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Would you believe someone if they told you there was a condition that impacted 4 million Americans, roughly 2% of the country’s adult population, and doctors didn’t know exactly what caused it? You should believe them, because that exact scenario is the case with fibromyalgia, an often-debilitating pain condition. If you often feel widespread musculoskeletal pain, you may be a part of those 4 million currently suffering and dealing with symptoms.
Thankfully, pain management can help fibromyalgia patients cope with their pain and continue to lead fulfilling lives. Learn more about fibromyalgia, its symptoms, treatment options, and what exactly is behind this condition and get help with your pain.
Are you currently feeling widespread pain accompanied by other fibromyalgia symptoms? If so, come see Diane Parks, NP and the team at The Well for Health in Mooresville, North Carolina. Our team’s goal is to create and execute specific treatment plans to reduce our patients’ pain quickly and effectively. Our team combines their know-how to apply a multi-disciplinary approach to treat and address your pain. We know that empathetic and thorough care yields the best results.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurologic condition most commonly characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Contemporary research indicates that it alters the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals, effectively amplifying painful sensations. Patients most often complain of a constant dull pain, like a four or five on a ten-point scale. Although this pain is the most common indication of fibromyalgia, other symptoms include:
Fibromyalgia may also cause emotional problems and has been linked to depression and anxiety.
Researchers don’t know exactly what causes this condition. Despite that, there are some common triggers among fibromyalgia patients. The most common of these is a significant physical event, like a surgery, infection, or physical trauma. Severe emotional events or trauma are also a known cause. As with many conditions, there is also a genetic component to the condition, although fibromyalgia cannot solely be caused by genes.
The two largest risk factors are age and gender. Fibromyalgia can occur in people of any age, but most patients are diagnosed at middle age or later. The older you are, the most likely you are to have this condition. When it comes to gender, 80-90% of fibromyalgia patients are women. Other risk factors include the following:
Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disorder, but is more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune issues.
At The Well for Health, your pain specialist develops an individualized treatment plan based on your symptoms and health history. We’ve found that medications, including over-the-counter pain medications, antidepressants, or anti-seizure drugs, often alleviate pain and reduce fatigue by improving your sleep. Your pain specialist may also recommend three types of therapy – physical and occupational therapy, coupled with outside counseling to help you develop techniques that give you more control over your body and pain.
To learn more about fibromyalgia and your treatment options, book an appointment online or over the phone with The Well for Health today.
