Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Symptoms

A detailed guide to understanding Fibromyalgia symptoms, early warning signs, and how they are diagnosed.

  • Fibromyalgia Pain | 48-Pain Full Hours Recovery Period in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    Have you ever noticed it takes you a couple of days to recover from a stressful event or over-exertion? A 48-hour recovery period is something you commonly hear about from people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

    We don’t yet know why we need a couple of days to recover from … well, just about anything, but a lot of chronic fatigue syndrome research is focusing on post-exertional malaise—the intensified fatigue and flare of other symptoms following exercise.

    Several research groups have identified genetic and blood abnormalities in the following exercise and have documented participants’ inability to perform as well on the second day.

    What we do know about this recovery period is that we’re stuck with it. For many of us, it means taking it really easy for a couple of days after anything big, such as a holiday, a vacation, or an unexpected stressful event.

    It can be a real problem for people who work or go to school full time. Just getting through a day can drain you enough to need recovery time, yet you have to get up the next morning and do it all over again. So while you may feel pretty decent on Monday, especially if you rested the whole weekend, Tuesday will be a little hard, Wednesday a little harder still. By Friday? It’s not pretty.

    When your routine is enough to drag you down, you don’t have the reserves to deal with anything else on top of it. Who hasn’t been there?

    Halfway through the week, you have to deal with some kind of crisis that gets your adrenaline pumping. Now you have more to recover from.

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    Any of our symptoms can flare up after a stressful or strenuous event. The most common ones include:

    • pain
    • fatigue
    • fibro fog/brain fog
    • anxiety
    • depression
    • flu-like symptoms (in chronic fatigue syndrome)

    Setting Aside Recovery Time

    It’s likely not realistic for you to just go to bed for two days after every workday, or every stressful event in your personal life.

    What we can do, though, is recognize what circumstances are likely to trigger a need for recovery and plan accordingly. For instance, don’t do anything for the two days after Christmas. When possible, schedule time off after big events you know are coming.

    If you have some flexibility in your work schedule, you might want to consider a day off in the middle of the week so you can do some recovering before jumping back in. Taking more breaks may also prevent you from needing as much recovery time.

    When you can’t schedule an actual recovery period or rearrange your life around your chronic illness, make sure to pare down as much as you can. Order groceries online rather than trying to shop near the end of your workweek. Can someone else get your kids to soccer? Can your kids help more around the house? What jobs can you delegate to someone else? Call in the reinforcements!

    You may also benefit from getting extra rest before a big event. That could help your body get through whatever is coming a little better, which might speed up your recovery time.

    Life doesn’t always work out how we want. You’ll probably have to go to work or school with a symptom flare or try to get laundry done on your days off instead of resting, because when else are you going to do it, right? When that’s your reality, it becomes all about pacing yourself so you can keep moving forward.

    Also, learn to be patient with yourself. At times, you’re like a car that runs out of gas but keeps going anyway. Don’t be too hard on yourself when it’s difficult to keep push, or when you have to take some time off in order to feel better and be a better employee or student.

    Be sure to talk to your doctor about this symptom, especially if it’s becoming a big part of your life.

    He/she may have ideas about treatments or lifestyle changes that might be able to help you.

    You may also benefit, in general, and when it comes to recovering if you build better habits when it comes to sleep and your diet.

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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

  • The Connection Between Fibromyalgia and Anger

    The Connection Between Fibromyalgia and Anger

    Anger is a very common emotion, particularly for people suffering from fibromyalgia. It is a natural, human reaction and yet it doesn’t get an awful lot of attention as a side effect to chronic pain.

    It’s one thing to accept our anger, but it’s another to let that anger consume us and let it impact our lives and the lives of others. It can be difficult to draw that line when you feel enraged by what you have lost and what has emerged in its place; you’ve been given a life that you didn’t plan and wouldn’t choose.

    But, there are things you can do to keep your anger at bay and prevent it from encroaching on your life.

    Ranting vs. Anger

    A friend of mine once told me I was the angriest person he knew. It became a bit of a running joke – we would meet up for drinks and before long I was ranting and he was mocking my anger. It was just the way it was.

    A year later I was talking to a psychiatrist after yet another unsuccessful referral following a fibro flare–up, and I told him about my anger. He asked me to give him some examples of what made me angry.

    As I went through the list he quietly listened, then asked: “What makes you think this is anger? You sound like an intelligent girl who’s ranting about the things that are important to her. What’s wrong with that?”

