Fibromyalgia

Muscle pain and tenderness unfortunately sound all too familiar with the aging process don’t they?  You can probably relate because with age you just don’t tend to bounce back from strenuous activity as well as you did back in your younger years.  Fibromyalgia is a very common condition in the United States that could possibly be the cause of that widespread muscle pain and tenderness you’ve been feeling. 

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread muscle pain that is accompanied by fatigue, sleep issues, and possibly problems with your mood and memory.  It is possible that fibromyalgia may amplify painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.  Women are much more likely to develop this condition than men, and this condition tends to run in families.  Many individuals who have fibromyalgia also have complained of having tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression…no fun at all! 

So what could cause fibromyalgia and how does it progress?  Events such as physical trauma, surgery, infections or other significant psychological stressors could all fuel fibromyalgia to develop and run its course.  In other cases, symptoms may slowly develop and build upon one another over time without having one specific event serving as the trigger.  Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia will vary person to person; they may include but are not limited to the following:

o   Widespread pain

§  Fibromyalgia pain is often described as a constant dull ache that has been noticed for at least 3 months.

§  In order to be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body, and both above and below your waist. 

o   Fatigue

§  Individuals with fibromyalgia typically awaken tired, despite reports of sleeping for long periods of time.

§  Sleep is often disrupted by an increase in pain, sleep apnea may even result.

§  Restless leg syndrome may be a result of this condition, making it difficult to rest and sleep.

o   Other problems

§  Fibromyalgia may impair an individual’s ability to focus, pay attention and may make concentrating increasingly difficult.

§  Depression, headaches, and pain/cramping in the lower abdomen area may also stem from fibromyalgia.

Currently there is no cure for this condition, however a variety of medications are available for use to help control its symptoms.  Non-pharmacological interventions (those carried out without using medication or invasive procedures) should always be tried first in treatment of conditions due to carrying less risk factors than other more invasive and/or medication options.  Individuals affected by fibromyalgia may observe improvement in their symptoms with simple interventions such as exercising, increasing relaxation, and finding ways to reduce stress.  With Total Home Health, we’ll work together to find the techniques that are the best for you.

In order to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia you may have to go through a long line of physicians and exams until you receive a true diagnosis…do not get discouraged.  You need to get several opinions because the various signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to those found in other conditions too.  Your physician will ask you to describe your symptoms and want to know how long they have been present.  Keep in mind that various blood tests may also be needed to aid in your diagnosis.  Once you are diagnosed, your provider will most likely refer you to a rheumatologist in order for you to receive continued care that is more specialized to your condition. 

Total Home Health understands just how much of an inconvenience having fibromyalgia can be.  Due to the widespread, chronic pain…you may find that this condition is interfering with your ability to function as you once did in your home.  You may become frustrated because your daily routine has been disrupted by an unwelcomed change, and having to learn to adapt to a condition that is often misunderstood with no absolute cure can be very irritating.  Our knowledgeable staff will work aligned with your provider in order to carry out your treatment plans and reach goals to make positive progress during your course of fibromyalgia.

Total Home Health and our professionals know that having to rely on someone else to help you with your daily household routine may be a shot to your self-esteem and cause you to lose some pride you once had in yourself.  Do not get discouraged though, because you will become a part of our family and we will work together to maintain your health so that you can continue to go about your daily routine, hopefully even being able to forget on some days that you even have fibromyalgia.  Enroll with us today to see for yourself!