Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that can greatly impact your quality of life. Here’s everything you need to know about fibromyalgia including causes, symptoms, what it feels like, how it can be treated, and when to seek medical treatment. If you need same-day medical care for acute conditions, visit AFC Urgent Care Union City. The clinic is open seven days a week– just walk in today!
What is fibromyalgia and what causes it
The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is aches and pain over the entire body. The pain is ongoing, typically lasting over three months. There are other early symptoms of fibromyalgia, including shivering, increased sweating, a heightened sense of smell, increased sensitivity to touch, numbness in the extremities, and confusion. These symptoms may be present before or concurrently with body pain.
Fibromyalgia may also cause fatigue, stiffness, and sleep problems. Headaches, memory issues, anxiety, and depression are other common symptoms.
What fibromyalgia flare-ups feel like: signs and symptoms
While fibromyalgia is a constant, dull pain, it can also involve sudden attacks known as flare-ups. Flare-ups of mild to severe pain come on suddenly and may feel like aching, throbbing, burning, or stabbing. The pain may be present in multiple tender points throughout the body, often affecting the lower back and legs.
Fibromyalgia attacks can happen to anyone with the condition, but they are most common in women between ages 0-65. Flare-ups are often caused by stressful events, such as an accident, surgery, overexercising, lack of sleep, or the death of a loved one. Although fibromyalgia flare-ups can feel like inflammation in the joints, muscles, and other tissues, the condition does not cause inflammation.
Managing fibromyalgia at home
There are many ways to manage and treat fibromyalgia at home. Reducing stress, meditation, and getting sufficient sleep can improve symptoms. Exercises like yoga, stretching, tai-chi, and aerobics for 2-3 days per week for 20-30 minutes can also help. Reducing or eliminating sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco products, processed foods, and gluten may relieve symptoms. A doctor can give you a specific diet and exercise plan that fits your needs and lifestyle. You may need to meet with a physical therapist or personal trainer to learn how to do the moves safely and effectively. Although fibromyalgia cannot be cured, a doctor can help you identify and make lifestyle changes that will help reduce your symptoms and flare-ups, leading to a better quality of life.
When to seek treatment for symptoms
There is no test, such as a blood or urine test, for fibromyalgia and it cannot be cured. It is a waxing and waning condition that ranges in severity. However, you can receive a diagnosis and get treatment for the symptoms. If you have pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, that is present for more than three months and is not due to another disorder or illness, then you should seek treatment for fibromyalgia. The doctor can give you a diagnosis and treatment, or determine if your symptoms are caused by another condition.
A doctor can also prescribe medication that may help alleviate your symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups. Medication options include antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs. Prescription painkillers typically aren’t used to treat fibromyalgia as it is an ongoing condition, so the risk of dependency is high, and the long-term use of painkillers may make symptoms feel more severe over time.