    I suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I wasn’t weird and angry, I was normal and healthy. I’m sharing this story because there is a big difference between feeling angry and being an angry person. Don’t let the label consume you; recognize that you’re allowed a good rant from time to time. It’s necessary.

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    Understand Why You’re Angry

    This might seem quite simple at first, but I think it’s important to get a good understanding of what makes you angry in the first place so that you can look at ways to control or avoid it in the future.

    I’m not a doctor, but experience has taught me that there are often small triggers that can cause you to feel more angry than usual, and identifying these triggers can be a key step to overcoming negative emotions.

    You can start by making notes or lists whenever you feel your anger developing, which will help you find patterns in your behavior. For example, you might think your anger stems from something broad, like having fibromyalgia, but as you start to take notes you will start to see the smaller triggers.

    Perhaps it’s the patronizing way your partner talks to you when what you really need is strength and support, or perhaps it’s the fact telemarketers call you three times a day and you just can’t cope with another phone call. These small occurrences are part of a bigger issue, but they’re still a valid contributor to the anger you feel.

    Making Changes

    I’m a firm believer that if you don’t like something the way it is, you should make a change. Obviously, this has restrictions; I don’t like the fact I have fibromyalgia but I can’t change it. However, what I can change is the way I think about it and the way I choose to cope with it.

    Having made notes and identified the things that trigger your anger, it’s time to start finding ways to address and avoid it. Taking the examples from above, if your partner’s behavior is causing your anger then you should tell them how you prefer to feel supported.

    Taking control over your triggers can be a way of reducing the amount of anger you feel or the frequency with which you feel it.

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    Find Your Inner Calm

    As a person who is prone to ranting and raving, I don’t find it easy to connect to my inner calm. However, I know that it’s an essential coping strategy for fibromyalgia patients because it doesn’t just ease anger; it eases anxiety and depression and often reduces the frequency of flare-ups too.

    The trick here is to make sure you find YOUR inner calm, not the calm that works for someone else. Annoyingly, this takes time and it means you have to put in some work, but it’s totally worth it. I spent a long time thinking that my inner calm could be found at the back of a meditation class or in the depths of a yoga retreat.

    After three yoga classes and two attempts at meditation, I realized they were frustratingly slow and making me angry. Oh, the irony! I am sarcastic and impatient so meditation – try as I might – was just not for me. Some find their calm in a bath with relaxing candles, but I’m really more a shower girl so that didn’t work for me either.

    It takes time to work out where to find your inner calm, but it’s a journey well worth taking because when you start to recognize the signs of anger you need to know there is somewhere you can go.

    Ask for Help

    This is yet another common coping strategy for fibromyalgia sufferers in general, but it’s really important when it comes to managing your anger.

    Often, when we get angry, we shout and become aggressive and intimidating. People stop listening to the words and just see the rage, so you need to make sure that you explain what makes you angry and what you’re doing to overcome it. This could be as easy as talking to your family, but if you really struggle to control your emotions then it may be helpful for you to seek professional help.

    This could mean talking to your doctor or attending anger management classes, but there are also a number of mental health support groups and online forums that might give you the outlet you need to talk about your anger.

    The important thing is to address your anger. Don’t push it away; the rage monster will lurk in the background and come back twice as angry.

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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

  • I am in pain and I can’t sleep: Fibromyalgia and Sleeping Disorders

    Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is thought to be the result of overactive nerves. It is a condition that results in chronic widespread pain and tenderness all over the body.  So what exactly does that mean?“Chronic” means that the pain lasts a long time, at least 3 months. Many people experience fibromyalgia pain for years before being diagnosed.

    “Widespread” means that it is all over the body. However, many people with fibromyalgia feel their pain in specific areas of their body, such as the lower back, neck, and shoulders.

    “Tenderness” means that even a small amount of pressure can cause a lot of pain.

    Who does fibromyalgia affect?

    FMS affects more than 5 million people in the United States. That’s nearly 1 in every 60 Americans.  Around 80-90% of those affected with FMS are women.  These women are primarily between the ages of 35 and 55.

    Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

    In addition to constant pain, some of the other common symptoms of FMS are:

    Fibromyalgia and Sleep Issues

    Research has shown that disordered sleep is a very prominent symptom in patients who have FMS. Around 75% of patients with FMS complain about their sleep.  Studies show that treatment of sleep disturbances has had a positive effect on their FMS pain and symptoms during the day.

    Even though sleep recording is not part of the routine evaluation, polysomnography may disclose primary sleep disorders in patients with FMS including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.

