Fibromyalgia is a syndrome whose main symptom is musculoskeletal pain throughout the body. The patient is likely to also report fatigue and problems with mood, sleep, and memory.
Scientists believe that fibromyalgia occurs when the patient’s brain overreacts to pain signals. For this reason, patients with fibromyalgia may also suffer from severe headaches, depression, and even TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders in the jaw.
Signs of fibromyalgia typically begin after the patient endured a traumatic incident such as a car accident. They can also start when the patient is recovering from surgery or after suffering some type of major psychological stress, such as a death in the family or financial problems. Sometimes, fibromyalgia may have no apparent triggering incident.
Today, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia. However, it is possible to control the symptoms of the disorder.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Fibromyalgia pain is characterized as a dull, persistent ache, sometimes becoming worse when being physically touched. The ache usually lasts more than three months, and it radiates throughout the patient’s body.
Patients with fibromyalgia tend to have trouble sleeping due to the pain they feel. As a result, they often wake up tired and unrefreshed even after going to bed early enough and waking up at a normal time. Patients with this disorder usually suffer from other sleep issues, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Fibromyalgia is often reported as creating brain fog, bowel disorders, joint problems, and emotional issues. Your doctor will test you for other underlying conditions that may cause these same symptoms before diagnosing you with fibromyalgia because many health conditions have similar signs.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
It is confounding why fibromyalgia hurts, but researchers believe that it is due to repeated nerve stimulation. This overstimulation causes permanent changes in the brain – a sort of “pain memory” that has trouble shutting off.
Treatment for Fibromyalgia
Treating fibromyalgia usually involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes in order to minimize the symptoms. Your physician may prescribe a pain reliever, antidepressant, and even physical therapy.
Counseling has been shown to be very helpful in the effective management of fibromyalgia symptoms. You will likely be advised to try to reduce or remove causes of stress in your life, get more sleep, and exercise in ways you enjoy.
Fibromyalgia Treatment in Maryland
If you think you might have fibromyalgia, or if your current treatment methods have failed to alleviate your symptoms, we are here to help. At Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, our doctors and specialists provide the most innovative and advanced care for fibromyalgia patients.
At our facilities in Central Maryland, we offer compassionate care, the latest surgical techniques, pain management therapy, and innovative rehabilitation tools. We have full-service treatment that includes our own physical therapists, who will work with your physician to help bring you much-needed relief from your fibromyalgia symptoms.
You do not have to live with constant pain any longer. Call us at (410) 644-1880 or (855) 4MD-BONE (463-2663), or request an appointment online now. We are conveniently located in Catonsville, Columbia, Eldersburg, and Ellicott City. Our goal for you is to help ease your fibromyalgia symptoms – we want you to love living your life!
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