How Painful is Fibromyalgia? 7 Little-known Things About This Condition
Millions of people suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain and fatigue. While the cause is unknown, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating for those who suffer from it. But the question is, how painful is fibromyalgia?
Unfortunately, many people with the condition go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. If you are one of the millions of people who live with fibromyalgia every day, you know how painful and frustrating it can be.
In this blog post, we will delve deep into this condition from how painful is fibromyalgia to how chiropractic can help alleviate such effects. Let’s begin!
How Painful is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a condition that is characterized by chronic pain and fatigue. The pain of fibromyalgia can be mild to severe, and it can fluctuate throughout the day. Many people with fibromyalgia also experience other symptoms, such as sleep problems, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and depression. While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
How Painful is Fibromyalgia?: The Diagnosis
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia can take time to confirm, because the symptoms resemble those of other conditions, such as:
- hypothyroidism
- autoimmune disorders
- Lyme disease
There are no laboratory tests for fibromyalgia, which can lead to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Before diagnosing fibromyalgia, doctors rule out other condition possibilities.
The American College of Rheumatology has established the following three criteria for fibromyalgia diagnosis:
- Pain and symptoms over the previous week,
- As well as degrees of tiredness, lack of sleep,
- Or cognitive difficulties Symptoms that have been experienced for at least three months.
Who Is at Risk for Fibromyalgia?
While fibromyalgia can affect people of all ages, it is most common in women between the ages of 30 and 50. Also, you may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia if a parent or sibling also has the condition, or if you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus.
It is estimated that fibromyalgia affects approximately five million Americans. However, because fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, this number may be even higher.
How Painful Is Fibromyalgia?: The Triggers
Symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary from person to person, but the most common symptom is pain. The pain of fibromyalgia can be described as a dull ache that is widespread throughout the body. It is often worse in the morning and improves as the day goes on.
Many people with fibromyalgia also experience what are known as “trigger points.” These are areas of the body that are especially sensitive to touch. When these trigger points are pressed, they can cause pain in other parts of the body, such as the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and knees. Thus, it can make everyday activities extremely painful and difficult to do. Even simple things like brushing your hair or going for a walk can be excruciating.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia, in addition to those mentioned above, include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Postural tachycardia syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
- Migraine and other types of headaches
How Painful Is Fibromyalgia?: Prevention
How painful is fibromyalgia? There is no known cure for fibromyalgia, but there are things you can do to prevent it from getting worse. First, it is important to get regular exercise. Exercise can help to improve sleep, reduce stress, and increase energy levels. It is also important to eat a healthy diet and avoid smoking.
If you are under a lot of stress, it is important to find ways to manage it. Managing stress can help to prevent fibromyalgia from getting worse.
Finally, if you have been injured, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. Getting treatment for an injury can help to prevent fibromyalgia from developing.
How Painful Is Fibromyalgia?: The Causes
The definite causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are several theories. One theory is that it is caused by a problem with the central nervous system. Another theory is that fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder. It is also believed that fibromyalgia can be triggered by physical or emotional trauma.
In addition, there are several reasons why this may happen:
- Genetics may play a role in the development of fibromyalgia. Because fibromyalgia tends to run in families, there may be genetic changes that make you more likely to get it.
- It is possible that infections or other illnesses may cause fibromyalgia or make symptoms worse.
- Physical or emotional events. A physical accident, for example, might induce fibromyalgia. Psychological stress may also trigger the condition over time.
Chiropractic for Fibromyalgia
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments that can help alleviate the pain and other symptoms associated with it. One such treatment is chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to relieve pain, including spinal manipulation, massage, and exercises.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-invasive treatment that focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Chiropractic care can help relieve the pain of fibromyalgia by reducing inflammation and improving nerve function.
Chiropractic care can also help to improve sleep, reduce stress, and increase energy levels. In addition, chiropractic care can help to strengthen the immune system and improve overall health.
Other Alternatives and Home Remedies
How painful is fibromyalgia? There are a number of other alternatives and home remedies that may help to relieve the pain of fibromyalgia. These include:
Pain relievers
If you suffer from fibromyalgia pain, it can be tough to deal with on a daily basis. Don’t simply accept the pain–instead, speak with your healthcare professional about possible methods of managing it. If your pain is mild, one potential solution is taking over-the-counter pain medication like:
- acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- aspirin
- ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen can all help you feel better. They can also help you sleep better and manage your pain more effectively. However, it’s important to note that these drugs do have the potential for side effects and don’t guarantee fibromyalgia pain relief for everyone.
Antidepressants
Another fibromyalgia medication your doctor may prescribe is antidepressants. That’s because fibromyalgia and depression often go hand-in-hand. Depression can make fibromyalgia symptoms worse, and fibromyalgia can trigger depression.
Exercise
In some people, a combination of low-impact exercise and resistance training may help with pain, soreness, stiffness, and sleep disturbances. Other therapies, such as tai chi, yoga, and qi gong, may also be beneficial. It’s vital to maintain consistency if exercise is assisting with symptoms in order for results to be seen.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture therapy could potentially help improve the quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia. The number of sessions may differ based on a person’s symptoms and how severe they are. Other treatments that work well alongside acupuncture, such as massage, may help lessen pain symptoms. However, there is not enough concrete evidence to assess whether or not these methods are truly effective.
Psychotherapy
Therapy sessions may help those with fibromyalgia manage their pain symptoms. Behavior modification therapy is a type of CBT that tries to reduce stress- and pain-inducing behaviors while also boosting beneficial behaviors. It entails learning new coping skills as well as relaxation strategies.
Changing Your Diet
Diet is important for people with fibromyalgia. Making certain dietary changes may help them manage their condition, including:
- Eating high-energy meals that are low in sugar is an excellent way to maintain your energy levels all day long. Foods such as almonds, beans, oats, avocado, and tofu can assist with tiredness throughout the day as a result of the condition.
- Removing gluten from their diet, even if they do not have celiac disease.
- Furthermore, avoiding fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols may help.
Being at a moderate weight and having a balanced diet is not only crucial for good health, but it can also make life more enjoyable.
Are You One of the Millions?
Don’t let fibromyalgia control your life. There are treatments available that can help you manage the pain and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
If you think you may have fibromyalgia or still wondering how painful is fibromyalgia, make an appointment with your doctor and check out the treatments that can help you with your condition. Chiropractic care is one such treatment that is proven effective and non-invasive.