    Fibromyalgia and Insomnia (pain and sleep)

    Insomnia is defined as the inability to get enough sleep to feel rested. Lack of sleep produces more pain and increased pain contributes to lack of sleep. FMS pain can make it difficult to go to sleep at night, cause frequent awakenings from sleep during the night, or make a person wake earlier than planned without being able to return to sleep. In this regard, the pain has both an effect on the quantity of sleep as well as the quality.

    People experiencing pain are also much more sensitive to stress, which is another major perpetrator of sleep loss.

    People in pain are also more likely to worry about getting enough sleep. They feel like they have less control over the amount and quality of sleep they get each night.

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    Fibromyalgia and sleep apnea

    Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

    The incidence of sleep apnea in FMS patients was found to be 61% in men and 32% in women, according to a 2013 study published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. A particular variant of sleep apnea called upper airway resistance syndrome is very common in women with fibromyalgia. Treating sleep-disordered breathing improves both pain and fatigue in fibromyalgia patients.

    Fibromyalgia and Restless Leg Syndrome

    Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping, or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them.

    The incidence of restless leg syndrome has been found to be in excess of 50% of those with FMS, as opposed to 7% of the general population. FMS patients experience improvement in their symptoms of fatigue and sleepiness when restless leg syndrome is treated.

    Medical Options

    If you believe that you may be suffering from FMS and have sleep-related issues, discuss your symptoms with your primary care provider or contact a sleep clinic for a sleep study.

    At the Alaska Sleep Clinic, we help diagnose and treat hundreds of Alaskans every year with sleep disorders. Regular, quality sleep is one of the most important aspects of leading a healthy and happy life. Having an untreated sleep disorder such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or sleep apnea can not only hamper the quality of your daily life, it can worsen your FMS  pain over time.

    If you live in Alaska and want to receive a free sleep assessment from one of our certified sleep educators, click the link below and get on your way to sleeping restfully through the night.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    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 Link Between Bladder Problems and Fibromyalgia

    Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and interstitial cystitis (IC) — a painful bladder condition — frequently occur together. Women may be up to 10 times more likely than men to develop it.

    Having IC alone can impose a lot of restrictions on your lifestyle and, like fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS), it’s linked to depression. Also, like FMS and ME/CFS, IC can be difficult to diagnose, treat and manage.

    Some people have good luck with basic treatments and dietary changes, while others may need more intensive treatments or even surgery.

    Overview

    Interstitial cystitis (IC) is abdominal or pelvic pain related to your bladder getting full, often accompanied by other urinary symptoms, but with no infection or other obvious diseases. The cause of IC is unknown. Frequently, doctors misdiagnose it as a urinary tract infection, and most people have IC for about 4 years before they’re diagnosed correctly.

    Symptoms

    You’re most likely to develop IC in your 30s or 40s, but it’s also possible to get it earlier or later.

    Why the overlap? Good question! Problem is, we don’t have an answer. Researchers are still trying to puzzle out the causes and underlying mechanisms of all these conditions, and until they can, we probably won’t understand why they overlap.

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    Some possibilities exist, including:

    • Researchers suspect chronic infection could play a role for all 3 diseases
    • The pain of all 3 is believed to originate in the nerves
    • Chronic pain from IC may lead to the central sensitization suspected in FMS and ME/CFS
    • Research released in early 2009 suggests that some patients with IC have a systemic syndrome and not one that’s confined to the bladder

    Because all 3 conditions are far more common in women, hormonal or anatomical differences may be at work as well.

    An emerging umbrella term for conditions involving central sensitization is central sensitivity syndromes.

    Diagnosis

    IC is diagnosed primarily based on symptoms. Before diagnosing IC, your doctor will need to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Tests include:

    • Bladder biopsy
    • Cystoscopy (endoscopy of bladder)
    • Urine analysis & culture
    • Urine cytology (for detecting cancer and inflammatory diseases in the urinary tract)
    • Video urodynamics (which shows how much urine it takes for you to feel the need to urinate)

    To confirm an IC diagnosis, your doctor may perform a hydrodistention, in which your bladder is filled with water. That helps your doctor view your bladder walls for possible hemorrhages common in people with IC.

    IC isn’t well recognized or easily diagnosed, so if you think you have it, mention it to your doctor.

    Treatments

    There’s no cure for IC, and treatment needs to be tailored to the individual. It can take a lot of trial and error before you find the right combination of therapies and lifestyle changes.

    Your doctor may prescribe one of the several medications for IC:

    • Elmiron (pentosan)
    • Opioid painkillers, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone-acetaminophen) or Percocet (oxycodone-acetaminophen)
    • Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil (amitriptyline)
    • Vistaril (hydroxyzine)

    Other treatments include:

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    Dietary changes also can help manage IC. The Interstitial Cystitis Association has information about dietary changes that may help.

