An Overview of Fibromyalgia and it’s Treatments, Symptoms, and Causes

Your muscles and joints hurt all over your body as a result of fibromyalgia. More importantly, it can also cause mental adverse effects like memory loss and fatigue. A healthcare expert can assist you in finding treatments to control your symptoms even though there is no recognised cause for fibromyalgia and no known cure.

What is fibromyalgia, exactly?

Your entire body hurts and is delicate when you have fibromyalgia, a persistent medical condition. It leads to musculoskeletal pain and fatigue.

During flare-ups, fibromyalgia patients often experience intermittent symptoms. Sometimes dealing with fibromyalgia might feel exhausting and challenging. The peaks and troughs between being in good health and experiencing an unexpected flare-up of symptoms can be frightening. Your feelings and the signs of fibromyalgia are real.

Although studies have indicated that certain medical illnesses, stress, and other changes in your life may cause it to emerge, the specific etiology of fibromyalgia is unknown. You could be more likely to develop fibromyalgia yourself if one of your biological parents does.

Generally, the first indication of fibromyalgia is any new aching in your body, especially in your muscles. Believe in your instincts and pay attention to your body’s suggestions. If you develop any new pain, exhaustion, or other symptoms, even ones that seem to come and go, consult a physician.

Who is most impacted by fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia can strike anyone at any time. All ages, including children, are affected. In the US, about 4 million people suffer from fibromyalgia.

Diagnosis of fibromyalgia is more prevalent in people over 40 and is most common in middle-aged women.

Causes and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Here are some of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia. Pain and exhaustion are two of the most prevalent symptoms in fibromyalgia. You might also encounter:

• Fatigue.
• Migraines and headaches.
• Difficulties with bladder control.
• Muscle discomfort or soreness.
• Digestive issues, such as constipation and diarrhea.
• Jaw and face pain (temporomandibular joint disorders).

Some of the mental and emotional symptoms of fibromyalgia can also include:

• Anxiety.
• Other sleep disorders, such as insomnia.
• Depression.
• Memory issues (sometimes known as “brain fog” or “fibro fog”).

What brings about fibromyalgia?

Doctors are unsure about the exact cause of fibromyalgia.

The genes you inherit from your biological parents may raise your risk of developing fibromyalgia. Studies between biological parents and their offspring have connected fibromyalgia, indicating that sickness may run in families.

Individuals who have fibromyalgia typically have lower pain thresholds than the general population. Experts believe that fibromyalgia may be caused by hereditary alterations in the genes that make the neurotransmitters that your brain uses to send and receive pain signals to your body, despite the lack of a definite cause-and-effect relationship.

What are the risk factors for fibromyalgia?

Despite the fact that doctors are unaware of the precise cause of fibromyalgia, some medical diseases and other issues are risk factors for developing it. Some of the fibromyalgia risk factors include:

Your Gender: Those who are born with the gender given to them have a twofold increased risk of developing fibromyalgia.

Your Age: Those over the age of 40 are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. But anyone can be affected, including small toddlers.

Infections: Fibromyalgia can develop in people who have infections and experience significant symptoms.

Injuries: Fibromyalgia can occasionally occur in those who have gone through a significant injury or emotional or physical trauma.

Stress: Being stressed out for any number of reasons might be bad for your health in general but also adds on to the symptoms and causes of fibromyalgia.

Chronic conditions: Those with chronic conditions such osteoarthritis, depression, anxiety disorders, persistent back pain, and irritable bowel syndrome are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.

What causes a flare-up of fibromyalgia?

An episode of fibromyalgia may be triggered by certain occurrences or changes in one’s life. Because each person is different, what affects one person may not affect you. In general, anything that makes you more stressed out can cause a flare-up, such as: 

• Changes to your daily routine.
• Climate or temperature changes.
• Changes to one’s diet or insufficient nutrition
• Stress on your emotions as a result of your work, finances, or social life.
• Getting sick.
• Hormone change.
• Getting insufficient sleep or changing your sleep schedule
• Making changes to your regular fibromyalgia treatment regimen like starting new Medications or treatments, etc. 

Testing and Diagnosis

How is the existence of fibromyalgia established?

