If you are suffering from chronic pain that is accompanied by fatigue, changes in mood, or irregular sleep patterns, you may be dealing with a more serious physiological condition, known as fibromyalgia.
It is normal to experience a little bit of pain from time to time. You may feel sore from exercising too much, or you may stub your toe on a piece of furniture. Most of the time, you’re able to shake it off or take ibuprofen and go about your day. However, sometimes you can experience pain that’s widespread and chronic, failing to diminish despite your best efforts. This can cause a large impact on your life that anti-inflammatory drugs simply will not fix.
Fibromyalgia – defined:
Fibromyalgia is somewhat of an umbrella term used to describe someone who is experiencing a certain combination of symptoms. The exact causes of fibromyalgia are still unclear, although some medical experts believe it may be caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system – the part of your body that elicits “fight or flight” responses. This theory makes sense, as people tend to develop their first symptoms of fibromyalgia after experiencing a physically or emotionally traumatic event, though it has never been scientifically proven.
Fibromyalgia also tends to affect more women than men, and your likelihood of developing it increases if you have a family member with the same condition. Some people who develop fibromyalgia begin with chronic bouts of stress or depression, while other symptoms build over time. The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Fatigue
- Tender areas of the body
- Chronic and/or sharp muscle pains
- Sensitivity to touch/numbness
- Disrupted sleep cycles/irregular sleep schedules
- Forgetfulness or disorientation
- Fluctuations in mood
- Nausea
How will physical therapy help my fibromyalgia?
Since fibromyalgia is not a disease, but rather a range of symptoms, there is no single, surefire treatment for the condition. Primary physicians will typically prescribe some sort of pain medication or an anti-depressant to manage symptoms; however, those medications do not address the chronic nature of the condition or the loss of function that chronic pain and distress typically bring.
At Joint Effort Physical Therapy, we can provide effective treatments for both managing symptoms in the long-term and regaining optimum function in your body. Our Hot Springs, AR physical therapists will examine your physical abilities, analyze your medical history, and discuss your current symptoms, in order to design a treatment plan that will fit your unique needs.
Treatments will typically begin with pain-relieving modalities to provide relief and promote healing. This may include the use of trigger point therapy, massage, stretching, electrical stimulation, or other therapeutic tools that our physical therapist believes could be beneficial to your recovery. After this, your treatments will shift toward active therapies, such as muscle strengthening, range-of-motion activities, and cardiovascular exercises.
Relieve your symptoms today
Studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise paired with postural strengthening activities not only relieves widespread pain, but also increases energy levels, improves sleep, and elevates mood. Regardless of where you are on your journey, it is possible to find relief from even your worst fibromyalgia symptoms, through our Hot Springs, AR physical therapy services.