Air, gravity, and fibromyalgia – some things in life are just like the wind, you can feel their presence, but can’t see them.
Just like the unseen forces that keep us breathing and grounded, fibromyalgia is an invisible illness that’s often met with skepticism, much like a ghostly encounter.
But just like how Newton’s curiosity about a falling apple led to the discovery of gravity, ongoing research and studies continue to shed light on this invisible condition known as Fibromyalgia.
If you’re suffering from this condition or know someone who is, understanding it better makes it a little easier to deal with. By gaining more knowledge about Fibromyalgia, you can be better equipped to manage the condition, whether it be your own or someone else’s.
So let’s take the plunge, and dive deep into the mysterious world of Fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is the mysterious chronic condition that has you feeling like you’ve been beaten up by someone – even though you haven’t. It’s a pain in the…well, everywhere. Or in simple words, it’s a pain processing disorder. Your brain processes everything your body does but in fibromyalgia your brain processes pain incorrectly.
Your body is like a highly sophisticated computer system, with nerves acting as the wires that transmit information from all the different parts to the brain, the “motherboard” that processes it all. Your brain always knows where your body is and what it’s up to. It’s the reason why your brain knows when you’ve touched something scorching hot because those little nerve cells at the tips of your fingers have sent the “hot alert” message to the brain. It always keeps track of your body’s whereabouts, its alignment, the temperature around it, and even the tiniest touch.
Now there are two types of pain, acute and chronic. Acute pain is short-lived pain, such as hitting your toe on the corner of a table, which will eventually subside as the injury heals because your brain enables you to forget it. On the other hand, chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 3 months and is often associated with conditions such as migraines, arthritis, and some genetic diseases. In this type of pain, the brain keeps reminding you of this constant pain.
And due to this prolonged pain, some people develop pain processing problems. In fibromyalgia, chronic pain is a common symptom. The brain is constantly sending pain signals to the body, resulting in a heightened sensitivity to touch, light, and loud sounds. This prolonged pain also affects the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the body’s flight or fight response. In fibromyalgia, this system is activated most of the time, leading to a constant state of alertness and sensitivity. The result is that the body becomes extremely sensitive and in pain.
Fibromyalgia is often referred to as the “invisible illness” because it makes you feel awful, yet you appear fine. An estimated 2-5% of the population, mostly women, suffer from this condition globally. It’s a real and serious disorder that can significantly impact the quality of life.
It’s a condition that is hard to understand even for healthcare professionals because it’s fairly new. And there are no tests to confirm the diagnosis so more often than not it is confused with other health conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis in some cases because of the pain in the legs and feet.
Although it is now better understood than it was in the past, there was a time when many people doubted whether this is a real condition or whether it’s all in the head. And people of all ages are affected, but most cases are found in middle-aged individuals.
Now we know what fibromyalgia is, let’s look at the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
What Are The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Widespread Body Pain
There is a wide range of symptoms of fibromyalgia and they vary from person to person but the primary and common symptoms of all are widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body. It often starts in the legs and feet, which is why it’s often confused with arthritis and osteoporosis. It can be in other parts of the body, like the back, neck, arms, shoulders, and head. But in most cases, the pain is throughout the body. The type of pain might be different for everyone. And it can manifest in different forms, for some it might be more of an aching type of pain but it could be stabbing, burning, or even soreness. Generally, it remains constant throughout the day, but there might be fluctuations in the intensity depending on the time of the day and the type of activity you’re doing. And to confirm if it’s because of fibromyalgia, the pain must have been present for more than 3 months.
Fatigue and Exhaustion
As we learned in the previous section, in fibromyalgia the brain is constantly sending pain signals to the body, which causes the central nervous system, the brain, and the spinal cord, to become hyperactive and leads to increased sensitivity to other stimuli such as dizziness, numbness, painful bladder, restless legs, etc. This constant state of alertness of the brain consumes a lot of energy, causing fatigue and exhaustion. So fatigue and the feeling of exhaustion are other symptoms of fibromyalgia which might range from mild to severe.
Brain Fog or Fibro Fog
Fibromyalgia often comes with symptoms that can affect your cognitive abilities, such as memory problems, and difficulties in concentration and verbal expression. Imagine navigating through a dense fog, where visibility is low and finding your way is challenging. That’s what it can feel like for those with fibro fog or brain fog.
Trying to recall basic facts, perform math or reading tasks, or find the right word can feel like trying to find your way in the fog. Concentration can be like navigating with a compass that’s always spinning. It’s like trying to predict the weather in a fog, good luck with that.
Studies have shown that fibromyalgia patients also have difficulty completing simple cognitive tasks such as computations, problem-solving, and following instructions. It’s like trying to put together a puzzle with missing pieces, or solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded.
And for those also dealing with depression, anxiety, sleep issues, or hormone fluctuations, it can feel like trying to navigate through a foggy maze.
Severe Symptoms
Other than these, fibromyalgia can also cause a range of other severe symptoms. These symptoms can include migraines, intense emotions, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, etc.
Now that we know what fibromyalgia is and what its symptoms are, let’s explore its causes.
What Are the Causes of Fibromyalgia?
Let’s face it, neither healthcare professionals nor researchers and experts know about the exact cause of fibromyalgia but they have come up with several theories about the possible factors that contribute to its development.
