. It may occur alongside conditions such as arthritis, diabetes or fibromyalgia. It may occur after an injury or trauma to the body has healed. And in some cases the cause is not known.
Acetaminophen is generally a safe option to try first for many types of pain, including chronic pain. Ask your health care provider for guidance about other medications to avoid while taking acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is not as effective as NSAIDs for the treatment of knee and hip pain related to osteoarthritis.
Try stress management techniques, such as deep-breathing exercises or meditation. Sleep hygiene. Because fatigue is one of the main components of fibromyalgia, getting good quality sleep is essential.
The condition affects muscles, tendons and ligaments and results in widespread pain, fatigue, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and myriads of other debilitating symptoms that make life difficult for patients. There is in addition extreme sensitivity to pain.
Exercise, but don't overdo it
Getting low-intensity exercise during a flare-up is crucial. Don't lie in bed all day. Get your body moving in the gentlest way possible.
Play mind games. Biofeedback, deep breathing, meditation, self-hypnosis, or even just distracting yourself with a good book or some soothing music can help take your mind off the pain and make coping with a flare more manageable, say experts at the National Fibromyalgia Association. Pace yourself.
You can get disability benefits for fibromyalgia if your symptoms are severe enough that you're unable to work. However, even if your condition does technically qualify, it's worth noting that the process of securing benefits can still be challenging.
You should expect to manage fibromyalgia symptoms for a long time — maybe for the rest of your life. Some people with fibromyalgia experience fewer flare-ups with milder symptoms after they find treatments that work for them.
Although large-scale studies are still needed to confirm their effectiveness, the newest FDA-approved treatments for fibromyalgia include Quell and milnacipran. Quell is an over-the-counter transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator intended to be used for pain relief.
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.