    Combining Multiple Treatments

    If you’re being treated for IC and FMS or ME/CFS, you should talk to your doctor and pharmacist about any possible drug interactions.

    For instance, you shouldn’t take SSRI/SNRI-type antidepressants, which are common treatments for FMS and ME/CFS, with tricyclic antidepressants used for IC. Also, the FMS treatment Lyrica (pregabalin) doesn’t mix well with prescription pain medicines.

    However, the tricyclic antidepressants prescribed for IC work well for some people with FMS or ME/CFS, and other IC treatments such as physical therapy and biofeedback may provide a cross-over benefit. You may also have food sensitivities that exacerbate more than one condition, so an elimination diet could really help you.

    Because pain from other conditions can make FMS symptoms worse, you’ll really benefit from finding a good treatment regimen for IC.

    Coping

    Any one of these conditions is hard to live with, so when you have them in combination it can take a big toll on your life. Limitations imposed on your life by pain, fatigue, and urinating possibly dozens of times a day often can lead to depression, loss of social life, unemployment, and other problems.

    It’s important to find and follow a treatment regimen that works for you, and to seek out support either from people in your life or support groups, online or in your community.

    Here are more resources to help you learn about, manage, and live with IC:

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    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 Myofascial Pain Syndrome and How it is affiliated with Fibromyalgia.

    Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome often go together. Because of the frequent overlap and some similar symptoms, they’re often mistaken for the same condition and, as a result, people with both are sometimes only diagnosed with and treated for one.

    That’s a real problem, for three major reasons:

    1. they require different treatment
    2. MPS’s trigger points can be eliminated
    3. MPS pain can exacerbate FMS, and lowering MPS pain can calm FMS symptoms considerably

    Some researchers use the name “chronic myofascial pain” (CMP) instead of myofascial pain syndrome because of evidence it’s a disease, not a syndrome. (A “syndrome” is a set of symptoms without a known cause.)

    Overview

    In MPS, muscles and connective tissues (which make up the fascia) develop what’s called a trigger point (TrP). These are not the same as FMS tender points.

    A trigger point is a small, hard knot that you can sometimes feel under your skin. The knot itself can be painful, especially when poked, but it often causes pain in another area, which is called referred pain.

    Trigger points typically form as a result of trauma to the tissue. Experts don’t know why damage that heals normally in most people causes TrPs in others. However, studies suggest that muscle injury in some people leads to abnormalities where the nerve cells connect to muscle cells. This suggests MPS is a neuromuscular disease.

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    Association

    Why people with MPS frequently develop FMS isn’t yet clear, but a growing body of evidence shows that, in some people, chronic pain can make changes to the central nervous system, resulting in central sensitization. If theories are correct, early treatment of MPS may help prevent FMS.

    An emerging umbrella term for FMS, MPS and other conditions involving central sensitization is central sensitivity syndromes.

    Symptoms

    Some symptoms associated with MPS are similar to symptoms associated with FMS, while others are linked to only one of them.

    The symptoms they have in common include:

    Symptoms associated with MPS but not with FMS include:

    • numbness in the extremities
    • popping or clicking joints
    • limited range of motion in joints, especially the jaw
    • doubled or blurry vision
    • unexplained nausea

    Symptoms associated with FMS but not with MPS include:

    For more fibromyalgia symptoms, see The Monster List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms.

    Diagnosis

    Referred pain makes MPS especially hard to diagnose and treat. Typically, a doctor says, “Where does it hurt?” and then looks where you point. To treat MPS, you and your doctor need to examine your symptoms and figure out where your trigger points are.

    Your doctor can find trigger points by feel or based on symptoms.

    Tests such as magnetic resonance elastography and tissue biopsy may show abnormalities in TrPs, but their roles in diagnosing MPS still aren’t clear.

    By contrast, no test or scan reveals abnormalities in the tissues where people with FMS experience pain.

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    Treatments

    You have several options for treating MPS:

    • Trigger-Point Injections: The doctor inserts a needle directly into a TrP or in several places around it to loosen up the taut bands. The doctor may inject a pain-relieving medication, such as corticosteroids or lidocaine. (Note: some doctors believe corticosteroids can exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms.) When no medication is used, it’s called dry needling.
    • Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice similar to dry needling. While studies of its use in MPS are limited they are promising, and many patients and practitioners report good results.
    • Physical Therapy: A special kind of therapy called spray-and-stretch is common for treating MPS. A physical therapist guides you through stretching exercises while spraying a numbing substance on your muscle. The therapist may also use certain massage techniques to loosen your muscles and TrPs. In addition, a therapist can work with you on factors such as poor posture that may contribute to MPS.
    • Medications: Common drugs for MPS include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aleve (naproxen) or ibuprofen-based drugs like Advil and Motrin, and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, and nortriptyline.

