Fibromyalgia Specialist

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a condition in which you experience chronic, widespread muscle pain. If you have fibromyalgia, there are likely to be tender points in specific places on your:

• Neck
• Shoulders
• Back
• Hips
• Arms
• Legs
  
  

Pressing on these tender points triggers a throbbing pain that often takes some time to pass.

It's not just the tender points that hurt when you have fibromyalgia. You're likely to experience a constant, deep aching in your body from top to bottom and on both sides.

Other symptoms fibromyalgia can cause include:

Fatigue

People with fibromyalgia often wake in the morning feeling no more refreshed than when they went to bed the night before. Difficulty sleeping because of the pain and problems finding a comfortable position is one cause. You're also more likely to develop sleep disorders when you have fibromyalgia, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.

Cognitive difficulties

The cognitive problems people with fibromyalgia experience are such a feature of the disease they have their own name – fibro fog. Focus, concentration, and memory can all suffer.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Precisely what causes fibromyalgia isn't fully understood yet. It could be due to the presence of abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals, combined with changes in how your nerves, spinal cord, and brain deliver and process pain messages.

People who have fibromyalgia tend to have higher than normal levels of inflammation in their body, but this could be an effect rather than a cause. It's likely that genetics plays a part, too.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There's currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but with expert help from Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute, you can significantly improve your quality of life.

Physical therapies are essential in treating fibromyalgia, to keep your muscles and connective tissues healthy and prevent problems like frozen joints or shortened ligaments.

Because fibromyalgia causes such constant, extensive pain, it can be difficult to face the thought of exercising. Your physical therapist at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute can help by showing you low-impact ways to keep yourself moving.

Relaxation and managing stress are also vital in managing fibromyalgia, as tension makes the pain worse. Meditation and mindfulness are often great ways to keep stress levels low. Many people who have fibromyalgia find they can successfully combine relaxation and exercise by practicing yoga or Tai Chi.

What other methods could help me manage fibromyalgia?

If you're finding managing your fibromyalgia a struggle, Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute offers several treatments that could help.

Medications such as antiseizure drugs, muscle relaxants, and low-dose antidepressants can be useful in reducing pain. Trigger point injections could also help. 

For persistent pain that isn't responding to other methods, medical marijuana could be helpful if you're eligible under the New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana program.

Take your first step towards long-term relief of fibromyalgia by calling Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute today or book an appointment online.