Most people have heard of fibromyalgia, a disease process that causes pain in the muscles and tendons. They might have relatives who’ve experienced it or seen television commercials advertising fibromyalgia medications. However, the majority of people, including doctors, don’t truly understand fibromyalgia. There still remains debate in the medical field on the true etiology and cause of widespread myofascial pain (pain in the muscles and tendons). The more you know about fibromyalgia, the easier it will be for you to recognize it and seek treatment.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Despite lack of education about it, fibromyalgia is one of today’s most common pain disorders. Misdiagnosis often happens because fibromyalgia causes widespread muscle pain. A patient might have specific trigger points, but his or her entire body may hurt constantly. Another fibromyalgia symptom is severe fatigue. Again, this is a non-specific symptom that doctors might attribute to a number of other conditions.
The neck, shoulders, hips and back are usually trigger points. Patients report feeling achy and tired all the time and as if their muscles have been stretched or pulled even without exercise. Other fibromyalgia symptoms can include:
- Chronic headaches
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Numbness and tingling, both inside and outside trigger points
- Sensitivity to temperature
- Incontinence and irritable bowel syndrome
- Mental symptoms such as inability to concentrate, depression and mood swings
This can lead to misdiagnoses of psychological problems. Be sure your doctor is aware of all physical symptoms in addition to these.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor’s biggest ally in diagnosing fibromyalgia is your medical history and information. He or she will perform a complete physical exam and may request bloodwork. Although there are no specific blood test that can be used to diagnose fibromyalgia, it is important to rule out other possible causes. Your doctor will use bloodwork and other lab tests to rule out illnesses like Lyme diseases and autoimmune disorders.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, you’ll have several treatment options. Although many experts agree that the key to improved pain relief is remaining active, over-the-counter and prescription medications are often your first line of defense. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants as well as pain relievers, since emotional distress can worsen pain. Physical therapy might be recommended, as well.
The Comprehensive Pain and Neurology Center team works with fibromyalgia patients every day. In addition to medications and physical therapy we often recommend certain procedures. For instance, use of trigger point injections to help relieve the worst of a fibromyalgia patient’s pain and restore range of motion may be appropriate.
To learn more, call us at (615) 410-4990 or request an appointment.