What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and complex musculoskeletal condition that causes pain and tenderness in the tissues of your body. While symptoms can fluctuate over time, trigger points on your body can be so sensitive that the slightest touch can cause intense pain.
In addition to pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, fibromyalgia symptoms also include:
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritable or overactive bladder
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Fatigue and cognitive difficulties
- Migraines and tension headaches
- Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
Approximately 10 million Americans have fibromyalgia. It’s most common in women but can occur in everyone of all ages, even children.
When left unmanaged, fibromyalgia can lead to depression and isolation.
What causes fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but might be due to changes in your brain. As your nerves and receptors grow more sensitive to stimulation, your brain begins overreacting to the pain signals it receives.
Several factors increase your risk of developing fibromyalgia, including:
- Family history
- Certain infections
- Physical or emotional trauma
- Some medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
Gender makes a difference, too, as 80-90% of fibromyalgia cases are women.
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed and treated?
There isn’t a medical test to diagnose fibromyalgia, but Dr. Gonzales might perform blood testing to rule out other underlying conditions. Fibromyalgia can often be diagnosed based on several criteria and symptoms, for example, if you’ve had pain for more than three months with no underlying cause.
To help manage your condition, Dr. Gonzales develops a personalized treatment strategy that includes medications and physical therapy. Medications used to manage fibromyalgia symptoms include:
- Antidepressants
- Antiseizure medications
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
Besides drug therapy, fibromyalgia is very responsive to lifestyle changes and physical therapy to improve your flexibility, strength, and stamina. Other therapies might include regular exercise, yoga, medication, and massage therapy as well as getting enough sleep.
If certain foods make your symptoms worse, Dr. Gonzales might also suggest dietary changes that incorporate fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and reducing your sugar intake.
There isn’t a cure for fibromyalgia, but Dr. Gonzales can help manage your symptoms. Call Texas Clinic Pain & Spine or schedule an appointment online today.
