What We Want You to Know About Fibromyalgia

You’ve been struggling with ongoing pain, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and more, and you finally have a name for what you’re experiencing: fibromyalgia. While this diagnosis is important, you may still have plenty of questions.

There’s still much that’s unknown about fibromyalgia, but we do have some answers, including what your options are for relief. To give you an idea about what you’re up against, Dr. Sachida Manocha of Interventional Pain Center wants to outline a few important points about fibromyalgia.

The discomfort is real

While we don’t understand the exact cause-and-effect mechanism that leads to the musculoskeletal pain and tenderness that are the hallmarks of fibromyalgia, we do know that these symptoms are quite real.

Researchers have ruled out autoimmune or inflammatory issues and consider fibromyalgia to be a disorder of pain regulation related to central sensitization. What this tells us is that the heightened sensitivity likely stems from a problem in your brain when it comes to regulating pain.

Beyond the pain

While pain may be a primary complaint of fibromyalgia, people with the condition often experience many other symptoms, including:

• Cognitive problems (fibro fog)
• Fatigue
• Sleep issues
• Digestive issues
• Numbness and tingling

As you can see, fibromyalgia can cast a wide net over your quality of life.

The causes of fibromyalgia

We don’t know exactly what causes fibromyalgia, but we have some idea about certain connections. For example, there may be a genetic factor, because fibromyalgia tends to run in families.

As well, fibromyalgia is often linked with other illnesses, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Osteoarthritis
• Chronic back pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Furthermore, gender may also play a role, as it affects more women than men. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, fibromyalgia affects 7.7% of women and 4.9% of men in the United States. Also, some researchers believe the condition may be connected to the stress response.

Treating fibromyalgia

While there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, there are plenty of ways in which we can make you more comfortable. Each person is unique, and we tailor each treatment plan to the unique circumstances. However, most people benefit from a combination of one or more of the following:

• Medications to control the discomfort
• Exercise regimens
• Multiwave Locked System® laser therapy to repair tissues
• Alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care
• Relaxation techniques

As well, it’s important to treat any related conditions, such as arthritis or chronic pain, which may help reduce the symptoms of your fibromyalgia.

If you have more questions about fibromyalgia, or if you’d like to explore your treatment options, please book an appointment online or over the phone with Interventional Pain Center. We have offices in Worthington and Newark, Ohio.