Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Chronic Awareness

Raise awareness about chronic illnesses by understanding their impact, symptoms, and the importance of support and education.

  • Fibromyalgia vs. Lupus: What’s the Difference?

    Fibromyalgia vs. Lupus: What’s the Difference?

    Fibromyalgia and lupus are both chronic diseases with no cure, can both cause some similar symptoms, and can both take a long time to get the right diagnosis. But fibromyalgia — often called fibro — and lupus are two very distinct health conditions with very different causes and treatments, despite having some features in common.

    Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that involves widespread inflammation and impacts many organs throughout the body. Fibromyalgia a disorder that causes widespread chronic pain and tenderness. Unlike lupus, fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory or autoimmune disease.

    Still, many signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia and lupus overlap and it’s not uncommon for fibromyalgia to be misdiagnosed as lupus, says rheumatologist George Stojan, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Both fibromyalgia and lupus can cause muscle/joint pain, brain fog, and fatigue. Both are also more likely to occur in younger and middle-aged women.

    Interestingly, another factor that makes fibromyalgia and lupus difficult to differentiate from each other is that some people have both at the same time. “Having both lupus and fibromyalgia is extremely common,” says Dr. Stojan. “In our cohort here at Hopkins about 30 percent of lupus patients have fibromyalgia too.”

    People with other rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis are also at an increased risk of also having fibromyalgia.

    Read more to learn about the different symptoms of fibromyalgia vs. lupus, how fibromyalgia and lupus are each diagnosed, and how treatments for fibromyalgia and lupus differ.

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    The Basics of Fibromyalgia

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 4 million American adults have fibromyalgia. While doctors don’t know what causes fibromyalgia, it is a disorder in which people often experience widespread chronic pain and sensitivity to touch, in addition to many other symptoms (more on this below).

    Unlike lupus, fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease, which occurs when then body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your own cells and tissues. Fibromyalgia is not related to inflammation, nor is it a joint or muscle disorder caused by physical injury.

    People at higher risk of fibromyalgia include women, the middle-aged, and those with certain diseases, including different types of arthritis, or a family history of fibro. While fibro can impair your quality of life, it doesn’t damage your tissues and organs, or cause medical problems like heart disease. It is not life-threatening.

    Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

    Widespread musculoskeletal pain all over the body

    Fibro’s hallmark symptom is persistent pain in soft tissues and muscles all over the body. It may involve tender points, or areas of tenderness in specific parts of body. Frequently described as a deep ache, fibro pain may move around, persist for long periods, and disappear.

    Fatigue

    More than nine in 10 fibromyalgia patients experience exhaustion. Fatigue can be especially noticeable when you first wake up in the morning, even when you’ve gotten plenty of sleep; light activity can make pain and fatigue worse.

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    Cognitive issues

    People with fibro can have difficulty concentrating or switching between tasks, frequently referred to as “fibro fog.”

    Tension or migraine headache

    More than half of patients with fibromyalgia have frequent headaches.

    Weird body sensations

    Some people with fibro report tingling, burning, numbness, or creepy-crawly sensations in both arms or legs.

    Other symptoms

    Fibromyalgia patients often also have irritable bowel symptoms, pelvic pain, and jaw/facial pain.

    Read more here about fibromyalgia symptoms.

    The Basics of Lupus

    The Lupus Foundation estimates that 1.5 million people in America have a form of lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system cells — which are supposed to protect the body from different germs — start treating normal, healthy cells like invaders, attacking them and causing flare-ups that can affect the joints, skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and almost any other system in the body.

    Women of childbearing age (between 15 and 44) are at the highest risk of developing lupus, according to the CDC; some 90 percent of people with lupus are women. People of color — particularly African Americans — are at a higher risk of lupus than white people are, and the disease tends to affect populations differently. Native American and black patients tend to have higher mortality rates than white patients, while Hispanic and Asian patients have a lower risk of lupus.

    There are several types of lupus, but most people refer to the most common form: systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as SLE. About 70 percent of people with lupus have SLE, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus can cause a range of complications; some, such as heart disease and kidney disease, can be severe and even life-threatening without early and proper medical treatment. Regular medical care that utilizes an integrated team of specialists is important to help lupus patients avoid life-potentially serious complications.

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    Common Symptoms of Lupus

    Painful, swollen joints

    These are usually far from the center of your body, such as joints in the fingers, toes, ankles, wrists, knees, and elbows.

    Swelling around the eyes and extremities

    Kidney inflammation can cause fluid retention that can make ankles, feet, legs, hands, and sometimes eyelids feel puffy and swollen.

    Unintentional weight loss (or sometimes gain due to swelling)

    Unexplained weight loss — not due to dieting, other illness, or medication side effects — can be a sign of lupus. On the other hand, weight gain caused by fluid retention can also be a sign of the disease.

    Rashes and skin lesions

    The characteristic rash across the cheeks and nose (called a malar rash) is one of the most recognized symptoms of lupus, although a similar-looking rash can also occur in other skin issues. Another type of lupus skin issue is a discoid rash that causes raised, red, and scaly patches.

    Sensitivity to sunlight and cold temperatures

    Sun exposure can cause a lupus rash to develop or flare. People with lupus are also at risk of developing Raynaud’s, a condition in which the small blood vessels in the hands and feet suddenly constrict when exposed to cold or stress.

    Other lupus symptoms include fever; neuropsychiatric issues such as depression, anxiety, seizures, or psychosis; brain fog; fatigue; headaches (including migraine-like attacks); mouth ulcers; kidney problems; and chest pain.

    Read more here about lupus symptoms.

    Symptoms that Lupus and Fibromyalgia Have in Common

    • Pain
    • Cognitive issues
    • Fatigue
    • Headaches

    Key Ways Fibromyalgia and Lupus Are Different

    Despite the similarities in some of the symptoms, there are a few clear differences doctors and patients should be on the lookout for, says Dr. Stojan.

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    1. The nature of fatigue: Fatigue is common during a lupus flare, but it will subside once the attack is over, says Dr. Stojan. In fibromyalgia, however, exhaustion is more chronic — it’s less likely to come and go.

    2. The nature of pain: Although both fibromyalgia and lupus can cause muscle and joint pain, lupus pain persists until it’s treated, says Dr. Stojan. The pain of fibromyalgia comes and goes. “The transient quality of the symptoms is a reliable sign that pain is not related to lupus,” he says.

    3. Whether skin is involved: Fibromyalgia doesn’t cause nose and/or mouth ulcers or rashes like lupus does, such as the typical “butterfly” rash on the cheeks and bridge of the nose that can pop up during a lupus flare.

    4. Whether there is inflammation: In lupus, a patient’s immune system starts to attack organs and other body tissues, leading to widespread inflammation that will likely show up in lab tests or imaging, says Dr. Stojan. Fibromyalgia, on the other hand, does not cause inflammation.

    Getting the Right Diagnosis

    There are no definitive tests for either fibromyalgia or lupus, so differentiating between the two relies mostly on a thorough history of your symptoms, a physical exam, and sometimes blood tests or imaging to rule out other conditions. Read more here about how fibromyalgia is diagnosed.

    Your doctor will ask you to describe your pain — and if they suspect fibromyalgia, may perform a “tenderness” test, pressing on several parts of your body to gauge where the tenderness is, and how severe it is.

    Your doctor will likely also ask whether you experience fatigue, wake up tired every morning, or have trouble concentrating or experience brain fog — and for how long you’ve had these symptoms.

    Your doctor may order some blood tests in order to rule out diseases that can cause fatigue, such as hypothyroidism type 2 diabetes. They may order blood tests to check for levels of inflammation in the body or for antibodies that could signal an autoimmune disease. One test ordered to help confirm or rule out lupus is the blood test for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). A positive test can be one sign of lupus, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have it. “ANA is a very common marker people have in the blood. Almost one-third of people in the U.S. will test positive — and that alone doesn’t mean you have lupus,” Dr. Stojan says. However, most people who have lupus will have a positive test.

    If you have a positive ANA test and other signs that point to lupus, your doctor may do additional antibody tests that help confirm or rule out the illness.

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    Your doctor may also order imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs to narrow down the cause of your symptoms. Neither fibromyalgia or lupus cause erosion in the joints (the way rheumatoid arthritis does) or visible inflammation of the lower back (the way axial spondyloarthritis does).

    Treatment for Fibromyalgia vs. Lupus

    Neither disease has a cure, but medication can treat symptoms and help prevent serious lupus complications. The medications used to treat lupus are very different from those used to treat fibromyalgia.

    For fibro patients: Some drugs commonly used to treat depression, called antidepressants, may ease pain and fatigue; these include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella). Anti-seizure medications, frequently prescribed to people with epilepsy, can also help manage pain in fibromyalgia. Among these, the FDA has specifically approved pregabalin (Lyrica) for the treatment of fibro.

