What is Fibromyalgia, you ask? This condition, also known as Fibrositis, occurs when the way your brain and spinal chord process sensations gets confused between experiencing them as painful or non-painful. This can be caused by repeated nerve stimulation which creates an abnormal increase in the chemicals which signal pain. The end result is musculoskeletal and nerve pain throughout the body at specific points. Memory, mood, and sleep issues accompany this since the pain can be very distracting as you try to go about your daily life. I want to take the time to cover this issue because it can play into pelvic pain conditions and heightening what our brains sense as painful.
What conditions can coexist with Fibromyalgia? Here is a pretty extensive list:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Migraine and other types of headaches
Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
Temporomandibular joint disorders
Anxiety
Depression
Postural tachycardia syndrome
What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia? The most common occurrences are fatigue, widespread pain, and brain fog known as "fibro-fog". The fatigue must last for more than 3 months and occur even after a reasonable amount of sleep to qualify. The pain must be above and below the waist and on both sides of the body. The brain fog should impair one's ability to focus, concentrate, and pay attention to mental tasks for any length of time. If you experience all 3 of these indicators then you may want to go get tested by a neurologist. I personally have been tested for this, as someone who has long suffered from back pain, sleeplessness, and these little sparks that seem to randomly occur, but I was negative. I recently learned that these spark sensations I feel are actually food sensitivities! Who knew?
How do you test for Fibromyalgia? It's important to note that other conditions can be confused with this one because they have similar or overlapping symptoms, including Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. This is why it's so important to write down everything you experience and then have a doctor assess you based on the whole picture, not just your painful spots. For instance, sleep apnea can be another cause for restless sleep due to not breathing properly, and should definitely be tested. These blood tests can be run to rule out other possible ailments:
Complete blood count
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Cyclic citrullinated peptide test
Rheumatoid factor
Thyroid function tests
Anti-nuclear antibody
Celiac serology
Vitamin D
One of the unique signs of Fibro is paired points of pain, which are symmetrical on the body. There are also key spots where the pain often occurs, such as at the elbows, knees, or on the back of the neck. My neurologist pressed into these places specifically to test me, as well as had me do some balance tests. More recently doctors now test to see if you have pain in 4 of 5 of these areas:
Left upper region, including shoulder, arm or jaw
Right upper region, including shoulder, arm or jaw
Left lower region, including hip, buttock or leg
Right lower region, including hip, buttock or leg
Axial region, which includes neck, back, chest or abdomen
What causes Fibromyalgia? No surprise here, this condition is more common in women. It also can exist alongside arthritis and it tends to run in families and may be due to a genetic mutation. It can be brought on by trauma, significant stress, infection, or even surgery, but it is also possible for it to develop gradually over time without any clear indicator. This is what makes it difficult to treat. As with any pain condition, it's important to know the root cause of the issue to appropriately go about conquering it.
How do you treat Fibromyalgia? There is no "cure" for this condition, but of course there are things you can do to mediate the symptoms and live a fully functioning life. Medications such as pain relievers, anti-depressants, and anti-seizure meds should help reduce the pain (I personally take the latter in the form of Lyrica when my nerve pain acts up). In addition to this, it's suggested to try physical or occupational therapy, counseling, Acupuncture, Yoga, Tai Chi, massages, exercise regularly, stress management, follow a strict sleep regimen, and pace yourself. Everyone is different, so your self care could look totally opposite to someone else's, but it's important to try a few approaches and figure out what works best for you. As always, if you suffer from this disorder I recommend following the hashtag on Instagram and searching for support groups to help you navigate it.