Physical or Mental Stress
One of the most widely accepted theories is that fibromyalgia is triggered by physical or mental stress. Physical stress could be caused by an injury from any accident, or any infection in the body while mental stress could be a result of a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one or a break-up in a long-term relationship. A lot of people developed fibromyalgia after Covid-19 because the situation during the pandemic and lockdown was very stressful which would have triggered this condition.
Hormonal Disbalance
Hormones have a major influence on this disease, which may explain why the majority of sufferers are women, who are more likely to have hormone imbalances and other conditions such as thyroid disorders or PCOS/PCOD.
Genetics
Additionally, fibromyalgia often runs in families, so if a family member has the condition, there is a higher chance that you may also develop it.
How To Diagnose Fibromyalgia?
Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be a tricky task, as it shares many symptoms with other chronic pain conditions. This is where rheumatologists and neurologists come in – they are experts in assessing and managing chronic pain and neurological disorders, and are best equipped to determine whether a patient has fibromyalgia or not.
To diagnose fibromyalgia, these specialists use a process of elimination – ruling out other conditions that may present with similar symptoms, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. This can be done through a combination of physical examination, lab tests, and imaging studies.
However, it’s worth noting that these tests may not always provide clear-cut results in the case of fibromyalgia, as the condition is primarily diagnosed based on the patient’s symptoms.
One of the most commonly used criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia is the American College of Rheumatology’s criteria, which includes the presence of widespread pain for at least three months and pain in at least 11 of 18 specific tender points on the body when pressed.
A rheumatologist or neurologist will also take into account a patient’s medical history and any other symptoms they may be experiencing, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties.
How Can You Treat Fibromyalgia?
As hard as it sounds and as hard as it is to believe, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia at the moment. There are no medicines you can take and get rid of this condition. Although there are certain medicines the doctors may suggest to manage pain and other symptoms such as antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. But they are just to get you through the day and have temporary relief.
The key is to take a multi-disciplinary approach. Let’s talk about a few things that you can do to deal with fibromyalgia.
Educate Yourself
Fibromyalgia is a condition that impacts your lifestyle and it may be a pain in the body, but the root of the problem is in the brain. So, the first step to take is to educate yourself and become a fibromyalgia expert. Learn the ins and outs of this condition, including what triggers to avoid and what self-care practices to adopt. The more you know, the better you’ll be at handling it and finding relief.
Self Care: Meditation
Since the root of the problem is in the brain, it becomes essential for you to maintain your mental health and do all the necessary things to maintain good mental health. And one of the best things for maintaining good mental health is meditation. It is a practice that helps you relax your mind to ease stress and is quite helpful in mental health-related problems.
Self Care: Balanced Diet
A well-balanced diet is crucial for maintaining overall health, including both physical and mental well-being. While we may have heard this advice since childhood, it’s easy to overlook the significance of proper nutrition.
Our body is the most complex and sophisticated piece of machinery in the known universe, and if we want it to function well, the right fuel mix is needed so that all its intricate parts function smoothly. When it comes to fibromyalgia, since the root of the problem lies in the brain, you must consume foods that promote healthy brain function and good mental health.
Incorporating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and flax seeds, can help in improving your mental health by reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, these foods also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms.
To further support your recovery, it’s important to avoid inflammatory foods like spicy and fried dishes that can aggravate pain and other symptoms.
Self Care: Exercise
If you exercise regularly or have tried exercising sometime in the past, you would know that your muscles pain even more due to soreness. So it may seem counterintuitive to engage in physical activity when dealing with chronic pain, but regular exercise has been shown to have numerous benefits for those with fibromyalgia and other mental health-related conditions. Although exercising daily might be a little uncomfortable and painful at first, there are many long-term benefits.
Aerobic exercises, such as walking, cycling, or swimming, can help in increasing the blood flow and oxygen to the muscles, which can help in reducing pain and improve overall function. Resistance training, such as weightlifting or yoga, can help you build muscle strength and improve muscle tone, which can eventually help in reducing pain and improving mobility.
Exercise has also been proven to boost your happy brain chemicals which can improve your mood, reduce stress, give you a sense of accomplishment, and give that feel-good factor. So including exercise in your daily schedule can have a lot of long-term benefits for fibromyalgia.
You can start off with low-impact exercises and gradually increase the intensity as your body becomes more accustomed to them. You can start with something very basic like walking or running and slowly progress to weightlifting or resistance training or whatever you like. But it’s essential that you do some form of physical activity on a daily basis. With the right approach, regular exercise can play a major role in managing fibromyalgia and improving quality of life.
An Emphasis on the Positive
Fibromyalgia can be a debilitating condition that can greatly impact your daily life and make even the simplest tasks feel like a struggle. You lack the will and the motivation to get up and go on with the day because your entire body is hurting like hell and you feel fatigued even after a long sleep. The constant pain and fatigue can take a toll on your motivation and overall well-being.
However, it’s important to remember that fibromyalgia is not a progressive condition and does not cause permanent damage to organs or pose a life-threatening risk. While it can be challenging to live with, keeping this perspective in mind may provide some comfort and hope for managing the condition.
Managing fibromyalgia may seem challenging, but it is possible with the right approach. By educating yourself about the condition, understanding how and why it happens, and knowing what you can do on a daily basis to manage and contain symptoms, you can take control of your condition. Additionally, seeking support from loved ones, maintaining a positive mindset, and making healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercise and proper nutrition, can help you live a fulfilling and normal life despite fibromyalgia.
Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in the area for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any decision.
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