Definition
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues
Source: Fibromyalgia – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
Below are the symptoms of each category of the body:
Cognitive aphasia
- might have trouble putting the right words together in a sentence, understanding what others say, reading, and writing.
- unable to focus, pay attention, short-term memory loss
Source: https://www.webmd.com/brain/what-is-dysphasiadysphasia
Psychological/emotional
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
Sleep
- Insomnia- inability to fall or stay asleep
- sleep apnea
Musculoskeletal
- difficulty grasping items
- nerve pain
- weakness in the extremities
- numbness/tingling
Other symptoms
- chronic headaches,
- blurry vision
- sensitivity to light,
- sensitivity to odors or smell,
- sensitivity to hot/cold,
- low level sinusitis,
- stiffness in muscles,
- localized intense pain in neck/ back
Etiology- How is it caused?
This is where it gets really complex. According to extensive research done.
- It’s eight to nine times more likely to have FMS than men.
- The most common age range is between 20-50 years old
- A person is more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia if a close-family member also has the condition
- Having a sleep disorder (like sleep apnea) or a rheumatic disorder makes it more likely for someone to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Here are the theories:
- Central sensitization- where the brain and spinal cord has trouble processing pain
- A Mitochondrial Disorder- body has trouble producing energy, as the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell
Source: http://fibromyalgia/newlifeoutlook.com/found-cause-fibromyalgia/
From the book “The Fibromyalgia solution”, by David Dryland, he says a chronic stress response, usually an anxiety disorder, trauma (physical, emotional, or sexual), surgery, or a sleep disorder can trigger this disorder and continue the downward spiral of symptoms.
“Fibromyalgia will not break me. I will break fibromyalgia. I will keep fighting one day at a time and ultimately win.”
Steven Summerhays
Is there a cure?
There is no known cure, but there is much that can be done to mitigate your symptoms
What are some treatments?
Stress response:
- Triad stress method
- progressive muscle relaxation
- exercise, especially cardio
- Epsom salt baths with ashwagandha
- meditation/mindfulness
Sleep disorder:
- do a sleep study
- practice good sleep hygiene (going to bed and rising at around the same time each day)
- take a relaxing bath or shower before bed
- use aromatherapy to help sleep at night (lavender)
- drink some chamomile tea
Exercise:
- cardio at least 3 times a week. Even 5-10 min. of walking per day will help
- low resistance strength training
- stretching
- yoga
Psychological:
- meditation
- mindfulness
- deep breathing
- self-compassion
Pain:
- heat pad
- various prescribed medications from a qualified physician
- quality deep sleep at night
- managing your stress level
- NSAIDS (Tylenol, Ibuprofen)
- Myofascial Release