Overcoming wide-spread chronic pain such as fibromyalgia is no easy feat. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, approximately 10 million Americans suffer from this pain condition—and about 80% of those patients are women. The pain doctors in Bedford TX at The Comprehensive Pain Institute (clinics also located in Benbrook & Lewisville TX) know how much fibromyalgia can impact your quality of life. We are here to help you manage your pain and give you the relief you need! Read on for our tips on ways to alleviate fibromyalgia pain.
About Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is still somewhat of a medical anomaly as there is currently no cure and the causes of the condition can vary from person to person. Some common causes are likely linked to genetics, illnesses or a physical—or even emotional—trauma.
Researchers have found that repeated nerve stimulation causes the brain of people with fibromyalgia to change. The brain’s pain receptors begin to develop a memory of the pain and become more sensitive to pain. It also causes an abnormal increase in certain brain chemicals that signal pain, resulting in pain signals that are stronger than average.
Common Symptoms:
- Widespread pain: a constant dull ache that lasts longer than 3 months.
- Fatigue: sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea tend to accompany fibromyalgia. Patients also report waking up tired even if they get enough sleep.
- Cognitive Haze: brain impairments such as loss in focus or concentration and a slow respond to mental tasks
Interested in learning more? Check out our dedicated page & watch a video about fibromyalgia.
Coping with Fibromyalgia
While this condition can be very frustrating to cope with, some great methods and medications exist which help control symptoms and could even help get your quality of life back!
Exercise: Since many people with fibromyalgia suffer from muscle pain and stiffness, developing a daily exercise and light stretching regimen is ideal. Exercises such as yoga, tai chi and aerobics are great activities to get your body moving and stretch your muscles.
Medications: Some medications can be very helpful at not only managing pain but also to improve sleep. Here are some of the most common medications for fibromyalgia:
- Pain Relivers: both over the counter and prescription medication.
- Anti-depressants: This type of medication can help limit pain and fatigue. Some anti-depressants can also help to relax muscles and improve sleep.
- Anti-seizure medicine: These are sometimes used to reduce certain types of pain.
Home Remedies: We can’t stress self-care enough when it comes to managing fibromyalgia. Simply putting a focus on managing stress levels, eating right and taking care of yourself can make a huge difference. Some ideas include indulging in a massage, taking a hot bath, meditating or volunteering for a cause you care about. Anything that makes you feel good can help manage fibromyalgia.
Visit our Pain Doctors in Bedford TX – Comprehensive Pain Institute
Currently, there is no cure for Fibromyalgia, so it’s important to have as many strategies up your sleeve for dealing with your symptom as possible. Don’t put off your fibromyalgia pain another day—talk with our pain doctors in Bedford TX (clinics also located in Benbrook & Lewisville TX). We can help to put a customized treatment plan together and get you one step closer to sustained relief.
Give us a call today at 817-786-8238 to learn more.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship. Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. All comments are not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any private health information.
