Fibromyalgia

What is Fibromyalgia?

Often called the invisible disease, fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by sleep, memory, mood and fatigue issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.

7 to 10 million Americans suffer from Fibromyalgia. Women are more at risk for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome than men. In fact, 90% of reported cases occurred in females. Patients With established rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjorgen's syndrome are at a higher risk of developing fibromyalgia during the course of their disease. 

What are some symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Certain medical conditions are commonly associated with fibromyalgia, such as: tension, headaches and migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder syndrome, premenstrual tension syndrome, cold intolerance, and restless leg syndrome. 

Fibromyalgia is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Musculoskeletal pain
• Severe fatigue
• Multiple tender points occurring in localized areas like the neck, shoulders, or hips
• Sleep disturbances
• Morning stiffness
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating or confusion
• Increased irritability

What treatment options are available for Fibromyalgia?

Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia and no single treatment that addresses all of the symptoms of the disease. The musculoskeletal pain and fatigue experienced by patients are chronic problems that tend to have a waxing and waning intensity. 

At SpinalCare Physical Medicine, we specialize in non-invasive and non-surgical treatment for the symptoms of fibromyalgia that do not involved the use of potentially addictive prescription pain medications to keep our patients pain-free and healthy.

The use of therapeutic massage, which manipulates the muscles and soft tissues of the body, can help ease deep muscle pain. It also helps relieve the pain of tender points, muscle spasms, and tense muscles. Similarly, physical therapy, which works on a broader range of muscles, can gently stretch, soften, lengthen, and realign the connective tissue to ease discomfort caused by fibromyalgia symptoms.