    MPS Treatments vs. FMS Treatments

    Here again, there is some overlap but also important differences. Treatments used for both MPS and FMS include:

    Studies show trigger-point injections are not effective at relieving fibromyalgia tender points, and NSAIDs are not effective at treating FMS pain.

    For more on fibromyalgia treatments, see Treating Fibromyalgia – A Multidisciplinary Approach.

    Coping

    With significant differences in their symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment, it’s clear that fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are not the same conditions. However, it can be extremely difficult to determine which condition is causing which pain when a person has both of them.

    By working both on your own and with your doctor and/or physical therapist, you may be able to figure out where you have trigger points and how best to treat them without exacerbating your fibromyalgia. Relieving the myofascial pain is likely to quiet your fibromyalgia symptoms, so you could well see a double benefit.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    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

  • Sensory Overload: How Noise Can Affect You in Fibromyalgia

    Sensory Overload: How Noise Can Affect You in Fibromyalgia

    Sensitivity to environmental stimulation, including bright lights, loud noises, and even certain smells, can make living with fibromyalgia particularly challenging. You might wake up each morning wondering what new trigger may exacerbate your fibromyalgia symptoms.

    “I deal with everything on a day-to-day basis,” says Stephanie Parker of Dover, Del., who believes her symptoms are consistent with fibromyalgia but has not yet been formally diagnosed. The symptoms keep her from participating in daily family activities, such as watching her kids’ ballgames in the afternoons.

    Tina Pringle, who was diagnosed 16 years ago with fibromyalgia, says that her fibromyalgia symptoms have been overwhelming at times. “The symptoms all merge together, and because of the fatigue and brain fog, everything becomes a maze of sheer confusion,” explains Pringle.

    The United Kingdom resident says her eye doctor identified her light sensitivity, but it’s her sensitivity to sound that’s most troubling. “Loud bangs, a child crying, loud music, shouting, dogs barking, and my worst annoyance, whistling, are all an issue,” she says. “The noises resound in my head like a clanging cymbal and cause my whole body to tense up.”

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    As her tension grows, so does her fibromyalgia pain, and she has to retreat to a darkened room to relax. Her reaction is particularly problematic at home, where her teenage daughter often loves to play loud music and behave in typically boisterous adolescent fashion.

    Noise is just the beginning of the sensory anguish that might be contributing to your fibromyalgia pain. People living with fibromyalgia report:

    What’s Going On Inside Your Head

    This heightened sensitivity may be difficult for you to understand, much less explain to friends and family members who see no outward problem. The uncomfortable and painful sensations of fibromyalgia may be part of your brain’s unusual way of processing pain, suggests fibromyalgia researcher Benjamin Natelson, MD, a neurology professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and author of Your Symptoms Are Real: What to Do When Your Doctor Says Nothing Is Wrong.

    According to a study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation that compared and analyzed reports from women with rheumatoid arthritis, women with fibromyalgia, and women without a pain syndrome, those with fibromyalgia were much more likely to report intense, unpleasant responses to sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations.

    Another study, published in the journal Pain Research and Treatment, suggests that changes in brain chemistry among people with fibromyalgia may be linked to sensitivity to stimuli such as sound and smell. Imaging studies have provided visual depictions of this altered response to sensations. In some respects, the brains of people with fibromyalgia may be hyper-responsive to even the possibility of pain or discomfort, Dr. Natelson says.

    Researchers have also tested tissue samples and found elevated levels of inflammatory markers in the skin of people with fibromyalgia — which may be linked to hypersensitivity to touch. Touch sensitivity is real for people like Pringle, who says that there are times when even holding hands with her partner is too painful to bear. Clothes that are too tight, massages, and even light touches all ratchet up her pain and stress. To make matters worse, Pringle says she occasionally even flinches involuntarily when touched by others, which can be hurtful to those around her.

