Fibromyalgia might be a common disease, but it’s not well understood. It involves pain throughout the body, with especially tender spots near some joints. The pain associated with fibromyalgia prevents sufferers from functioning normally, partly because they constantly feel exhausted.
Fibromyalgia symptoms may come and go, vary from person to person, and often mimic other conditions, which can make diagnosis difficult. If you have been living with this life-altering, chronic condition, you owe it to yourself to try Carolina Spine & Pain for Fibromyalgia treatment in Greenville, SC.
Call us today at 864-539-4549 to schedule your appointment with a Fibromyalgia specialist.
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What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that’s characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, depression, fatigue, as well as additional physical and mental symptoms that vary depending on the individual.
What Are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The symptoms of fibromyalgia and their severity vary from person to person. Widespread pain in the joints, muscles, and connective tissue is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia. Other symptoms with the potential to severely impact your daily functioning include:
Chronic Pain
The unifying and most common fibromyalgia symptom is chronic pain without cause throughout the body. The pain may range in severity from a dull, burning ache to a sharp pain, and it can move to different parts of the body.
Chronic Fatigue
Fibromyalgia can also have a substantial effect on your energy levels. If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you may find yourself struggling to do basic tasks and may even wake up from a long night of sleep feeling exhaustion.
Mental Exhaustion
Fibromyalgia can also leave you struggling to piece together coherent thoughts. A general fog over the mind can leave you struggling to concentrate and this may affect your ability to speak, remember things, and may even cause dizziness.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is another common sign that you may have fibromyalgia. IBS can cause severe cramping, constipation, gas, as well as diarrhea and is a chronic condition that will periodically flare up.
Painful Menstruation
One common symptom associated with fibromyalgia is a substantial amount of pain during menstruation. While a variety of conditions could be responsible for painful periods or they could be naturally occurring, a sudden increase in the amount of pain experienced during menstruation with no other changes could be a sign of fibromyalgia.
What Are Some of the Causes of Fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia isn’t known. It is believed to be the result of genetic and environmental factors. It is also believed that physical or emotional stress can trigger the start of fibromyalgia symptoms. Still, it may appear without any obvious cause.
The possible causes of fibromyalgia include:
- Repetitive injuries at work and strain in certain groups of muscles, ligaments and tendons are associated with the development of fibromyalgia.
- Physical trauma can also lead to development of long-term pain over the muscles and fibrous tissues along with tender points typically associated with fibromyalgia.
- Alterations in the pain perception pathways or increased sensitivity to pain can also be linked to fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is more common in people with:
- Mood disorders
- Depression and emotional stress
- Substance abuse problems
- Previous pain syndromes
- Family history of fibromyalgia
- Pain from trauma or an injury
- An illness such as a virus
- Rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
What Are Options for Fibromyalgia Treatment in Greenville, SC?
If you are living with fibromyalgia, you probably already know that there’s currently no cure for the pain and fatigue you often feel, but living with the condition can be a bit easier with medications, lifestyle modifications, and self-care strategies.
Generally, management of fibromyalgia will involve a combination of:
Education
It is first important to understand your condition so that you can manage it well. The more you know about it, the more control you will have. Understanding fibromyalgia means that you can make informed decisions about your healthcare and play an active role in its management.
Exercise
Evidence shows that regular exercise improves the symptoms of fibromyalgia such as fatigue, pain, and sleep quality. Keep in mind that there’s no one form of exercise that’s more effective than another, but it is important to choose something you enjoy so that you will keep doing it.
Antidepressants
Drugs used for treating depression can sometimes be used to effectively treat fibromyalgia. The drugs work just as well in fibromyalgia patients who are not suffering from depression as those that are. They work by changing the levels of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters that are abnormal, in people with fibromyalgia.
Anti-Seizure Medications
Medications used for treating epilepsy are often useful in reducing pain and improving sleep in fibromyalgia patients. The medications prevent sensitive nerves from sending too many pain signals to the brain. The medications are believed to relieve pain by blocking certain chemicals that may increase pain transmission.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to be incredibly effective in treating fibromyalgia patients, especially when it comes to alleviating pain. Patients report a significant reduction in back, neck, and leg pain after just one visit. Since the treatment offers immediate relief without medication, chiropractic adjustments are considered some of the best treatments for fibromyalgia.
Carolina Spine & Pain in Greenville, SC offers the above treatments for fibromyalgia along with several others. If you suffer from the condition, call us at 864-539-4549 to set up an appointment and get started with treatment.
Suffering from Fibromyalgia in Greenville, SC? We Can Help!
Fibromyalgia can be a lifelong condition that causes pain, tenderness, and fatigue. While it does not have a single known cause, several different treatment options are available to provide relief from the pain associated with the condition.
If you are a resident of Greenville, SC, and would like to learn more about the treatment options available to you, get in touch with Carolina Spine & Pain by calling us at 864-539-4549 to set up an appointment with one of our fibromyalgia experts. We look forward to hearing from you!