The Ultimate Resource to Fibromyalgia. Also, checkout the main health site.
Fibromyalgia, also referred to as fibrositis, is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and various cognitive issues. It affects muscles and soft tissue, causing those suffering from the disorder to experience chronic muscle pain, tenderness throughout the body, and often emotional stress. The disorder is thought to intensify pain by influencing how a person’s brain processes pain signals. This may be because people with fibromyalgia could have reduced blood flow to parts of the brain. The disorder causes patients to have hypersensitivity to sensations that are not normally painful.
While symptoms may increase over time with no initial trauma or medical reason, they may also be brought on by psychological or physical trauma, surgery, or even infection. Those who have fibromyalgia have also been known to suffer from tension headaches, joint disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Sometimes, symptoms of fibromyalgia can be mistaken for other medical issues such as osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. However, fibromyalgia impacts a person’s entire body as opposed to the other illnesses that impact targeted areas. In fact, even with pain medication, there are some “trigger areas” that are problematic no matter what. Patients can have more than ten of these particularly tender areas at a time, with persistent pain and discomfort. The disorder could also feel similar to the flu. Women are more likely to get fibromyalgia than men. While symptoms may be similar across all genders, women can also experience intensified and painful menstrual cramps. People with fibromyalgia experience a range of symptoms, including widespread pain that lasts for months at a time, difficulty sleeping or trouble staying asleep, and impaired cognitive abilities. Fibromyalgia tends to cause pain that lasts for longer than a typical headache, sometimes lasting up to three months. This may include full headaches, joint pain, pain caused by muscle stiffness, particularly in the morning. The widespread pain associated with this disorder is said to affect a patient’s entire body and interfere with their ability to sleep. Some patients also experience additional sleep-related symptoms, particularly related to sleep, like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. Patients experiencing the impaired cognitive function associated with fibromyalgia often describe not being able to concentrate or pay attention to tasks that were otherwise normal for them to engage in. People with fibromyalgia typically have to make adjustments to their normal routines to manage stress and pain associated with the disorder. There are no known cures for fibromyalgia, however many medications can help reduce symptoms and regulate pain. Additional lifestyle measures, such as therapy and stress-reducing activities, may also alleviate some fibromyalgia-related difficulties. People suffering from fibromyalgia should work with their doctors to create a multi-faceted treatment plan, which may include medications like antidepressants, muscle relaxers, pain relievers, and even anti-seizure medication. While exercise is difficult to most fibromyalgia patients, it often alleviates pain and decreases pain. People with the painful disorder can use resistance training and low impact cardio, like walking or swimming, to boost energy and potentially reduce symptoms.
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