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    What to Do About Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    How can you address a problem that might stem from your brain’s wiring? Here are some practical steps you can take to manage these sensory symptoms:

    • Work with a supportive doctor. “If your doctor doesn’t believe you have fibromyalgia, get a new one,” stresses Natelson. Pain treatment will be most effective, he says, when you and your doctor are on the same team. Three prescription medications have been approved for treating fibromyalgia and could help you manage your fibromyalgia pain and reduce your hypersensitivity.
    • Be active. A review of exercise as part of fibromyalgia treatment, published in the journal Rheumatology International, showed that aerobic exercise may offset pain and minimize tender point sensitivity. Natelson advises gentle physical conditioning. His prescription: “Walk for 30 minutes every other day at about 1.5 to 2 miles per hour.” This increases blood flow to the muscles and tissues. Very gradually, increase your pace to about 3.6 mph. This level of activity “seems to downregulate pain perception,” Natelson explains. Walking outside is ideal, but if you’re sensitive to temperature changes, light, smells, and other sensations, start a walking program inside your home or at the gym.
    • Avoid your triggers. As much as you can, control your environment so that you limit potential causes of discomfort
    • Ventilate your home well to remove strong smells.
    • Consider earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to minimize or eliminate loud sounds.
    • Take care of your skin and reduce irritation by using gentle products and avoiding temperature extremes, such as very hot or very cold water.
    • Wear loose-fitting clothes and dress in light layers that you can remove if the weight of your clothes starts to irritate your skin.
    • Set boundaries. When her sensitivity to light is especially intense, Pringle simply explains to family members that she can’t watch TV with them right at that moment.
    • Create a retreat. On particularly difficult days, a comfortable, cool, darkened room might be a soothing place to relax and recharge.
    • Wear sunglasses. Inside or out, if you feel sensitive to light or certain patterns, put on some shades and give your eyes a break.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    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

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  • Link Between Allodynia and Fibromyalgia

    Have you ever tried resting in bed, but the sheets are somehow painful enough to keep you awake? Have you ever been outside on a warm day only to have a cool breeze or gust of wind hurt your body all over? Or how about this one: has the elastic on your sleeves, pants, or socks bothered you so badly that you just had to change clothes or go naked for a bit? If you’re reading this and don’t have fibromyalgia, these scenarios may sound absurd. But the struggle is real, folks, and it’s called allodynia.

    Allodynia and fibromyalgia often go together. For example, I’ve literally had to get up in the middle of the night a few times in life just to shave my legs because the irritation and pain from my pajamas or sheets touching the hair was keeping me awake. So I’ve been shaving every day of my life for years now just to avoid that sensation.

    The best way I have found to help people understand what I’m dealing with is to say, “Think about the most sensitive places on your body. It could be your lips, fingertips, tongue, or whatever. Now imagine that your whole body and even your muscles are made from the same nerves that are found in those places. Then think about how it would feel if it was overly stimulated all the time. That’s a lot like what I experience when the wind blows and even sometimes when I’m gently touched by my partner or pet.”

    Just What is Allodynia?

    Researchers at the UK-based Cardiff University explain that “neuropathic pain is caused by damage to- or dysfunction of- the peripheral and central nervous system, rather than stimulation of pain receptors.” If you’ve done any reading at all about fibromyalgia, then these are ideas you should definitely be familiar with. In fact, they add that “neuropathic pain commonly results in ‘spontaneous’ pains. Some of these sensations appear to have a ‘life of their own and are bizarre.” Bizarre and spontaneous sensations and pains? Sounds like an average day when you’re dealing with fibromyalgia, doesn’t it? Well, allodynia is one of those spontaneous pains.

    You see, allodynia falls into a category of “evoked pains” which are “usually exaggerated responses to innocuous events that do not cause pain in people with ‘normal’ pain pathways.” Ok, now we’re getting somewhere, aren’t we? This explains why those without fibro usually have no concept of what this is like. Allodynia is specifically pain that comes from simple contact which isn’t usually painful. Like blowing wind, unshaven legs, and sheets touching your skin.

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    Kinds of Allodynia

    There are three forms of allodynia. First is touch or tactile, meaning the pain that comes from the touch of, for example, clothing against the skin. Second is mechanical allodynia which is caused by movement across the skin from things like towels used for drying off, the brushing of bed sheets, and yes, even the wind. Lastly is thermal or temperature-related allodynia. That’s referring to hot or cold temperatures that are not extreme enough to damage your tissues. Indeed, the temperature may be rather. But with allodynia, it feels extreme so we might refer to it as temperature sensitivity.

    You can actually have just one form or any combination of allodynia, and even all three. As you can see from the personal examples I shared, I obviously have the first two kinds. The third is hit or miss for me, but it’s definitely a problem. And your fibro experience may be similar to mine or very different. Nevertheless, allodynia and fibromyalgia go hand-in-hand as should be evident by now.

