Living with Fibromyalgia can be life-altering in many ways. Learning more about this condition for people who are potentially living with it can help them to determine whether or not they need help. Fortunately, treatment is available to those who are affected by Fibromyalgia in order to manage symptoms and live better lives of physical and mental well-being. But, first, it can be helpful to identify the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia. This way, people who may be potentially living with this condition can get a diagnosis and consider their treatment options.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Before you identify the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia, it can be helpful to understand what this condition is. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that once diagnosed, remains for a lifetime. This is because there is no cure (although there are treatments that can help to manage symptoms). Fibromyalgia is characterized by symptoms of pain throughout the body that can also lead to exhaustion. Pain that’s caused by Fibromyalgia typically comes in episodes, so there are periods of relief for people who are living with this disease. Along with not having a cure, there is no specific causes of this illness either. However, there are some specific risk factors that may put individuals at a higher risk for developing this condition such as family history.

Risk Factors for Fibromyalgia

As mentioned, there is no known cause for the development of Fibromyalgia. But, there are some things that can increase a person’s risk of developing this condition such as:

• being female
• being an adult
• struggling with stress
• having other chronic illnesses including mental health issues
• not being able to exercise
• having sleep disorders

Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Understanding the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia can help people who may be living with this condition to realize that they may need help through diagnosis and treatment. Some of the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia may include:

• numbing and tingling pain in the hands, fingers, and feet
• head, neck, and jaw pain
• headaches and migraines
• stomach pain and digestion issues
• trouble remembering
• mood disorders

Episodes of Fibromyalgia Pain

People who are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia may experience symptoms at certain times and then have a period of relief of symptoms. An episode of experiencing Fibromyalgia symptoms is called a “flare-up”. Flare-ups of Fibromyalgia symptoms can be stimulated by specific events or “triggers”. It can be helpful to understand what your Fibromyalgia triggers are so that you can be aware of them and avoid them if possible. Some examples of triggers for flare-ups include:

• switching up your daily schedule
• feeling more stressed than usual
• changes in treatments
• sleep issues
• imbalanced hormones
• changes in diet
• weather changes

Treatment for Fibromyalgia

There are a number of different treatment options for Fibromyalgia including prescription medications. But, many people don’t get the results they need with medications alone. That’s where other, supplemental treatments come into play. For example, acupuncture, massage, behavioral therapy, and neurofeedback. All of these treatments are available on an outpatient basis at Delray Center for Integrative Medicine. Find out more about our Fibromyalgia treatment options from our website.