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.
Regular, low-intensity exercise, such as walking or warm-water exercise, is one of the best treatments for fibromyalgia. It helps decrease pain and stiffness, reduce stress, and may increase your sense of control over fibromyalgia. You may also sleep better.
The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are: Chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or at multiple sites. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing.
What Does a Fibromyalgia Attack Feel Like? A fibromyalgia attack is also known as a flare-up. An attack can come on suddenly and cause mild to severe pain. These attacks may cause aching, burning, throbbing, or stabbing.
US adults with fibromyalgia may have complications such as: More hospitalizations. If you have fibromyalgia you are twice as likely to be hospitalized as someone without fibromyalgia.
Similarly, further studies show that this disorder weakens our brain's immune system. It does this by reducing the blood flow in the brain's pain center, hence affecting the neuron receptors. This eventually leads to increased pain and stress levels and a weak immune system that is incapable of fighting off bacteria.
Exercise. As extreme tiredness (fatigue) and pain are 2 of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, you may find that you're not able to exercise as much as you would like. But an exercise programme specially suited to your condition can help you manage your symptoms and improve your overall health.
Fibromyalgia causes pain all throughout your body. It can also make you feel fatigued and like your mind is clouded by a fog. There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but your healthcare provider will help you find a combination of treatments that 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.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are FDA-approved to specifically treat fibromyalgia.
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.
Fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time. Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
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.
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.
Yes! The muscle pain, fatigue, inability to sleep and other symptoms can make it impossible to work in the job you are qualified for. That's the standard that must be proved to win an insurance claim. Successful TPD claims have been won for fibromyalgia against many different super policies.
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; ...
Extreme sensitivity
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.
In general, fibromyalgia is life-long but not deadly, however, complications of fibromyalgia include higher death rates from suicide and injuries. A 2010 study found the risk of death from suicide was ten times higher in fibromyalgia patients than in the general population.
The divorce rate was 10.9% among those without fibromyalgia, and approximately 38% in those with fibromyalgia or the intermediate syn- drome.
Provide them with emotional support
Fibro can be emotionally difficult for sufferers; it can have an impact on mental health as well as physical health. You can play an important part here and be there to support your friend or family member for emotional back up and a person to listen to their worries and concerns.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are associated with physical inactivity such as excessive sitting. Physical inactivity itself produces increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, factors present in fibromyalgia. Therefore, increasing physical activity should benefit patients with fibromyalgia.