    Treating Allodynia and Fibromyalgia

    Allodynia is a type of pain commonly associated with fibromyalgia. It can be really difficult for non-fibro people to understand. And unfortunately, like fibromyalgia, allodynia cannot be cured. Rather, they must be managed. One treatment often recommended to help the muscular pain associated with fibro is massage. However, I have to use this method sparingly and in short bursts. My allodynia keeps me from enjoying a massage for longer than 45 minutes if I’m lucky. So be mindful that massage therapy can make it worse, but it also helps to simply know your limitations and tell the therapist when you’ve had enough.

    Some fibro patients get allodynia pain relief from topical creams like Tiger Balm, Aspercreme, Lidocaine, or BioFreeze. Certain drugs used for the moderate treatment of pain have helped some fibro patients deal with their allodynia as well. Medications such as Tramadol, Lyrica, and Gabapentin are effective for treating a number of symptoms, including the pain from allodynia and fibromyalgia.

    Have you found a particular treatment, method, or remedy for allodynia and fibromyalgia that works for you? Please share it with us because every little bit helps in this community!

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  • Fibromyalgia Diagnosis | Is Fibromyalgia Genetic? How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?

    People with fibromyalgia often ask, “Is fibromyalgia genetic?” It’s a hard question to answer, especially when little is known about how fibromyalgia works. But it’s something that could be relevant to getting the best possible treatment. So let’s look at the evidence.

    Is fibromyalgia genetic?

    If you have fibromyalgia, there’s a good chance that you know someone in your family who also has it. According to research, fibromyalgia does tend to run in families. And that implies that there is a genetic component to the disease.

    The fact that fibromyalgia might be genetic means that the genes that are responsible for so much about the way your body works are passing along fibromyalgia.

    But that also means that if someone in your family has fibromyalgia, then you are also likely to develop fibromyalgia.

    What does that mean for you?

    Because we know that fibromyalgia is genetic, we know that having a relative with fibromyalgia is a red flag when it comes to the possibility of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. So if someone in your family has the disease, you should keep on guard for the signs that you are also developing it.

    Fibromyalgia can’t be cured, but it can be treated. And there’s no reason to spend years suffering without any treatment at all from mysterious aches and pains because you didn’t realize you had the disease.

    After all, many people with fibromyalgia can go years before finding out that the cause of their pain is in fact, fibromyalgia.

    So with your knowledge of the fact that fibromyalgia is genetic, you can have a better chance of catching it early.

    How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?

    There are a few warning signs of fibromyalgia that you should watch out for:

    If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor. Tell them if fibromyalgia runs in your family. This will alert them to the possibility that you have fibromyalgia and they should begin tests.

    Just remember that the best way to deal with fibromyalgia is to be proactive about managing your symptoms. And get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

    Fibromyalgia is a difficult disease to live with. It causes chronic fatigue and pain all over the body. And people who have fibromyalgia often find it hard to find a treatment that works for them. That’s why it’s important to get a diagnosis early so you can get effective treatment as soon as possible. There are a few early signs of fibromyalgia that you should look for to tell if you have fibromyalgia.

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    What Are The Early Signs Of Fibromyalgia?

    Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose. And in the early stages, the first signs of fibromyalgia can be very different for different people. One of the best symptoms to look for early on is chronic fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often feel like they can’t seem to get a good rest no matter how much they sleep. And to make things worse, sleeping can be very difficult by itself.

    Just feeling tired all the time is probably worth a trip to your doctor, as chronic fatigue is a symptom of many different conditions.

    In addition, the most obvious symptom, and the one that doctors use to diagnose you is widespread pain. Fibromyalgia pain is located along 18 different points on the body. These are usually in the joints of the limbs and back. A doctor will test you to see if you have pain in 11 of these points, which is sufficient to prove that you have fibromyalgia.

    This pain is typically what causes fibromyalgia patients to visit a doctor, as it is difficult to manage.

    What Should You Do If You Think You Have Fibromyalgia?

    If you have these early signs of fibromyalgia, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. If possible, it’s best to see a doctor who specializes in fibromyalgia. You can contact the National Fibromyalgia Research Association for a list of fibromyalgia specialists in your area. And a doctor who treats fibromyalgia regularly will be more aware of the early signs of fibromyalgia and better equipped to recommend an effective treatment.

    Be honest and thorough when describing your symptoms as it will help the doctor make the best diagnosis possible.

    What Are Some Treatments For Fibromyalgia?

