Fibromyalgia is not curable and it isn’t fully understood. Dr. Trujillo helps patients manage their pain caused by this disorder.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is the second most common condition affecting the bones and muscles. However, many general practitioners don’t understand the condition and misdiagnose its symptoms. The most frequent symptoms are muscle and joint pain, along with overall fatigue.
What causes it?
It is believed that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the brain processes pain signals. It sometimes begins after physical trauma, surgery, infection, or significant psychological stress. Women are more prone to having the condition.
Causes are unknown, but these attributes make it more likely you could develop fibromyalgia:
- You’re a woman
- You have another painful disease, such as arthritis
- You have an infection
- You have a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression
- You have PTSD
- You are a victim of abuse
- You are sedentary
- Other family members have it (genetic tendency)
What are the symptoms?
- Widespread pain — The pain is often described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be widespread, the pain occurs on both sides of the body and both above and below the waist.
- Fatigue — People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even after a long period of sleep. Sleep is disrupted by pain. Patients often also have other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.
- Cognitive difficulties — A symptom known colloquially as “fibro fog” impairs the ability to focus, pay attention, and concentrate.
Fibromyalgia may also be a part of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, painful bladder syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorder.
As experts in pain management, Summit Healthcare Pain Clinic is the place to turn for treatment and management of your fibromyalgia pain. Please call us at (928) 532-1605 to make an appointment.
