Fibromyalgia
What is fibromyalgia?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, fibromyalgia affects about 4 million adults in the United States, which is approximately 2% of the total adult population. Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all over the body and can result in sleep problems, fatigue, emotional and mental distress. Those who have fibromyalgia may also experience additional sensitivity to pain.
Fibromyalgia can affect people of all ages from children to adults, however, it usually affects those who are middle-aged or older and women are more likely to develop this condition than men. Other factors may include experiencing a stressful or traumatic event, repetitive injuries, illness, family history, and obesity.
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
A primary care provider will consider the following when exploring a fibromyalgia diagnosis:
- Patient history
- Physical examination
- X-rays
- Blood work
What are the treatment options for fibromyalgia?
Your provider will help you decide which of the following will be the most beneficial to you, including:
- Medications
- Exercise, aerobic, and muscle training
- Education classes
- Yoga and massage
- Good sleep habits
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Finding an appropriate pain management plan
When determining an appropriate pain management plan, it is important to take the following steps.
When developing an appropriate pain management plan for chronic pain, the most critical factor is to determine the stressor and the cause of the pain. For example, if you are having back pain - where is the pain coming from? Is it related to your posture? Is it related to stress? Maybe you regularly lift heavy objects?
Once the stressor is identified, short-term interventions may be added to your pain management plan to help ease your pain, so you are comfortable enough to make adjustments to your lifestyle. Medications, injections, or surgery are some options that can help reduce inflammation. It is very important to know that opioids should not be used to treat chronic pain - they are not the answer for this type of pain.
The next step is to make lifestyle adjustments. These may include physical and occupational therapy to increase strength, daily exercise, massage therapy, chiropractic care, etc. Treatment with exercise will provide a long-term pain solution.
Inactivity leads to stiff muscles, decreased mobility, and decreased strength - all of these can worsen the symptoms of chronic pain. Gradually becoming more active will improve flexibility, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the muscles around joints.
The first step to finding an appropriate treatment plan for chronic pain is to talk with your primary care provider. If your provider finds it appropriate, referrals can be made to the Pain Clinic at Crossing Rivers Health.
Request a referral to the Pain Clinic