The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 4 million Americans have fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that affects your entire body. While fibromyalgia can’t be cured, there are many treatments available here at Superior Pain Relief in Texas to help you manage the condition.
If you’re one of the 4 million people struggling with this invisible illness, we encourage you to visit one of our five locations across Texas. In the meantime, here’s a closer look at how fibromyalgia affects your entire body.
Fibromyalgia is notorious for pain and it doesn’t spare an inch of your body. Fibromyalgia pain can range from your head down to your toes, but certain tender points are more likely to hurt.
These tender points include:
The pain typically affects both sides of your body at the same time. This fact can help you confirm or rule out other conditions. For example, sciatica often affects only one side at a time.
Muscle pain and tension in your neck and shoulders can often lead to headaches. About 55.8% of people with fibromyalgia also report migraines.
Chronic pain can make it hard to sleep, and unfortunately, that applies to fibromyalgia. You might struggle with insomnia (inability to fall asleep and stay asleep), and even if you do sleep, you still might not feel refreshed in the morning.
Fibromyalgia can make it hard to get into a comfortable sleeping position. As a result, you might experience daytime sleepiness and extreme fatigue.
Struggling to sleep? Prioritize good sleep hygiene practices such as sleeping in a dark, cool room, exercising regularly, and avoiding blue screens, large meals, and caffeine before bed.
Fibromyalgia doesn’t just impact your physical health. It can also affect your mental health. About one in five people with fibromyalgia also suffer from depression and/or anxiety, and if you also have migraines, you have an even higher risk of depression.
In addition to depression and anxiety, you might also struggle with fibro fog. Fibro fog includes:
Better sleep, exercise, and eating brain-healthy foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help improve anxiety and depression symptoms as well as fibro fog.
Believe it or not, fibromyalgia can also impact your eye health. If you have fibromyalgia, you’re more likely to develop dry eye syndrome and blepharitis. Dry eyes can make your eyes feel itchy, watery, or even gritty.
As many as 70% of people with fibromyalgia struggle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Both IBS and fibromyalgia can:
Although the connection between IBS and fibromyalgia isn’t fully understood, some pain specialists speculate that IBS and fibromyalgia may be two parts of a singular related condition.
Under the leadership of Dr. Zaid Malik, our team understands the complexities of fibromyalgia and how it impacts your entire body. That’s why we shape our treatment plans to address all of your symptoms.
Your potential treatments may include trigger point injections, medication (including pain medication, antidepressants, or anti-seizure medication), physical therapy, ketamine, counseling, acupuncture, and biofeedback.
Our team can also help you get started with lifestyle modifications that can help you sleep better and feel more energized throughout the day.
If you have fibromyalgia or think you might, call Superior Pain Relief and start exploring your treatment options. Call the location of your choice or send us a message online.