    For lupus patients: Many different types of medications can be used to treat lupus, including:

    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and inflammation
    • Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, a malaria drug that is also useful at treating lupus flares, joint pain, and skin rashes
    • Glucocorticoids, or steroids, to relieve inflammation and treat flares
    • Immunosuppressive medications, such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, mycophenalate mofetil
    • Targeted biologics, such as rituximab (Rituxan) and belimumab (Benlysta), which reduce the activity of the immune system by targeting specific immune cells
    • Other medications to help manage complications of lupus, including those for cholesterol, blood pressure, osteoporosis, and others

    Patients with lupus and fibro can also benefit from healthy lifestyle practices, too, including:

    • Exercise: Regular physical activity can help manage symptoms of fibro or lupus, and may improve mood, fitness and function. Swimming, walking, tai chi, and yoga are smart options. Exercise can be very important in helping people with lupus reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease complications. Consult a health care provider or physical therapist about a new exercise regimen, so it can be adapted to individual needs.
    • Diet: Though there is no specific diet recommended for lupus or fibro, a healthy eating plan may boost your immune system, help manage co-existing conditions, and promote overall good health. Read more about a following a healthy diet for lupus and a healthy diet for fibromyalgia.
    • Sleep: Getting adequate rest is vital for both conditions. It’s recommended that adults between ages 18 and 64 should aim for seven to nine hours nightly.
    • Complementary practices: Some patients report that activities like meditation, acupuncture, deep breathing, and massage help them relax and ease symptoms.

    While lupus and fibro may have some symptoms in common, they are ultimately distinct conditions with very different causes and treatments. Visiting a health care provider can help you get to the bottom of your symptoms quickly and begin the correct therapies. The faster you start, the faster you can start feeling better.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Symptoms: 10 Clues You Might Be Ignoring

    Fibromyalgia Symptoms: 10 Clues You Might Be Ignoring

    If you’ve had a nagging sore throat, your doctor may take a swab to check for strep. If you’re suffering from a high fever and bad cough, your doctor may order a chest X-ray to look for pneumonia. But not all diagnoses are that straightforward.

    Case in point: Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread chronic pain — as well as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties — is often challenging for a physician to pinpoint.

    “Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because there’s no gold standard test like an X-ray or blood work,” says Lenore Brancato, MD, a board-certified rheumatologist at NYU Langone Ambulatory Care in New Hyde Park, New York. “It’s a diagnosis of exclusion, which means you first have to rule out other diseases that may be causing symptoms. It’s not a cookie-cutter condition.”

    Fibromyalgia is also a diagnosis that’s been subject to change. Back in 1990, when the first diagnostic criteria were set by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), a doctor had to find the following elements in order to say their patient had fibromyalgia: pain in at least 11 of 18 designated “tender points” throughout the body, plus a history of widespread pain lasting more than three months.

    In 2010, however, those diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia were updated to eliminate the tender point requirement and instead focus on findings that a patient has widespread pain, as well as sleep disruptions, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties.

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    Whereas the validity of fibromyalgia as a diagnosis was once questioned in the medical community — leading to a stigma it’s still overcoming — ongoing research has led to a number of possible explanations for physical causes of fibromyalgia (ranging from genetics to physical triggers) and mechanisms (involving the central nervous system).

    What we know for sure is that fibromyalgia affects approximately 2 percent of adults in the United States, and your risk of developing the condition increases if you are middle-aged or older and have been diagnosed with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You may also be at a higher risk if you are female (most fibromyalgia patient are women), have suffered a trauma or repetitive injury, or if you are obese.

    But statistics and risk factors can’t describe how fibromyalgia actually feels to the person living with it. What follows are the descriptions doctors hear patients use when they talk about both usual and less common symptoms of fibromyalgia.

    Widespread pain

    While every fibromyalgia patient is different, their descriptions of overwhelming, debilitating pain throughout the entire body are very common. “My patients report feeling sore and stiff with an achy pain that goes from the top of their head to their toenails,” says Christopher Morris, MD, a board-certified rheumatologist with Arthritis Associates in Kingsport, Tennessee, and a fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. “They tell me the pain is in the muscles and soft tissues rather than joints.” Dr. Brancato hears similar concerns, with some of her patients saying the pain is lacerating, “like being cut by knives.”

    Sensitivity to touch

    Fibromyalgia could also make you overly sensitive to touch and temperature. “If you’re a patient with fibromyalgia, and someone brushes up against you in a crowded room it can be very painful,” says Dr. Brancato. “I’ll hear that my female patients can’t tolerate a massage.” Even though the stimulus is taken away, like removing your hand from a hot stove, the pain can continue, she explains.

    Sleep issues

    If you have fibromyalgia, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. “My patients say they toss and turn, or their mind wanders,” Dr. Brancato says. “I’ll hear that my patients wake up throughout the night and end up feeling as tired as when they went to bed,” Dr. Morris adds.

    Daytime fatigue

    One of the most common issues for fibromyalgia patients is fatigue. “It’s exhausting for them,” says Dr. Brancato. “If you ask a patient how they feel in the morning, you’ll hear they felt awful, they never feel ready to go, they feel like they can’t get their head above water.”

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    Cognitive problems

    “My patients describe having a ‘fibro fog,’” says Dr. Morris. “They have a hard time concentrating.” For her part, Dr. Brancato sees a lot of memory problems. “If you tell a fibromyalgia patient three things during an office visit, then ask them to recall them later during the same visit, they have difficulty,” she explains. “With fibromyalgia, short-term recall can be very poor.”

    Depression and anxiety

    For many patients, fibromyalgia may also bring feelings of sadness and other negative moods. Some researchers suspect a connection between fibromyalgia and certain types of chronic anxiety and depression.

    Headaches

    Though less common, headaches can occur among fibromyalgia symptoms. “Stress- and tension-type headaches tend to travel with fibromyalgia,” Dr. Brancato reports, adding that they can be triggered differently than in patients without fibromyalgia. “These headaches can be induced by regular sounds, background music, or even odors like perfumes.”

    Digestive issues

    Fibromyalgia can sometimes occur alongside digestive problems, such as bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), says the CDC.

    Pelvic floor dysfunction

    Some patients with fibromyalgia might also have an increased incidence of interstitial cystitis, says Dr. Brancato. This condition can cause chronic pain or pressure in the bladder and pelvis.

    Jaw and facial pain

    It’s possible for fibromyalgia to be linked to pain in the muscles of the jaw and face (temporomandibular joint disorder) or to myofascial (skeletal muscle) pain in one part of the body. Such occurrences could be considered forms of regional or localized or incomplete fibromyalgia.

    Fibromyalgia and Arthritis: What’s the Link?

    The relationship between fibromyalgia and different types of arthritis can be complicated. For one thing, there’s misdiagnosis: Depending on how your symptoms present, you could be told you have fibromyalgia when you actually have a kind of arthritis, or vice versa. Read about how ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia can be mistaken for each other, for example.

    At the same time, having a painful chronic disease like arthritis may in turn trigger the onset of fibromyalgia. Inflammatory diseases like arthritis can affect the way your central nervous system processes pain, creating a double-whammy of having both diseases at the same time.

    If you suspect your combination of symptoms could be fibromyalgia, it’s a good idea to start with your primary care doctor. Because fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion, you’ll likely need a through physical exam, blood tests, and imaging tests to figure out what could be causing your symptoms. 

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Is There a Difference Between Having Ankylosing Spondylitis with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis with Back Pain? A New Study Says Yes

    Is There a Difference Between Having Ankylosing Spondylitis with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis with Back Pain? A New Study Says Yes

    Having AS with psoriasis may have some things in common with psoriatic arthritis, but research shows these are two distinct conditions.

    About 25% of people who have an autoimmune condition develop at least one more; some people live with three, four, or more. In fact, certain pairs of inflammatory diseases commonly occur together.

    For one, people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (also known as axial spondyloarthritis) — which is best-known for causing chronic lower back pain — are also more likely to have psoriasis — an autoimmune disease that manifests in the form of scaly red and silvery skin patches. That combination might sound pretty similar to the autoimmune condition psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which, by definition, is a form of inflammatory arthritis that typically causes joint pain as well as skin plaques.

    To further add to the confusion, PsA is considered part of the same family of rheumatic diseases as ankylosing spondylitis — they’re both considered types of spondyloarthritis, which is an umbrella term for a group of types of arthritis that have similar traits in common.

    And while most psoriatic arthritis patients develop arthritis in the small joints of the fingers and toes, the joints in the back can sometimes be impacted. PsA patients who have arthritis in the back or sacroiliac joints in the pelvis may be told that they have “axial PsA.”

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    If the sometimes overlapping details of these conditions are making you wonder if people with AS and psoriasis really have axial PsA, you’re in good company. Researchers at the University of Toronto weren’t sure, either. To find out, they compared data on more than 2,000 patients. One group had been diagnosed with AS and psoriasis; another had been diagnosed with axial PsA; and a third had only been diagnosed with AS (without psoriasis).

    According to their findings, which appear in the journal Rheumatology, axial PsA is not, in fact, the same thing as AS plus psoriasis.

    The researchers found that AS patients (with or without psoriasis) were more apt to be male, more likely to be positive for HLA-B27 (a genetic marker), and much more likely than those with PsA to report back pain as a chief complaint.

