Chronic Fibromyalgia produces widespread pain, disturbed sleep, and exhaustion from head to toe. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which are the soft fibrous tissues of the body. Although the muscles may hurt everywhere, they are not the only cause of the pain. The diffuse, body-wide symptoms are greatly magnified by malfunctions in the way the nervous system processes pain.
What are the symptoms of chronic fibromyalgia?
People with FM could experience:
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Joint pain, stiffness (sometimes worse in the morning)
- Headaches
- Restless legs
- Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
- Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called “fibro fog”)
- Leg cramps
- Feeling nervous
- Depression
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Painful cramping during your period
- Jaw pain
- Upset stomach, cramping, bloating, feeling constipated or diarrhea
- Trouble swallowing
- Frequent or painful urination
What are the causes of Chronic Fibromyalgia?
The exact causes of chronic fibromyalgia are not known although two common elements have been found in patients:
- A family history of fibromyalgia (genetics).
- Stressful or traumatic events such as: car accident, repetitive motion injury, infections or illness
Can Chronic Fibromyalgia be treated?
Chronic fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat due to the lack of knowledge and common misdiagnosing of the disease. Testimonies from patients showed the following as helpful in aiding Fibromyalgia pain relief:
- exercise
- relaxation techniques
- stretching
- deeper sleep
- massage therapy
- physiotherapy
- osteopathy
- baths with Epsom salts
- acupuncture
- acupressure
- Botox injections
- Lidocaine injections
If you feel you have concerns regarding your health, please consult your doctor immediately.
