WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA (FM)?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder
- 90% are Women
- Cause is unknown
- Affects about 10 million people
- Symptoms can accumulate over time or have a triggering event
- Could be accompanied by ⇒ TMJ, tension headaches, IBS, anxiety, and depression
- Possible trigger » emotional stress, physical trauma, hormonal changes, or viral infection
- Characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues
- Because the brain has its wires crossed, a person with fibromyalgia can suffer on a greater scale
HOW IT HAPPENS –
The repeated nerve stimulation causes the brain to change. This change causes an abnormal increase in the chemicals in the brain causing pain. The brain’s pain receptors form a memory of the pain and become more sensitive to it.
Fibromyalgia is often characterized by pain and fatigue. Both overwhelming at times, the pain is the chief complaint. The pain can be widespread pain or focused to one place. The exact places of the pain are called tender points. For a diagnosis of FM, pain must be present in 11 of the 18 tender points.
When the pain radiates in those points spreads, aches, and your body feels as if it is ablaze – that is fibromyalgia!
Accompanying the pain and fatigue are their good friends: insomnia, memory problems, (or “brain fog”) and mood disturbances.
In addition to other annoying symptoms that can occur with Fibromyalgia » morning stiffness, migraines, depression, problems with balance, anxiety, IBS, painful menstrual cycles, numbness or tingling in your extremities, sensitivity to loud noises or light, restless legs, Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and temperature sensitivity.
Most frustrating is the lack of sleep associated with pain. This causes fatigue that interferes with work and home life. Followed by a lack of focus.
Remember how I said earlier the brain had its wires crossed with pain?
Well not only does it affect the way a person with Fibromyalgia deals with pain but also how he or she feels because of changes in brain chemicals. A school of thought is speculating whether lower pain thresholds are caused by reduced effectiveness in the body’s natural endorphin painkillers (serotonin). Or the increased presence of “Substance P” amplifying pain signals.
HELPING FIBROMYALGIA.
- Getting at least 8 hours of sleep ⇔ If you are not sleeping you won’t feel good!
a. Limit caffeine and fluids before bed.
b. Make your bedroom comfortable with lighting and temperature.
c. Don’t use your bed for watching television .
d. Avoid naps.
e. Don’t eat large meals before bed. - Aside from rest, try to exercise. I know I said the word everyone hates to hear “exercise,” but I know you can do it! I know it will be hard at first. But I promise it will become easier. It wards off depression and becoming overweight from inactivity, and over time it helps fight the pain and fatigue.
a. Find something you love to do and do it! Maybe it is swimming, walking, dancing, or aerobics?
b. Start out small! Start where you can. Five minutes? Ten minutes?
c. Don’t over-do it! Do what you can, when you can. If you can’t work out a day, don’t. You’ll catch up!
d. Celebrate small victories!
e. Join an online exercise support system. They are helpful and inspirational when you need an extra push of motivation to start/keep going on your path. You will find their forums accommodate various needs. sparkpeople.com myfitnesspal.com - IF you are considering becoming more active, it could be a good time to consider eating healthier (or vice-versa). For some, it would be the ideal time to start. Sleep in combination with movement, and eating healthier sounds like a recipe to send Fibromyalgia packing!
- Talk to your doctor! He or she knows what is best for you in this stage of your life.
National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
What People Say
It is like a burning pain or pins-and-needles sensation, similar to the feeling of blood rushing back into your foot after it’s fallen asleep.
Your muscles may feel like they have been overworked or pulled even though you haven’t exercised. Sometimes, your muscles will twitch. Other times they will burn or ache with deep stabbing pain.
Fibromyalgia is like a migraine all over your body.
You know how you feel when something wakes you up in the middle of the night, after just a few hours of sleep? That’s what it’s like every morning, no matter how much I sleep. Sometimes I feel like that all day.
Lupus, Fibro, and Me. My Journey. 