    “AS patients, with or without psoriasis, seem to be different demographically, genetically, clinically, and radiographically from [axial PsA] patients. [Axial PsA] seems to be a distinct entity,” they concluded.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Does Fibromyalgia Cause Back Pain?

    Does Fibromyalgia Cause Back Pain?

    Fibromyalgia — a disorder that causes widespread chronic pain and tenderness — affects 2 to 4 percent of women and men in the United States (women ages 20 to 50 are the most affected) and impacts patients in many different ways.

    Thus, fibromylagia remains mysterious, and questions still linger — like why are more women affected by fibromyalgia than men? And why is fibromyalgia so hard to diagnose and treat? Why do some patients with fibromyalgia have more back pain than others?

    “What causes fibromyalgia has puzzled many scientists for a long time,” says Elena Schiopu, MD, a rheumatologist and internist at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. While the exact cause of fibromyalgia isn’t certain, doctors do know that the disorder can be triggered by an injury, surgery, infection, psychological trauma (like an extremely stressful period), or even just from an accumulation of symptoms that leads to the eventual classification of fibromyalgia.

    The reason for the heightened pain? Fibromyalgia may affect the way your brain interprets pain signals. “Fibromyalgia is basically a miscommunication between the central, peripheral, and autonomic [vegetative] nervous system, which results in abnormal or amplified sensations,” says Dr. Schiopu. This is known as central pain sensitization. It causes your nervous system to become “wound up” and in a constant state of hyperactivity, which creates a lower threshold for experiencing pain.

    When you poke someone without fibromyalgia, for example, it might be no big deal, but for someone with fibro, that same level of touch can cause significant pain or discomfort.

    The Nature of Pain in Fibromyalgia

    Unlike arthritis, in which pain occurs in specific joints, the pain that fibro patients experience is more in the muscles. It’s a widespread pain, which means you feel pain all over you body. According to the latest diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, patients must experience pain in four out of five general regions of the body. These include left upper, right upper, left lower, right lower, and low back.

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    What Causes Back Pain in Fibromyalgia?

    People with fibromyalgia may experience long-term back pain along with a number of other symptoms. “Back pain that’s patient-reported and physician-observed — called paraspinal lumbar tenderness — is very common,” says Dr. Schiopu. “All the areas of the body that are being ‘used’ on a regular basis could hurt, like your hands, neck, or upper or lower back.”

    “The back is a common area to have pain in fibromyalgia because muscles in general are often painful in fibromyalgia, and the human back has a large quantity of muscle fibers to support posture,” says Amanda Sammut, MD, a rheumatologist and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

    Also, says Dr. Schiopu, patients with fibromyalgia could have a degree of wear-and-tear arthritis of the lumbar spine, which is amplified by fibro. In fact, it’s common to have fibro at the same time as other diseases, such as inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis.

    Back Pain in Fibromyalgia: Could It Be Something Else?

    Lower back pain is an extremely common medical complaint — some 80 percent of Americans experience it at some point in their lives. So if you have lower back pain, how do you know if it could be from fibromyalgia or something else?

    The answer is complicated. If you’re experiencing back pain as well as other symptoms, it’s possible you could have a different health problem entirely — or a health problem plus fibromyalgia at the same time.

    Misdiagnoses are common with fibromyalgia — both in terms of not being diagnosed with fibro when you really have it, or in terms of being diagnosed with fibro when you actually have a different health problem.

    “Fibromyalgia is technically an exclusion diagnosis,” says Dr. Schiopu. This means you shouldn’t be diagnosed with fibromyalgia until a doctor has fully ruled out the possibility of having other diseases.

    That’s why a thorough visit with a rheumatologist is critical. If you’ve already been diagnosed with fibromyalgia but find that your current treatment plan isn’t helping your back pain, you could have a different or additional diagnosis, such as one of the following:

    A muscle or ligament strain

    Maybe you lifted a heavy box, strained to reach something in a high cabinet, or picked up your child or grandchild, which could have triggered a back muscle strain. A sudden movement can cause a strain, as well as constant use of your back (like doing repetitive motions), especially if you’re not in good physical shape.

    Axial spondyloarthritis

    If you have lower back pain as well as pain in other places — say, your knees, jaw, neck, or shoulders — it could be from the widespread aches of fibromyalgia, or it could be another condition you may not be familiar with: axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), which is an inflammatory type of arthritis in your spine and the area where your spine meets the pelvis (sacroiliac joints). Back pain is a primary symptom of AxSpA, though it can also affect other joints and areas around your body.

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    AxSpA is often divided into two categories. Radiographic AxSpA (which is often called ankylosing spondylitis), means that evidence of joint damage is visible on X-rays. Non-radiographic AxSpA (nr-AxSpA) is essentially the same condition, but without joint damage being visible on X-rays.

    Fibromyalgia and axial spondyloarthritis are caused by very different things (AxSpA is inflammatory and due to an overactive immune system that’s attacking the joints) and thus have very different treatments. It’s important to get the right diagnosis so you can get on the right treatment and start feeling better.

    Scoliosis

    You may have never realized it, but your spine could curve to the side, a condition known as scoliosis. The physical changes of scoliosis often start in childhood but the condition might not start causing back pain until middle age.

    Bulging discs

    The cushiony discs between your vertebrae may bulge or rupture, which can then put pressure on a nerve in your spine. While some people may not feel any pain when this happens, others may find it excruciating.

    Osteoporosis

    A frustrating part about aging: The vertebrae in your spine may develop compression fractures if your bones become too brittle (a condition known as osteoporosis). These fractures can then lead to back pain.

    Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms Aside from Pain

    While you may experience back pain if you have fibromyalgia, if you’re experiencing back pain alone, and not  other fibromyalgia symptoms, then your pain is likely not due to fibromyalgia, says Dr. Schiopu.

    Sleep problems

    In addition to pain, sleep problems are a big part of patients’ experience with fibromyalgia.
    Even if fibro patients sleep for hours, they still may wake up feeling unrefreshed. That could be due to pain waking people up at night, or they may experience other sleep issues, like restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea. This troubled sleep, in turn, can contribute to debilitating daytime fatigue.

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    Fibro fog

    Many patients with fibromyalgia complain of fibro fog, in which people feel like they can’t concentrate, hold conversations, or even remember certain things, like plans or where they placed objects. One reason for the fibro fog could be lack of sleep. Another explanation is that there is potentially something happening in the brain that’s unique to people with fibromyalgia.

    Co-existing health problems

    Fibromyalgia often co-exists with other ailments, like irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, interstitial cystitis (a painful bladder syndrome), and TMJ (a jaw disorder). “That’s all followed by a slew of hypersensitivity to cold, light, noises, smells,” adds Dr. Schiopu. Thus, it can seem like fibromyalgia patients have a laundry list of health woes, which can be incredibly frustrating.

    How Back Pain in Fibromyalgia Is Treated

    If you have fibromyalgia and are experiencing back pain as a symptom, then you’ll want to come up with a treatment game plan with your doctor. “Gentle stretching, warm pool exercises, and even a supportive belt would help,” says Dr. Schiopu. “Daily strengthening of the lumbar musculature [muscles in the lower back] is key as well,” she adds.

    Fibromyalgia medications may help relieve back pain. Some antidepressant drugs are prescribed to help ease pain and fatigue; these include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella). Anti-seizure medications can also help manage pain in fibromyalgia. Among these, the FDA has specifically approved pregabalin (Lyrica) for the treatment of fibro.

    If you have back pain — especially back pain that’s lasting more than three months and doesn’t improve with your current treatment — it’s important to talk to your doctor about  your symptoms and medical history. Your back pain could be due to fibromyalgia, but it could also stem from various other health issues.

    “If your back pain continues despite medical therapy and despite physical therapy, patients should then consider seeing a rheumatologist or a pain management specialist,” says Dr. Sammut.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Arthritis in Your Wrist: Signs of Wrist Arthritis, and What to Do About It

    Arthritis in Your Wrist: Signs of Wrist Arthritis, and What to Do About It

    When you think of arthritis, you might think of creaky knees or painful, swollen fingers. But if your wrist is feeling swollen and stiff, this wrist pain may be caused by arthritis too.

    The wrist is a complex joint that connects the hand to the forearm. It is formed by the two bones of the forearm — the radius and the ulna — and eight small carpal bones that sit between your fingers and your arm. The carpal bones are arranged in two rows at the base of the hand, with four bones in each row. The joint surface of each bone is covered with articular cartilage, which is a slippery substance that protects and cushions the bones as you move your hand and wrist.

    Arthritis in the wrist is often the cause of wrist pain. According to one estimate, one in seven people, or 13.6 percent, in the United States has wrist arthritis. But the kind of arthritis that affects your wrist might not be so obvious. Two of the most common forms of arthritis — osteoarthritis (OA, or degenerative arthritis caused by wear and tear on the joints) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, an inflammatory type of arthritis caused by inflammation in the joint) — share many symptoms in common. Plus, other, less common forms of inflammatory arthritis affect the wrist that your doctor will need to consider as well.