    There are a number of drugs that doctors prescribe to treat fibromyalgia. Often these are anti-depressants, like Lyrica and Cymbalta, that increase the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin helps calm the nerve pain associated with fibromyalgia.

    But there are also other drugs that are new when it comes to treating fibromyalgia but show promise. Drugs like naltrexone offer new hope to people with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia.

    And doctors are rapidly testing new drugs and making advancements in the study of what causes fibromyalgia. Meanwhile, many find that the standard treatments are at least partially effective.

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  • Fibromyalgia Conditions | Fibromyalgia Can Mask Chronic Inflammatory Disease of the Spine and Pelvis

    Fibromyalgia symptoms can mask the presence of chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints of the pelvis and spine, according to new research.

    The study, titled “Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria,” was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. It highlights the importance of vigilant management of fibromyalgia symptoms by doctors and patients, taking into account the possible underlying presence of inflammatory disorders.

    Unlike other rheumatologic diseases, fibromyalgia is non-inflammatory in nature, and recent reports suggest that it is caused by uncontrolled hyper-activation of the pain-associated nervous response.

    Fibromyalgia patients can present a broad spectrum of symptoms, including chronic nocturnal back pain, morning stiffness, and disturbed sleep. However, these are also symptoms of an inflammatory condition called axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

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    The spA is a chronic inflammatory condition involving the spine, pelvis, and surrounding joints. Although SpA and fibromyalgia are very different diseases, they can overlap and share similar symptoms.

    Aiming to determine the incidence of SpA among fibromyalgia patients, a total of 99 patients with fibromyalgia underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation for the identification of structural alterations common in SpA chronic inflammation1, such as bone erosion and spine deformations (sclerosis).

    About 8% of patients presented symptoms of inflammation in pelvic joints, while 17% and 25% presented bone erosion and sclerosis, respectively. Despite the frequency of these symptoms, only 10% of fibromyalgia patients were positively SpA diagnosed, according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria.

    “When approaching the clinical conundrum of differentiating between ‘pure’ fibromyalgia and those cases with an unsuspected underlying inflammatory disease, the physician must attempt to rely [on] on clinical judgment and on available diagnostic tools,” the study’s authors, from medical centers in Tel Aviv, Israel, wrote.

    Through blood tests that evaluate levels of a protein associated with inflammation, known as CRP, the authors found that the diagnosis of SpA was positively associated with increased CRP levels and physical function limitation. This result suggests that CRP could be used as a diagnostic tool for SpA among fibromyalgia patients.

    “These results underscore the importance of recognizing the overlap between inflammatory and centralized pain in each patient and call for increased clinical vigilance in the process of differential diagnosis,” the authors concluded.

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  • Researchers Say Fibromyalgia Pain May Be Linked To Spinal Cord Dysfunction | Fibromyalgia Researches

    According to a study titled “Lengthened Cutaneous Silent Period in Fibromyalgia Suggesting Central Sensitization as a Pathogenesis” and published in the journal PLOS One, dysfunction in spinal cord processing may be responsible for pain in fibromyalgia (FM) patients.

    Among other side effects, Fibromyalgia is portrayed by chronic widespread pain, but the root cause that is responsible for chronic pain in FM is still vague. A recent study has shown that for fibromyalgia pathogenesis, central pain amplification is key, FM pathogenesis also known as “central sensitization” is a process that is characterized by augmented pain and sensory processing in the spinal cord and brain.

    The cutaneous silent period (CSP), a spinal reflex interceded by A-delta cutaneous afferents that are used to evaluate pain processing in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, between FM patients and normal healthy controls were compared by the researchers. The amount of people that were analyzed was 24 fibromyalgia patients (diagnosed according the 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification system) and 24 healthy controls of same age and sex. CSP was checked from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle which is present in the hand between the wrist and the base of the thumb by using standard electro diagnostic equipment, along with patients’ parameters in which statistic information, number of tender points, visual analog scale and fibromyalgia affects surveys scores were included.

    These findings suggest that in the central nervous system, fibromyalgia is linked with pain modulation mechanisms dys-functioning. Also, according to researchers study, there was no correlation between CSP and clinical parameters like VAS score, K-FIQ score, age, and height, which postures questions in the matter of whether to utilize CSP to survey ailment seriousness. As a matter of fact, researchers emphasize that extra reviews are required to additionally assess the relationship between CSP parameters and clinical information.

    The authors write in their report, “In conclusion, dysfunction of supraspinal control may be responsible for pain in FM, giving additional proof that central sensitization underlies the pathogenesis of the disease,”

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