image via – shutterstock.com
Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition that causes widespread bodily pain, muscle aches, and fatigue. It’s a terrible disorder to have and it can wreak havoc on the lives of people who suffer from it, wearing them down and tiring them out. It’s also a lot more common than many people assume it to be. According to scientists at the National Institutes of Health, fibromyalgia is estimated to affect around five million American adults and most of them, between 80-90%, are women.
One of the main issues with fibromyalgia is how tricky it can be to properly diagnose. The pain and symptoms typically associated with the disorder often make diagnosis difficult because they tend to overlap with other common medical conditions. Compounding the difficulty is the fact that there are currently no tests or scans that can definitively detect it, and so people need to keep close track of everything that’s going on with their bodies, and tell their doctor exactly what ills them.
While widespread physical pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia, there are a number of other ones that people may experience and the following are the signs and symptoms associated with it that you should never ignore:
1. Pain- According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s believed that fibromyalgia affects the way the brain processes pain signals and this causes them to be magnified. While the pain is generally widespread all over the body, the most common areas where it’s felt is the back, neck, abdomen, and in muscles. People report feeling a range of pain types, from sharp and severe pain that’s long lasting, to a milder yet constant dull ache that lasts for at least 3 months or longer. In addition, the pain is oftentimes felt more at night and over the counter medicines do not alleviate it.
2. Tiredness and Fatigue- Pain is one reason why those with fibromyalgia have difficulty sleeping and when they do fall asleep the quality is poor so they don’t feel as rested as they otherwise should. A common complaint is that no matter how much sleep they get, they wake up feeling tired and worn out.
3. Lack of Mental Focus- Another common symptom is what’s known as “fibro fog” and it’s when a person’s cognitive abilities, such as concentration, paying attention, focusing, and remembering things, are negatively impaired. This results in confusion and a lack of mental clarity which can be extremely frustrating and disconcerting.
4. Sensory Issues- Many people report feeling extra sensitive to temperature changes and their bodies are seemingly unable to regulate it properly. Some may feel super hot or freezing cold even if the temperature changes only just slightly. Another sensory related symptom is paraesthesia, the feeling of pins and needles in hands, feet, arms, and legs. The tingly discomfort can last anywhere from a minute or two to well over an hour or more and some people also experience numbness as well.
5. Gastrointestinal Issues- Having abnormal and excessive gas, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and nausea are all common symptoms and should be monitored closely. Also, fibromyalgia is often found in patients who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, acid reflux disease, and those who have interstitial cystitis, which is a painful bladder condition.
Watch the video below to see some all natural ways to manage fibromyalgia
Please SHARE This With Family and Friends