    “Besides pain, loss of flexibility in the wrist may affect your ability to use your hands to dress, eat, and do many work tasks,” says Steven Eyanson, MD, a retired rheumatologist who was in private practice at Physicians Clinic of Iowa in Cedar Rapids and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

    Learn more about what causes arthritis in the wrist and how arthritis in the wrist is treated.

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    Symptoms of Arthritis in the Wrist

    Not everyone with arthritis in the wrist will experience symptoms. When symptoms do occur, the severity can vary greatly from person to person. For some patients, wrist arthritis symptoms aren’t constant, but may come and go depending on their level of activity and other factors. You may have done something to the wrist — such as repeated overuse, lifting, carrying, or bending — that aggravates it and causes a flare. Then it returns to its baseline.

    “The number one symptom of wrist arthritis is pain,” says Chadwick Hampton, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The pain may be sharp, depending on the motion, says Dr. Eyanson. Or it may be dull and deep if it’s an inflammatory type of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis.

    The other main symptom of wrist arthritis is a change in your grip strength, such as an inability to open jars, use keys, or turn doorknobs.

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    Common signs and symptoms of arthritis of the wrist include:

    • Stiffness
    • Swelling
    • Redness
    • Weakness
    • Joint pain and swelling around joints
    • Difficulty gripping objects
    • Limited or reduced range of motion such as problems washing, combing hair, or brushing teeth
    • Grinding, clicking, or grinding sound when you move

    Types of Arthritis that Can Cause Arthritis in the Wrist

    Many different kinds of arthritis can affect the wrist. Here is more information on four of the most common types.

    Osteoarthritis

    About 30 million Americans have osteoarthritis, which makes it the most common type of arthritis. It’s more common with older age, but it can occur in younger people too, depending on such factors as injuries and genetic risk. In osteoarthritis of the wrist, the smooth, slippery articular cartilage that covers the ends of the bones gradually wears away over time. Since cartilage has little to no blood supply, it has little ability to heal or regenerate when it gets injured or worn down.

    Osteoarthritis in the wrist can also develop from a condition called Kienböck’s disease. Here, the blood supply to one of the carpal bones — the lunate — is disrupted. That causes the bone to deteriorate. Over time, this can lead to structural changes and arthritis in the joints around the lunate.

    Post-traumatic Arthritis

    Post-traumatic arthritis is a common form of osteoarthritis that happens as a result of physical injury to a joint such as from sports, a car accident, a fall, or other trauma. Injuries can damage the bone and/or cartilage, which changes the joint mechanics and makes it wear out more quickly. Post-traumatic arthritis symptoms in the wrist may appear within a few years, or it can take decades for joint damage from an injury to cause pain.

    Rheumatoid Arthritis

    About 1.5 million people in the U.S. have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in joints throughout the body.

    Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by autoimmunity, which is a malfunction in your immune system. Normally, your immune system reacts to any external threats (such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites that could cause disease) by releasing antibodies, white blood cells of various types, and other defense systems. But in autoimmune diseases like RA, your body’s immune system is confused for some reason. It attacks your own healthy tissue when there’s no reason to.

    RA often starts in smaller joints, such as those found in the fingers and wrist. RA is often symmetrical, which means it affects the same joint on both sides of the body. OA, for example, might affect only your right wrist, but RA is more likely to affect both your wrists.

    As RA progresses, it can affect the range of motion and flexibility of the wrist joints. Because RA causes widespread inflammation in your body, it’s not common that wrist pain would be your only symptom. You’re also likely to experience pain in other joints, especially your fingers or toes, as well as fatigue, low-grade fever, and these other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

    Psoriatic Arthritis

    Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is another kind of inflammatory arthritis linked to psoriasis (a disease that causes red, scaly rashes on the skin). Psoriatic arthritis in the wrist might cause similar symptoms to those of RA — pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function — but there may be additional PsA symptoms that occur that are more unique to PsA. People with PsA are likely to have problems with their nails, such as pitting and crumbling, as well as swollen fingers and toes, a condition called dactylitis that makes them appear sausage-like. PsA joint pain is also less likely to be symmetrical than that of RA.

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    Other Possible Causes of Wrist Pain

    Wrist pain is also the main symptom of two other common problems: carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis.

    Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Carpal tunnel occurs when a major nerve in the hand — the median nerve — becomes compressed in the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist that also houses the tendons that bend the fingers. Interestingly, having arthritis raises your risk of developing carpal tunnel, so you could have both conditions at the same time. The nature of the pain in carpal tunnel usually sets it apart from arthritis, though: It often causes numbness and tingling in the first three fingers (thumb, index, and middle finger), as well as these other carpal tunnel symptoms.

    Tendinitis

    Tendons are thick cords that join your muscles to your bones. When tendons become irritated or inflamed, that’s called tendinitis. Tendinitis causes acute pain and tenderness that makes it difficult to move the affected joint. Any tendon can develop tendonitis, but you’re more likely to develop it in your shoulder, knee, elbow, heel, or wrist. The most common cause of tendonitis is a repetitive action. You may develop tendinitis if you make the same motion frequently while playing sports, for example.

    How Arthritis in the Wrist Is Diagnosed

    First, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. During your physical exam, your doctor will examine your wrist for swelling and pain.

    Next, your doctor will examine the range of motion of the wrist itself. Your doctor may have you twist and flex both wrists in every direction to assess your range of motion. They will manipulate your wrist and thumb joints and ask if you feel pain in your wrists and thumbs. This exam can show how mild or severe the arthritis is, or if another condition is causing symptoms, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis.

    If your doctor suspects inflammatory arthritis, they will order blood tests to detect the presence of certain antibodies, such as rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP, which help identify RA and other types of inflammatory arthritis. They may also order blood tests that look for levels of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

    Your doctor may order imaging tests, such as X-rays or MRIs, to assess whether you have joint damage in the wrist.

    Treatment for Arthritis in the Wrist

    Various medications can help relieve inflammation and offer pain relief.

    NSAIDs

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen (all available over the counter) can help relieve pain and inflammation. They’re commonly used to treat pain and stiffness in OA and inflammatory arthritis. NSAIDS don’t slow the progression of arthritis. But they do help treat acute symptoms like pain and inflammation. NSAIDs are also available by prescription at stronger doses for shorter-term use. All NSAIDs, both OTC and prescription, can have significant side effects, including gastrointestinal complications and an increased risk of heart disease, so talk to your doctor about the right dosage and duration for you. Your doctor might also prescribe a topical gel NSAID, which can be helpful if oral medications aren’t helping with the pain. A common one is diclofenac (Voltaren), says Dr. Hampton.

    DMARDs

    If you have an inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate are used as a first-line therapy to help reduce the immune system activity that triggers inflammation and pain. DMARDs are not used for osteoarthritis.

    Oral steroids

    Corticosteroids like prednisone are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that can quickly relieve pain and swelling. “This type of therapy is often employed as a temporary or ‘bridge’ therapy [for inflammatory arthritis] while patients wait for DMARDs to take effect,” says Brian Golden, MD, a rheumatologist and clinical associate professor in the department of medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. It’s best to use corticosteroids in the lowest possible does for short periods of time, as they can cause a range of serious side effects, including bone thinning and high blood sugar.

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    Cortisone injections

    An occasional steroid shot in the wrist can offer temporary pain relief and reduce inflammation. Shots shouldn’t be done repeatedly, as frequent injections can damage cartilage. Many doctors limit cortisone injections in a joint to no more than three or four times a year.

    Biologics

    Biologics are a newer class of DMARD that targets specific immune system pathways to reduce immune system activity that is causing inflammation and pain. They’re used to treat inflammatory types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, and are typically offered after patients haven’t responded to “conventional” DMARDs like methotrexate.

    Exercise for Arthritis in the Wrist

    It’s important to exercise your wrist joints to promote range of motion, improve flexibility, and prevent additional damage. Your doctor will likely send you for physical therapy so you can do these exercises under supervision and then repeat them at home. Your physical therapist can develop a program that’s right for you. “The stronger the muscles are around the joint, the better you’ll feel,” says Dr. Hampton. Here are some range-of-motion exercises, including some for your wrist, which you can try at home.

    In addition to physical therapy, it’s a good idea to do regular cardiovascular and strength training exercises that don’t put too much pressure on your wrist joints. Swimming and water exercises, for example, places less pressure on the joints since water helps supports the body. Tai chi and yoga involve gentle, flowing movements. (Be sure to ask your yoga teacher for modifications that don’t stress your wrist.) Walking is low-impact exercise that’s well-suited to people with arthritis. Avoid any exercises with a pushing movement or that put weight on the wrist (such as a handstand or a bench press) as that could exacerbate your wrist pain, says Dr. Hampton. “You want to stay active,” he says. “Keep the muscles and tendons around the joint strong. That will help with pain.”

    Home Remedies for Arthritis in the Wrist

    You can take some measures at home to ease your wrist pain.

