Fibromyalgia

In addition to widespread pain, fibromyalgia causes many other symptoms and increases your risk of health problems like arthritis. You can access a team of fibromyalgia experts at the Rheumatic Disease Center offices in Milwaukee and Glendale, Wisconsin. The practice’s highly skilled rheumatologists offer personalized treatments that help you manage your fibromyalgia symptoms. Call your nearest Rheumatic Disease Center office today or book an appointment online for advanced fibromyalgia treatment.

What is fibromyalgia?

People with fibromyalgia feel pain throughout most or all of their bodies. Fibromyalgia pain affects muscles, connective tissues, and joints and might sometimes get worse but rarely goes away.

People often liken fibromyalgia pain to being run over by a steamroller or trampled by a herd of cattle. You feel bruised and tender everywhere but can’t see anything to explain the sensations.

What other problems does fibromyalgia cause?

Fibromyalgia symptoms include:

• Chronic (long-term) fatigue
• Frequent headaches
• Temperature and light sensitivity
• Food intolerances
• Depression and anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping
• Hyperalgesia (pain that’s out of proportion to the damage)
• Allodynia (where soft touches feel painful)
• Burning, tingling, and prickling sensations

Many people with fibromyalgia suffer from “fibro fog.” This includes difficulty concentrating, an inability to think clearly, and memory problems. You’re also more likely to get conditions like arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Why have I got fibromyalgia?

Several theories might explain why some people get fibromyalgia, but the precise cause isn’t known.

Pain and other symptoms can be due to a nervous system dysfunction and/or widespread inflammation.

People with fibromyalgia often have relatives with the disease, so there’s likely a genetic relationship. There might also be a link to autoimmune disorders.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be challenging because no lab tests exist. The Rheumatic Disease Center team might do blood and other tests to rule out conditions like polymyalgia rheumatica.

One indicator your rheumatologist might use is the tender point test. This test assesses 18 places on your body, including on your back, neck, and knees, that are often unusually painful in people with fibromyalgia. But some people only have a few tender points and still meet the criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

Fibromyalgia can’t be cured. The Rheumatic Disease Center team offers treatments that help you manage your symptoms. These include:

• Pain medication
• Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants
• Anti-seizure medicine
• Well-balanced diet
• Stopping smoking
• Reducing alcohol consumption
• Stress management
• Yoga or tai chi
• Physical therapy
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Numbing cream
• Capsaicin cream
• Trigger point therapy

It’s vital that you exercise when you have fibromyalgia, or your symptoms will get worse. But it can be difficult when it’s challenging to get out of bed some days. Your rheumatologist helps you understand your condition and how to manage it.

Call the Rheumatic Disease Center today or book an appointment online to benefit from expert fibromyalgia treatment.