Do you wake up exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep? Does it feel like your entire body aches for no clear reason? Fibromyalgia might be to blame.
An estimated 6.4% of American adults live with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that can affect your body, sleep, energy levels, and even your ability to think clearly. Despite affecting millions of Americans, misconceptions about fibromyalgia remain common.
Many people believe fibromyalgia is “just muscle pain” or that there’s little that can be done to manage it. The truth is that fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain condition, and treatment often requires more than medication alone.
Our multidisciplinary team at Pain Medicine Group takes a personalized approach to chronic pain. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or you’ve struggled with fibromyalgia for years, we’re here to help you find strategies that improve your quality of life. This month, we share four facts most people don’t know about treating fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain, but that’s only one part of the condition. Fibromyalgia changes the way your brain and nervous system process pain signals, which can cause your body to become more sensitive to sensations that normally wouldn’t be painful.
This process, known as central sensitization, can also contribute to a variety of other symptoms.
Many people with fibromyalgia also experience:
Because symptoms vary from person to person, your treatment should be just as individualized. For example, if you struggle with sleep, our team makes sure to recommend medications or lifestyle changes to help improve your sleep.
Fibromyalgia often occurs alongside other chronic health conditions, which can make your symptoms even more challenging to manage.
For example, many people with fibromyalgia also have conditions such as:
Treating these co-occurring conditions is an important part of managing fibromyalgia. That’s why our team looks at the complete picture of your health so we can create a treatment plan that addresses all of the factors contributing to your pain and other symptoms.
Many people assume that medication is the only way to manage fibromyalgia. While medications do help reduce symptoms, they’re often just one part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Depending on your symptoms and medical history, our team may recommend medications such as:
In addition to medication, we develop a treatment plan that may combine medication with interventional pain management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, lifestyle modifications, and other evidence-based therapies.
Many people with fibromyalgia benefit from:
While these lifestyle changes aren’t a cure, they can help reduce symptom flare-ups, improve daily function, and complement the other treatments in your care plan.
Living with fibromyalgia can be frustrating, especially if you’ve been told your symptoms are “just stress” or that nothing more can be done.
The good news is that effective treatment starts with understanding your specific symptoms. Because fibromyalgia affects everyone differently, it’s important to work with a provider who can personalize your care and adjust your treatment plan as your needs change.
At Pain Medicine Group, our experienced pain management team understands that chronic pain is complex. We take a multidisciplinary approach to identifying the source of your symptoms and creating a personalized treatment plan that helps you regain function and improve your quality of life.
To learn more about your fibromyalgia treatment options, schedule an appointment with us in Sarasota or Oviedo, Florida.