    Wrist splint

    Support braces can help support wrist movements and ease physical stress. They can’t prevent severe injuries, but they can help you do daily activities with less discomfort. You can get a custom-made or over-the-counter splint to cover your wrist or forearm. Dr. Hampton suggests to his patients that they wear the splint at night while they sleep. He says its compression offers pain relief.

    Arthritis gloves

    Some people have found that their symptoms improve when wearing special arthritis gloves. They’re tight, often fingerless, gloves that may improve symptoms.

    Ice and Heat

    Cold therapy can provide relief for inflamed joints in the wrist. Cold constricts the blood vessels in the muscles, which decreases blood flow to the joint area to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Heat therapy warms the skin and the joints, which causes blood vessels to dilate, and sends more oxygen and nutrients to the joints and muscles. Try both and see which makes you feel best.

    Surgery for Arthritis in the Wrist

    Surgery isn’t often needed to treat arthritis in the wrist. But surgery is considered when other treatments don’t relieve pain, wrist arthritis symptoms are severe, or when you can’t use your wrist or hand well. Surgical procedures include the following.

    Proximal row carpectomy

    This is the least invasive of the three kinds of wrist surgery, says Dr. Hampton. The arthritic bones of the wrist joint are removed, which diminishes pain. Motion is preserved because there is no fusion. Proximal row carpectomy is only an option for some types of wrist arthritis. “Not everybody is a candidate,” says Dr. Hampton. It depends on where the arthritis is located. You have two rows of four bones in the wrist. If your arthritis is in the proximal row (the one closer to your arm), then you’re a candidate. If it’s in your distal row (the one closer to your hand), then you’re not a candidate. If your arthritis is in both the distal and proximal rows, then you’ll need a wrist fusion. This surgery can provide pain relief while preserving motion.

    Wrist fusion

    This procedure eliminates all movement at the wrist joint. Wrist fusion secures the bones of the forearm to the bones in the wrist and hand. “You’re trying to fuse all the bones together so they don’t move anymore,” says Dr. Hampton. “Fusions heal, but you lose movement in the wrist. If you’re at the point of getting this surgery, you’re in debilitating pain and you have no other choice. Either you keep living like this or you get rid of the pain and lose your motion.” The surgery provides pain relief, but the loss of motion can prevent you from doing some daily activities like lifting and manual work that involves your hands like carpentry, says David Geier, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and author of That’s Gotta Hurt: The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever.

    Wrist replacement

    This is the most invasive of the three surgeries, says Dr. Hampton. Here, damaged bone is removed and replaced with a metal and plastic implant. Dr. Hampton says this surgery isn’t done often as the implant in the wrist joint hasn’t been perfected like it has been in hip or knee joint replacements. It was done more in the past and not found to always be successful. “The rare circumstances where this procedure is performed involves older, less active patients who are in excruciating pain that’s not relieved by less invasive treatments,” says Dr. Geier.

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  • Is Your Jaw Pain Because of Arthritis? The Signs Your Arthritis Is Affecting Your Jaw

    Is Your Jaw Pain Because of Arthritis? The Signs Your Arthritis Is Affecting Your Jaw

    The connection between arthritis and jaw pain might not be immediately apparent because we often associate arthritis with pain and stiffness in the hands, elbows, or knees. But if you’ve been noticing pain on the sides of your face, arthritis could be the reason.

    “By jaw pain, we mean pain in front of the ear, up as far as the top of the ear, as low as the back part of the jaw and even into the cheek,” says Vivian P. Bykerk, BSc, MD, FRCPC, a rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. “It can feel like tooth pain and you might even think that is what it is.”

    You may also find it hard to open and close your mouth, or that it hurts to eat. “It wants to lock,” Carrie G. told us on Facebook about her jaw pain. “It makes it hard to chew or even get food in.”

    Another arthritis patient, Anne M., has also experienced jaw pain. “I’ve had that once upon a flare — it lasted a good while too, like two weeks or so,” she told us on Facebook. “The worst was in the morning; I remember I dreaded ‘opening’ it first thing.”

    Although jaw pain from arthritis can affect your quality of life — not to mention your enjoyment of food — there are some things you can do to minimize the impact of jaw pain from arthritis.

    What Types of Arthritis Affect the Jaw

    The joint responsible for jaw pain is the temporal mandibular joint (TMJ). “This is where the lower jaw hinges at the level of the ear,” Dr. Bykerk says. Responsible for talking as well as eating, the TMJ is the most frequently used joint in the body. This frequency of use also makes the jaw susceptible to different kinds of arthritis.

    “Like other joints, the TMJ is at risk for osteoarthritis, along with other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis,” says Lauren Levi, DMD, dentist at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects the TMJ.”

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    Some people may be more at risk for arthritis in the jaw than others. “Macro or microtrauma, through grinding or clenching, along with decreased lubrication in the joint may increase the risk for developing arthritis,” Dr. Levi says.

    Stress and chronic pain in the body, such as may occur with arthritis elsewhere, can cause clenching; so in a vicious cycle, jaw pain and arthritis may become a “chicken or the egg” scenario, Dr. Bykerk says.

    “People will clench if they have pain, if they are stressed, or pain can result if they clench too much or grind their teeth, called bruxism,” she says. “If bruxism and clenching go on too long the TMJ can wear out, the cartilage in the joint can break down and degenerative arthritis occurs.”

    Pain conditions including autoimmune or inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis are consistently associated with TMJ disorders.

    Other Possible Causes of Jaw Pain

    You can also feel pain in the jaw from causes that are not related to arthritis. “Pain most commonly results due to muscular and soft tissue tension, such as problems with the myofascial tissue around the jaw,” Dr. Bykerk says. Poor teeth alignment or poor posture, which can put the head in an awkward position, can also put pressure on the jaw, causing pain. In addition, injury, infection, or past surgery may be the reason for experiencing jaw pain.

    The joint itself can also ache without actual damage to the bone or cartilage. “Arthralgia, which is an extremely common condition that affects the TMJ, is characterized by a painful joint without any osseous [bone] changes,” Dr. Levi says. “Arthritis, by contrast, accompanies osseous changes that can be visualized on imaging.”

    How Doctors Diagnose Arthritis Jaw Pain

    The underlying causes for jaw pain can be hard for doctors to suss out, as the TMJ is a very complex joint with multiple factors affecting it. Your rheumatologist or dentist may recommend a specialist who deals with TMJ disorders, called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. “A thorough comprehensive evaluation and history taking is crucial to accurately diagnosing the etiology [cause] of jaw pain,” Dr. Levi says.

    “Osteoarthritis is often diagnosed based on symptoms and imaging, and is commonly is associated with joint sounds, known as crepitus,” Dr. Levi says. “Osteoarthritis is also often associated with morning stiffness, jaw tightness, and decreased range of motion of the jaw.”

    Jaw bone and cartilage changes due to arthritis may be seen on imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. “Changes that can be visualized on imaging include condylar beaking or flattening [damage to the rounded end part of the bone], and decreased joint space,” Dr. Levi says.

    “Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may be diagnosed with help from blood tests,” Dr. Levi says. With inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, you will have elevated inflammatory markers like c-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate; many rheumatoid arthritis patients also test positive for antibodies such as rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP.

    But if you have inflammatory arthritis, chances are jaw pain won’t be your first symptom; and if you’ve already been diagnosed, your doctor will have an indication that jaw pain may be due to your condition.

    How Arthritis in the Jaw Is Treated

    Luckily, you may find relief with non-invasive measures to resolve the jaw pain. “Almost always conservative treatment will be tried first,” Dr. Bykerk says. This may include:

    • Physical therapy to provide gentle exercises to help loosen your jaw and strengthen the muscles around the joint.
    • A mouth guard fitted by a dentist to help with teeth grinding and clenching overnight. “I have been wearing a night guard for years,” Karin D. told us on Facebook.
    • Relaxation techniques to manage chronic pain and reduce stress and tension in the joint.

    Your doctor may also give some relief with steroid shots, which Karin also says she’s had. “If the TMJ is inflamed it can be injected with cortisone,” Dr. Bykerk says. In addition, your doctor may advise over-the-counter medications. “NSAIDs are often prescribed to decrease inflammation and thus help decrease pain,” Dr. Levi says.

    Making sure inflammatory arthritis is well-managed can improve jaw pain due to the condition. “For rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis, and other forms of systemic arthritis, it is important to control the underlying disease,” Dr. Levi says.

    In very severe cases, surgery to the jaw may be recommended, but this is a “last resort” option.

    Home Remedies for Arthritis Jaw Pain

    You can also try a few simple treatments and behavior modifications to treat jaw pain, and reduce your risk of having it in the first place:

    • Eat softer foods
    • Apply heat and/or ice. “Ice tends to help me numb it out,” Hannah M. told us on Facebook.
    • Keep up with oral hygiene
    • Try an arthritis pain cream. “I put a bit of Tiger Balm on the tip of the jaw near the front of the ear, that where it was the most sore,” Hannah said on FB. (Check with your doctor before using topical treatments.)
    • “Don’t chew gum,” Karin says. Repetitive chewing motions, like chomping gum or biting your nails, put too much strain on the jaw.

