You don’t have to suffer from the intense pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia, because Gonzalo Gonzales, Jr., MD is a pain management specialist who can help. Practicing in Plano, Texas at Texas Clinic Pain & Spine, Dr. Gonzales offers personalized and attentive pain relief for a variety of conditions, including fibromyalgia. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
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:
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.
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:
Gender makes a difference, too, as 80-90% of fibromyalgia cases are women.
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:
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.