A doctor can establish whether you have fibromyalgia by performing a physical exam and talking to you about your medical history. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and when you first noticed them.

For fibromyalgia, there is no test for diagnosis. It is typically diagnosed through a differential diagnosis or a medical process of elimination. To get a diagnosis, your doctor will analyze a number of disorders with similar symptoms. Your ultimate diagnosis is the outcome of this process.

Your doctor can order blood tests to rule out additional frequent causes of weariness, like anemia or issues with your thyroid gland.

Handling and Treatment
In what ways is fibromyalgia managed? Each and every fibromyalgia treatment is not universally successful. Together with you, your healthcare provider will choose a course of treatment that minimizes your symptoms. As your symptoms change, such as when they get better or worse, it’s always best to let your doctor know.

You might require the following treatments:

• Sleep medication.
• The cognitive behavioral approach.
• Exercises like strength training or stretches.
• Antidepressants.
• Prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications for pain relief.
• Treatment for stress management.

What are the four stages of fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a dynamic illness. This suggests that there is no predetermined period of time during which your experience with fibromyalgia symptoms will occur. Instead, you’ll probably encounter symptoms at random.

Your doctor might offer you tiered fibromyalgia treatment depending on how you’re feeling. These stages don’t correspond to an orderly course of therapy. Each person is different, and fibromyalgia will have a different effect on your body. The stages can help you understand the types of therapy you’ll need to regulate your symptoms because they are more like broad groups. The following are the four stages of fibromyalgia treatment:

• Psychological interventions: You can learn how to maintain a positive self-concept with the help of a mental health expert. They will provide guidance on how to handle situations that affect your mental and emotional health.
• Using drugs as a form of therapy to manage your symptoms.
• Non-pharmacological therapies: Your doctor or physical therapist will teach you stretches and exercises to strengthen, loosen, and align your muscles and joints.
• Daily functioning: An occupational therapist can help you get through your daily routine if you have severe symptoms that make it difficult for you to engage in your typical activities.

If I have fibromyalgia, what can I anticipate?

You should get ready to deal with the symptoms of fibromyalgia for a very long time, possibly the rest of your life. After discovering drugs that are effective for them, some fibromyalgia sufferers experience fewer flare-ups and fewer symptoms. Ask your doctor how frequently you need to return for adjustments to your drugs or therapies.

Your life will be affected by fibromyalgia, a serious illness. Sometimes you may feel that “it’s all in your head” some days, it’s not. Speak to your doctor or a mental health professional if you need help managing stress and other emotional issues.

What side effects might fibromyalgia cause?
Hospitalization is more likely to occur in fibromyalgia patients, due to mental health symptoms, fatigue or pain. It is more likely to cause memory and concentration problems as well. 

It is best to speak to your healthcare provider the minute you discover changes of any kind in the symptoms you experience. Particularly if you feel like they may be impacting your mental health or your memory in anyway. 

When should I plan to visit my healthcare provider?

If you notice any of the following new symptoms, such as discomfort, weariness, or alterations in your mental health:

• Migraines or headaches.
• Suicidal or depressive thoughts.
• Issues with sleep.
• Memory issues or the impression that your brain is “foggy.”
• Do I suffer from fibromyalgia or another illness?
• What relevant questions can I ask my healthcare provider? 

Which therapies will be most effective for me?

• Should I consult a mental health expert?
• Does this imply that fibromyalgia is more likely to affect my family members?
• Which exams will I require?
• How frequently will I require further appointments to modify my treatments?

Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain throughout your body. As a result, you can also feel tired and have a cloudy head. Although there is no proven treatment for fibromyalgia, your doctor will work with you to develop a plan of care that lessens your symptoms.

Your symptoms and the actual ailment of fibromyalgia are real, despite the fact that no one is exactly sure what causes it. Whatever you feel is true and important, regardless of how ephemeral or difficult it may be to communicate. Although managing a chronic condition like fibromyalgia on your own can be challenging, you don’t have to. See your doctor or a mental health professional for advice on how to handle stress and maintain a positive self-perception. Get in touch with us for more information or to make an appointment.We’re reachable at (706) 279-2635 for our centers in Dalton, GA & Chattanooga, TN, and at (678) 450-1222 for our center in Gainesville, GA.