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  • Arthritis in Your Neck: Signs of Neck Arthritis, and What to Do About It

    Arthritis in Your Neck: Signs of Neck Arthritis, and What to Do About It

    When you think of arthritis, you might think of creaky knees or painful, swollen fingers. But if your neck is feeling stiff or you have pain when you turn your head, this neck pain may be caused by arthritis too.

    Like the rest of the body, the disks and joints in the neck degenerate due wear and tear. Osteoarthritis of the neck includes these changes that happen over time or because of an injury. Most people 60 years old and older will have a degenerative type of neck arthritis, says Rajat Bhatt, MD, a rheumatologist with Prime Rheumatology in Houston, Texas. Inflammatory types of arthritis that occur because of an overactive immune system can affect your neck as well.

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    Symptoms of Arthritis in the Neck

    While arthritis in the neck is common, symptoms of neck arthritis vary, says Neel P. Shah, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York.

    For most people, arthritis in the neck causes no symptoms. When neck arthritis symptoms do occur, it’s typically pain and stiffness in the neck that ranges from mild to severe. It may be worsened by looking up or down for a long time, or by activities where the neck is held in the same position for a long time like driving or reading a book. Neck pain usually subsides with rest or lying down.

    Other symptoms of neck arthritis may include:

    Two other types of symptoms that are common in people with arthritis in the neck are radiculopathy and myelopathy.

    Radiculopathy affects the spinal nerve root, the part of the nerve that branches off from the main spinal cord. Usually, some form of pressure on the spinal nerve root causes symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness, and/or electrical sensations down an extremity.

    Myelopathy is a disease process that affects the spinal cord that comes on slowly over time. Symptoms include compressed spinal nerve roots, radiculopathy, pain, weakness, numbness, and/or electrical sensations in an extremity.

    “Neck arthritis can become debilitating, especially if there is compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to loss of strength, coordination, and balance,” says Dr. Shah.

    Types of Arthritis that Affect the Neck

    Neck pain can have numerous possible causes. Still, many people with sore, stiff necks that don’t improve over time are diagnosed with a type of arthritis.

    Osteoarthritis in the Neck

    Osteoarthritis in the neck is the degeneration of joints, vertebrae, and discs in the cervical portion of the spine. With less padding between them, vertebrae may rub against each other. That can cause tiny bone fragments to break off and float in the synovial fluid (a thick liquid that lubricates your joints and helps them move smoothly).

    Sometimes this process stimulates the growth of bony projections along the edges called bone spurs, or osteophytes. Since the padding is now thinner, the vertebrae become closer to each other. That leaves less room for the spine nerves that stick out from the spinal cord.

    Symptoms of neck osteoarthritis range from none to pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Osteoarthritis in the neck pain tends to worsen after activity. Complications such as loss of coordination can happen if the spinal cord becomes pinched.

    Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Neck

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. It often starts in the smaller joints of your hands and feet and can spread to other parts of the body like the neck as the disease progresses. This typically doesn’t happen until years after the onset of arthritis symptoms.

    Neck pain is the primary symptom of rheumatoid arthritis in the neck, with the severity varying from person to person. You may feel a dull or throbbing ache in the back of your neck around the base of the skull. Joint swelling and stiffness can make it hard to move from side to side.

    The difference between rheumatoid arthritis neck pain and a neck injury is that stiffness and pain from an injury can gradually improve over days or weeks. Rheumatoid arthritis in the neck may not get better; it can worsen if left untreated. Even if symptoms improve, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness can return with rheumatoid arthritis in the neck.

    Spondyloarthritis in the Neck

    Other types of neck arthritis include psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, which are both considered a type of arthritis called spondyloarthritis. It’s an umbrella term for inflammatory diseases that involve both the joints and entheses, the places where ligaments and tendons attach to the bones.

    Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis often accompanied by psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease. For some people who have psoriatic arthritis, the condition involves the spine, which impacts the neck. Pain happens when inflammation strikes the joints between the vertebrae. This pain can occur on just one side of the body, the neck, and the lower and upper back. Read more about psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

    Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that strikes the bones in your spine and pelvis as well as peripheral joints. Early signs and symptoms might include pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after inactivity. Fatigue and neck pain are common. AS symptoms might worsen, improve, or stop at irregular intervals.

    How Neck Arthritis Is Diagnosed

    Your doctor will start by taking a history and doing a physical exam. They’ll check the range of motion in your neck and test your strength, sensation, and reflexes to find out if there is pressure on your nerves or spinal cord. They’ll ask when your symptoms started, when the pain happens, and what makes the pain better and worse.

    Your doctor may order an X-ray to assess alignment and look for arthritic changes, says Dr. Shah. If there is a concern of compression of spinal nerves or the spinal cord, you may need an MRI to look at the neutral structure and discs, says Dr. Shah.

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    A CT scan may be ordered to look at the bone more closely, especially to see if any bony outgrowths are causing compression. However, X-rays and MRIs are the tests that are usually ordered, says Dr. Shah. A CT scan with a myelogram (where dye is injected into the spinal canal to see the neural structures) may be used if an MRI can’t be done.

    Electromyography, or EMG, may be ordered to assess for nerve compression, says Dr. Shah. An EMG tests the electrical conduction of the nerves in the arms. This test would be helpful if you have multiple nerves being compressed or compression of nerves at the neck and in the arm, he says.

    Your doctor may order blood tests to see if you have any antibodies or systemic inflammation that would reveal inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

    Treatment for Arthritis in the Neck

    In most cases, treatment for neck arthritis is nonsurgical. Nonsurgical treatment options are listed below.

    Medication Options for Neck Arthritis

    Analgesic and NSAID pain medication

    Over-the-counter medications can be used to help address pain, inflammation, and swelling. NSAIDs like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Analgesics (such as acetaminophen) can help with mild to moderate pain. Your doctor can prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory if OTC medications don’t provide relief.

    Even though many commonly used NSAIDs are available over the counter, it’s important to talk to your doctor about side effects and drug interactions. NSAIDs can have significant side effects, including gastrointestinal complications, and are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

    Disease-modifying arthritis medication

    Neck pain due to inflammatory arthritis is typically treated with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), such as methotrexate for RA. Other conventional DMARDs include leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine. Biologics are a newer type of DMARD that target specific immune system pathways. DMARDs help to reduce the immune system activity that is triggering inflammation and pain.

    Steroid injections and nerve blocks

    Steroid-based injections and nerve blocks can offer pain relief for arthritis in the neck. Both can be good for pain that radiates from the neck, says Carlo Milani, MD, an assistant attending physiatrist at Hospital for Special Surgery in the Department of Physiatry in and assistant professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

    An epidural steroid injection is where doctors inject medicine directly into the epidural space of the spinal canal surrounding the nerve roots. The medicine is a combination of corticosteroids and a local anesthetic, which together reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

    A facet joint injection is an injection of local anesthesia and corticosteroids that is placed directly into the affected joint. Facet joints connect the bones of the spine, allowing the spine to bend and twist.

    The anesthesia offers temporary pain relief and the corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the joint.

    A nerve block is the injection of a local anesthetic close to a targeted nerve or group of nerves to block pain. Different types are used depending on where you’re in pain. You may get relief from one injection or need several nerve block treatments.

    Exercise for Arthritis in the Neck

    Physical therapy

    If you’re experiencing neck pain due to arthritis, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Physical therapy for neck arthritis entails doing specific exercises to help strengthen and stretch weak or strained muscles. Physical therapy can improve range of motion. Sessions and programs vary in length and frequency and are tailored to your condition.

    “The foundation of what we’re trying to do in physical therapy for the neck is often to help improve posture and the way people move,” says Dr. Milani. “Exercises in physical therapy tend to be focused on strengthening muscles of the back and neck, which puts less strain on structures of the cervical spine.”

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    You’ll do exercises during physical therapy and get instructions on ones to do at home.

    Regular Physical Activity at Home

    You may feel like you don’t want to move when your neck hurts. But being inactive may increase stiffness, which can cause you to lose even more mobility. “Aches and pains tend to respond better to continued movement than rest,” says Dr. Milani. “Exercise is often the foundation of treatment.”

    Exercises that involve stretching, strengthening, and improving range of motion can help reduce pain and keep your neck limber. You want to move gently and smoothly when doing neck exercises, not jerk your neck or make sudden movements. You may feel discomfort at first. Stop if any exercise increases your neck pain.

    Light exercise can help improve strength and flexibility. Walking, swimming, water aerobics, or biking fit the bill. Or go for yoga or Pilates. “Avoid overhead movement exercise or positions that exacerbate your symptoms,” says Dr. Milani. He says, for example, on a stationary bike, avoid a position that aggravates neck pain. Find a comfortable position while you are riding.

    The military chin tuck helps with posture. Hold your chin to the neck for 10 to 20 seconds. Do this 10 times a day, says Dr. Shah.

    Don’t forget about your shoulders. Exercising them will help strengthen the muscles that support your neck. Basic shoulder rolls will keep your shoulder and neck joints fluid.

    Radiofrequency ablation

    If medication, physical therapy, or other treatments don’t work, a procedure called radiofrequency ablation that numbs the joints of the neck might be indicated, says Dr. Milani. In the procedure, a heated needle tip heats up a small area of nerve tissue to stop it from sending pain signals. That can offer long-term, but usually not permanent, relief for six months to two years, he says.

    Home Remedies for Arthritis in the Neck

    While you can’t stop age-related joint degeneration from happening, you can try to slow its development or ease symptoms with simple lifestyle changes. Here are a few remedies you can try to manage neck arthritis pain.

    Use ice

    Apply a cold compress to the neck to help reduce inflammation, stiffness, and swelling.

    Sleep right

    Sleep with a pillow and bed that support your sleep preference, says Dr. Shah. If you like sleeping on your back, get a firm mattress and pillow. Side sleepers should get a medium mattress and pillow. Stomach sleepers should go for a soft mattress and pillow. Dr. Milani says you may find it helpful to sleep with a cylinder-like pillow that sits in the curve of your neck.

    Stop smoking

    Quit smoking if you’re a smoker. Smoking decreases the effectiveness of some drugs used to treat arthritis. And smoking can make it harder for you to do activities that relieve arthritis symptoms, like exercise. “It can worsen arthritis and also increase pain sensitivity,” says Dr. Bhatt.

    Watch your computer stance

    Support your back and neck while you sit at your computer. Keep your computer at eye level so you don’t have to change your neck position by looking up and down. “When using a computer and key board, have the monitor at eye level,” says Dr. Shah. “Use risers or an adjustable desk.” Your keyboard should be close to your body and your body should be close to your desk, says Dr. Milani. If your company offers it, an ergonomic assessment of your work station can help ensure that it’s set up properly, he says.

    Use the phone correctly

    When talking on the phone, use a headset. That will help prevent you from straining your neck. Smartphones have even launched the term “text neck,” which is a repetitive strain thanks to people hunching over their devices. This stance aggravates muscle pain in the neck. Instead of tilting your chin down to read your smartphone, put the device at eye level. That way your head isn’t constantly dropping and forced to strain.

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    Alter your posture

    Changing your posture can help relieve neck pain from arthritis. Good posture, as it’s related to the neck, is when the ears are positioned directly above the shoulders with the chest open and shoulders back. Here, stress is minimized because the head’s weight is naturally balanced on the spine. “Correct posture is key,” says Dr. Shah. “With the use of computers and smartphones, we’re constantly being hunched forward. It’s demanding to the neck and applies harmful pressure to the structures of the neck.”

    Surgery for Neck Arthritis

    “Surgery is usually a last resort for neck arthritis,” says Dr. Milani. Your doctor may recommend it if you have severe pain that isn’t relieved with nonsurgical treatment or if you have signs of neurologic injury. “Surgery may be needed if the arthritis causes instability, or more importantly, impingement of nerves and/or the spinal cord,” says Dr. Shah.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Butt Pain and Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

    Butt Pain and Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

    When you have arthritis, buttoning a shirt or fastening a clasp can be a pain in the butt. So is folding laundry with achy joints, blow drying your hair, or even signing paperwork. But then there’s actual pain that can occur in your buttocks — and it may actually be caused by arthritis.

    The buttock is a large area, with many different structures within it, explains Claudette Lajam, MD, orthopedic surgeon with NYU Langone in New York City. The giant muscle at the surface of the buttocks is called the gluteus maximus. It overlies other layers of muscle and two major joints: the hip joint and sacroiliac (SI) joint, which is situated on each side of your spine, and connects the sacrum (base of your spine) to the ilium (top part of your pelvis).

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    Buttock pain may indicate a problem in either of the sacroiliac joints, the lumbar spine (lower back), muscles of the pelvis or any of those other layers, says Dr. Lajam, who also serves as spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

    How Arthritis Can Cause Buttock Pain

    “Any form of arthritis that affects the hips or lower back can cause buttock pain,” says Dr. Lajam. Some types include:

    Osteoarthritis of the hip

    The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The “ball” is the top of your thigh bone, and it sits in a “socket” that’s formed by part of your pelvic bone. Slippery tissue called cartilage covers the bone surface and helps cushion the joint. Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the protective cartilage gradually wears down, which over time leads to pain and stiffness. The most common symptom of hip osteoarthritis is pain around the hip joint. As hip OA disease progresses, low-grade inflammation can set in, explains physical therapist Colleen Louw, PT, spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). That results in increased sensitivity of the surrounding nerves, which can cause pain in and around the low back and buttocks.

    Osteoarthritis of the spine

    The bones in your spine (vertebra) are separated by spongy discs, which act as shock absorbers. With age, these discs can wear or shrink, which narrows the space between the spinal joints, or “facet” joints. “The facet joints are a series of small joints in the lower back that contain the same type of cartilage that is found in your knees,” explains Louw. Disc changes can lead to more strain on the joints, which can cause the cartilage to wear down and the facet joints in the vertebrae to rub against one another, leading to the pain and stiffness of OA. “It is not uncommon for these joints to refer pain into the buttocks, especially with prolonged standing or even walking,” says Louw.

    Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

    Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints in your spine. Most commonly, it affects the vertebra in your lower back and the SI joints. Over time, inflammation can cause some of the vertebrae to fuse, which makes your spine less flexible and leads to chronic pain and discomfort. Early symptoms of AS are frequent pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks, which comes on gradually over the course of a few weeks or months. Some people even use the phrase “alternating buttock pain” to describe their AS symptoms.

    Rheumatoid arthritis

    Other Reasons for Buttock Pain

    With rheumatoid and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, the immune system mistakenly attacks a protective lining in your joint called the synovium, and destroys cartilage. Though RA tends to affect smaller joints first (such as those in your hands and feet), symptoms can spread to both your hips as the disease progresses. Inflammatory arthritis in your hip will feel painful and stiff. You may also experience a dull or aching pain in the buttocks that’s worse in the morning, and gradually improves with activity.

    “Unless there is a direct trauma that occurs to the buttock itself, like falling on an object or getting kicked, buttock pain is usually referred from somewhere else,” says Louw. Here are other reasons aside from arthritis that your butt may be in pain.

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    Muscle strain

    Your buttocks are made up of three muscles: the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius, and the gluteus minimus. You can strain one of these or other overlapping muscles in the area, which can cause pain, says Dr. Lajam. “The hamstrings attach right at the bottom of the pubic bone,” she says; “injury or tears of the hamstrings can cause deep buttock pain. Sprains or strains of the abductor muscles [the side muscles of the hip] can cause buttock pain.”

    Injury/bruising

    Your buttocks may develop a painful bruise (or black-and-blue mark) if you get hurt, such as falling off your bike or kicked by your kiddo during an overly aggressive wrestling match. You may notice swelling, discoloration, and tenderness to the touch.

    Bursitis

    This painful condition occurs when the small, fluid-filled sacs — called the bursae — that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints become inflamed. The most common causes are repetitive motions or positions that put pressure on the bursae around a joint. Bursitis most often affects the shoulder, elbow, and hip. “Bursitis of the hip can lead to buttock pain,” says Dr. Lajam.

    You also have bursae in your buttocks called ischial bursa, which can become inflamed and cause ischial or ischiogluteal bursitis. This can result from sitting for a long time on a hard surface, direct trauma, or injury to the hamstring muscle or tendon from activities like running or bicycling.

    Sacroiliitis

    This is inflammation of the SI joints, which can cause pain in your buttocks, and well as your lower back, hips, or groin. Some forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as osteoarthritis, can cause sacroiliitis, so might an injury, pregnancy, and infection. Learn more about sacroiliitis.

    Sciatica

    Pain that radiates from your lower back to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark symptom of sciatica. It most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. Injuries or overuse of the piriformis muscle, which is located in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint, can contribute to sciatica too. This causes inflammation, pain, and often some numbness in the affected leg. The pain can range from mild ache to a sharp, burning, or excruciating pain. Usually only one side of your body is affected.

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    How to Ease Buttock Pain from Arthritis

    If you’re experiencing buttock pain and you’re not sure why, your primary care doctor is a good place to start. They may refer you to a rheumatologist or orthopedic doctor depending on your symptoms and circumstances.

    If you’re already diagnosed with arthritis and are experiencing buttock pain that’s new or different, it’s important to let your doctor know. You might have an additional kind of arthritis or injury alongside your current diagnosis. (For example, buttock pain could be a sign that you have osteoarthritis in your spine in addition to rheumatoid arthritis.)

    Step one for buttock pain treatment is following your arthritis treatment plan, says Dr. Lajam. Taking your medication as prescribed and maintaining a healthy weight can help relieve buttock pain caused by arthritis. Your doctor may recommend steroid injections in affected joints to help relieve the related buttock pain.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Information (FAQ)

    Fibromyalgia Information (FAQ)

    Fibromyalgia is by any measure a complex syndrome. As I have written (and continue to write) the many articles in the website, I work to answer any question that you might have, and I feel confident that the answers are here. Some of these are also answered on the Facebook postings, in videos, in the blog or informational graphics we provide.

    We still have more to cover and convey, so I thank you for being here. What we provide here at Living Smarter comes not only from experience over many years but also the latest science into fibromyalgia, co-conditions and chronic pain. Working as a practitioner/trainer and living with fibromyalgia for over four decades, this is what I do.

    These FAQs are based on questions I most often receive through the website and on my two Facebook Pages which together represent a community of over 325,000 followers.

    Fibromyalgia Information (Frequently Asked Questions)

    What are the primary symptoms in Fibromyalgia?

    Many fibro websites focus on the primary symptoms of fibromyalgia. They include widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, fibro-fog, and morning stiffness. However, there are many more symptoms and, importantly, not all fibro people suffer with the same symptoms.

    For this reason, I have provided an extended symptoms list with each symptom being a link to a treatment protocol, and secondary symptoms detailed within each symptom link as well. I want to also extend a caution to attributing every symptom to fibromyalgia, that can be dangerous. Yes, fibro is complex and affects multiple systems, but we must not miss other conditions. 

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    Is Fibromyalgia approved for disability? Inside and/or outside the U.S.A?

    Fibromyalgia is now officially approved for disability benefits in the United States. I have provided the USA’s Social Security Administration’s own words as guidance for those considering applying for disability benefits.

    • Since I have readers from over 50-countries, it would be impossible to follow each of those countries’ disability claims and allowances, but the information supplied here can be of benefit to anyone seeking guidance on SSI or disability.
    • What is a fibromyalgia flare and how long does it generally last?
    • Is the heart muscle affected in fibromyalgia?
    • Is Fibromyalgia inflammatory?
    • What can I do about pain in the hip flexors? 
    • Why do my symptoms seem to get worse during my period? Does menopause increase fibro symptoms?
    • Is nerve pain common with fibromyalgia?
    • Is there one particular diet for fibromyalgia?
    • How do I manage symptoms when they can be so unpredictable?
    • How can I explain the difference between fibromyalgia and other pain disorders to my family and friends?
    • How do I know if I have the co-condition of CFS/ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)?
    • How can I safely exercise with CFS/ME and avoid post exercise malaise?
    • Is fibromyalgia hereditary?
    • Can you suggest a multi vitamin that is safe for a sensitive stomach?
    • “Mia, do you have fibro?” Yes, you can read more about my experience living with FMS/CFS/ME and MCS.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • What is Fibromyalgia (and What Is It Not)?

    What is Fibromyalgia (and What Is It Not)?

    First, it is important to know that fibromyalgia is characterized by wide-spread muscle pain and specific tender areas of the body. However, it doesn’t stop there, because fibromyalgia affects multiple systems of the body, including the nervous system, endocrine system, and the immune system.

    The brain and GI tract are often involved as well. 

    One of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia is a dysfunction in the Central Nervous System. This dysfunction can cause a fibro body to react to things like lights, sounds, toxins, odors, and more. This can cause a lot of physiological stress internally, which often translates to symptoms throughout different areas of the body.

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    You may often hear that Fibromyalgia is the result of “over active” nerves. Trigger points can also exacerbate symptoms in fibromyalgia by their presence in and around muscles and connective tissue. The endocrine system can become challenged due to the stress on thyroid and adrenal glands. 

    The immune system is also working overtime, often times due to the primary co-conditions that affect immune status. This is why people with fibromyalgia often describe fibromyalgia as not just living with chronic pain, but like living with a flu 24/7.

    What Fibromyalgia is Not

    People are often confused and ask what is fibromyalgia because they simply don’t understand what this diagnosis means, but let’s jump right to the second part of this question first.

    Fibromyalgia is not just a reason to complain. It isn’t an excuse not to work or to get out of other responsibilities by choice. It isn’t a source of pain that comes and goes at the sufferer’s discretion.

    While these are the opinions sometimes held by people who don’t believe in or understand fibromyalgia, this is a serious medical condition that impacts multiple systems of the body. 

    Fibromyalgia is not an illness merely associated with mid-life, as in the everyday aches and pains of getting older. No, it is much more complex than that. In fact, many of us have lived with symptoms since a young age.

    In my case, symptoms started at the age of 9, with severe chronic migraine, MCS and later progressing to fibromyalgia. We believe that we must look at all potential toxins, traumas and exposures in early life. Toxic exposures that can actually create a greater propensity to developing fibromyalgia or any auto immune condition. 

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    Fibromyalgia is not what you see depicted in TV commercials. These ads and commercials do not even begin to accurately depict the complexity of fibromyalgia. They cannot, because if they did, they wouldn’t be able to promote their medications for it.

    So, in a sense, they are simplifying their portrayal of fibromyalgia in order to continue to sell medications for fibromyalgia. No, living with fibro is not as easy or simple as taking a pill and getting on with your life. In fact, many of us have severe reactions to medications and the side effects only exacerbate symptoms already present.

    Fibromyalgia is not muscle strain in one area of the body from “over doing”
    We do not have fibro in just one area of the body. Yes, I have heard it before. People self-diagnose and say they have fibro in their legs or shoulders or wherever. No, it doesn’t work like that.

    For instance, many people can have trigger points around muscles and connective tissue, and these can become activated through a stress or strain. But with fibromyalgia, we have a combination of tender areas, trigger point areas and symptoms in multiple systems. So even a “soft trauma” can activate the nervous system in fibro, unlike other conditions. 

    Fibromyalgia does not often stand alone. Many of us live with its primary co-conditions, CFS/ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) and MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) More information can be found throughout our site on these co-conditions. 

    Fibromyalgia and these co-conditions can make keeping up with daily life challenging, but those suffering from the pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia would give anything to make it go away.

    They would gladly take on more responsibility, and they dream of a day when they can guarantee never to miss another important event in the lives of those they love. Just like someone suffering from a heart disorder, epilepsy, or cancer, they simply don’t have a choice. 

    What is Fibromyalgia?

    Fibromyalgia is considered a wide-spread musculoskeletal pain condition, even though it also affects many systems of the body. One of those primary systems is the Central Nervous System.

    With fibromyalgia, it can feel like the body is always on alert. Within our website here, we address the many systems and areas of the body affected, from the muscles and joints to the gastrointestinal tract and brain.

    Fibromyalgia impacts the immune and nervous system to the endocrine system as well. It can impact any of your body’s more vulnerable areas such as tender areas around the neck and lower back, trigger points in the upper back, to the muscles and bones and the various systems including the endocrine, nervous and immune system.

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    For greater accuracy, we list some of the secondary symptoms within primary symptom links in our Symptoms List.

    Some people consider depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses a direct symptom of the condition that is just as real as the pain. It’s more likely a consequence of the illness because living with fibromyalgia is stressful.

    Too often, symptoms in fibromyalgia can be “activated” from external sources that we are not always in control of. This might lead to a few hours of increased pain or to an extended flare, lasting days or weeks. 

    With the absence of a cancer tumor, surgical intervention, or even medical scans showing something physically wrong with the body, it’s difficult for some people to realize how much pain is endured by fibromyalgia sufferers.

    Many sufferers don’t receive the support and care that they need from loved ones, and even with that support, this is a condition that takes a mental, physical, and social toll.

    Ruling Out Other Options/The Good and the Bad

    It is important to determine what is fibromyalgia and what is not. You can visit your doctor frequently with severe pain, stiffness, aching muscles, tingling, burning and extreme fatigue, and they may routinely tell you that there is nothing wrong with you.

    They may pick up on some inflammation in your body, but they often can’t determine where it’s coming from. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia typically comes after a lot of testing because you must rule out other medical conditions first. 

    This is why fibromyalgia is often considered an invisible illness. It’s clearly there, but like many other conditions, you cannot see the pain, you cannot always “see” the symptoms we are experiencing. It’s a chronic illness that can lead to consistent pain and discomfort.

    It may also come and go with flare-ups sparking at unexpected and very inconvenient moments. It can be completely debilitating, even when the sufferers want nothing more than to enjoy an active, healthy life.

    The good and the bad. You feel good when you are not diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Other testing comes up negative. However, you can feel just as bad when the doctor looks at you like everything is fine. Why don’t you feel fine?

    You know that something is not right. This is often the beginning of the journey. You will work with your doctor where you need to, but you will also know that there will be areas of your health that you need to take into your own hands.

    We want you to better understand fibromyalgia and all of the symptoms, but at the same time, it can be dangerous to attribute every symptom to fibro. With all of our specific articles on fibromyalgia symptoms, we offer solutions to help you create a better quality of life, but never false cures or cover ups. See, it is important to know what is happening in our bodies. Why am I having this pain? What is triggering a particular symptom?

    That is why we do this. Our number one goal is to help everyone with fibromyalgia and co-conditions live the best quality of life possible. No false cures, no quick fixes. Refer back to the interactive Symptoms List below at any time. 

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store