Fibromyalgia is a common condition that causes chronic pain and fatigue. While scientists don’t know exactly what causes fibromyalgia, they do know that the condition is more common than you might think. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), up to 4% percent of people in the U.S. is believed to be affected by fibromyalgia. While fibromyalgia doesn’t get much attention, many people live with the condition and remain undiagnosed.
If you’re among the 4% who suffer from fibromyalgia, it’s time to find ways to manage your symptoms. Fortunately, fibromyalgia is a condition that can be improved with targeted treatment. A fibromyalgia diagnosis can also open the door to a world of pain relief therapies with the potential to improve your quality of life.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by long-term chronic low-level pain or neuropathy in various parts of the body. This widespread pain is often accompanied by stiffness, tiredness, and a feeling of tightness in the muscles.
The cause of fibromyalgia is not fully understood, but research points to a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
If you think you or someone you know may have fibromyalgia, read on to learn more. You can take steps to improve your quality of life, even if you've been told that fibromyalgia is incurable.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic pain and fatigue. It’s typically classified as a neurobiological disorder, but the actual cause of fibromyalgia isn’t known. Some scientists believe that there may be some genetic link to fibromyalgia, while others believe that there may be an environmental or social element linked to the condition.
It's possible that abnormalities in the brain or central nervous system may be responsible for some cases of fibromyalgia. Another theory suggests that the disorder results from a problem with pain perception, an oversensitive reaction to pain. Psychological factors are also thought to contribute to people developing fibromyalgia.
The onset of fibromyalgia is not random, and usually can be attributed to:
- an illness
- genetic predisposition
- physical trauma
The good news is that there are ways you can manage your symptoms of fibromyalgia with targeted treatment from stem cells therapy!
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
Getting a diagnosis is a key to opening doors to treatment options. As there is no widely accepted medical test, it is challenging to diagnose. However, doctors are not limited and any family practice physician is capable of determining the diagnosis.
A doctor can diagnose fibromyalgia using a few different methods.
- Take a medical history and perform a physical examination to rule out other disorders that may be causing pain.
- Order blood tests in order to rule out other health problems.
- Order any other test needed to rule out relevant disorders. These may include an MRI or EMG
Another method is through the use of diagnostic criteria set by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). On this Widespread Pain Index (WPI), if you score a 12 or higher, a doctor can consider a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Some of these symptoms in the index include:
- widespread pain for these three months or more (at least 11 of 18 tender point sites)
- pain in both sides of the body, above and below the waist
- pain in both arms or in both legs
- reduced functioning due to pain (such as poor sleep quality or difficulty completing daily activities)
- psychological distress
Fibromyalgia symptoms
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) found that there are many different theories about the causes of fibromyalgia. Some believe that it’s caused by a problem in the brain and spinal cord that affects the way that pain is processed. Others believe it’s caused by an overactive immune system. Whatever the cause, fibromyalgia is known to have three main symptoms - pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by long-term chronic low-level pain in various parts of the body. Individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia feel widespread pain in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This may be accompanied by symptoms like tiredness, stiffness, and joint pain.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary between individuals and may wax and wane over time. The most common symptoms include:
- Pain in the muscles, joints, and other soft tissues throughout the body
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Tingling sensations or numbness
Tips For Living With Fibromyalgia
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the first thing you should do is to find a doctor who specializes in the condition. Fibromyalgia is not well understood by many doctors and it's often misdiagnosed. Your doctor will be able to provide a more accurate diagnosis if they have experience diagnosing fibromyalgia.
Stem cell therapy for fibromyalgia is a growing practice and relieves the symptoms attached to the disorder. With consistent treatment, fibromyalgia symptoms can be managed and shouldn't change your day-to-day lifestyle.
It can be difficult to manage chronic pain on your own, but it is possible! If you need help getting your daily tasks done, hire outside help. There are many people who specialize in-home care for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities. You’ll also want to improve your self-care routine so that you don't get too stressed out and stay relaxed as much as possible.
Finally, make sure you have a good support system around you! Having friends and family around can make all the difference when dealing with chronic pain. To build up your support group, try connecting with other people who suffer from fibromyalgia through online forums or support groups that meet in person.
Treating Fibromyalgia
Treatment for fibromyalgia is unique and should be tailored to the needs of the individual. Treatment can include physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medications, and more.
Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia
Some people with fibromyalgia find relief by using alternative remedies, such as homeopathy and acupuncture. These treatments are often very effective in easing the pain experienced with fibromyalgia.
There are many other alternative therapies that may help ease your symptoms:
- tai chi
- massage therapy
- yoga
You may also find relief through managing stress levels and practicing mindfulness techniques; this can be done through a few simple breathing exercises you can do on your own or by attending workshops or group classes that focus on these skills.
Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Medications
OTC pain relievers are a common recommendation for those struggling with pain-related symptoms. Antidepressants may be used to help ease pain and fatigue as well.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapy treatment would be tailored to relieve pain and stiffness. Your physical therapist will show you stretches to relieve deep muscle pain. Relaxation techniques may help treat muscle stiffness.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
This is about re-phrasing, and not being defined by your diagnosis. If you find yourself being held back from negative thoughts attached to fibromyalgia symptoms, this treatment process can improve stress and anxiety.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can't heal fibromyalgia but can relieve pain, stiffness, and fatigue. A practitioner will develop a plan specific to your symptoms.
Stem Cell therapy for Fibromyalgia
Autoimmune disorders have been the target of stem cell research for many years.
Stem cell treatments encourage healthy tissue growth, and can reduce the immune system’s overactive response in fibromyalgia.
Stemcells have incredible regenerative capacities and encourage healing when injected at targeted sites - encouraging damaged tissues. Another way stem cell therapy can improve your fibromyalgia symptoms is by stimulating the growth of new nerve cells in your central nervous system (CNS).
The CNS regulates many important bodily functions including:
- mood
- sleep quality
- appetite control
- hormone regulation
- sensory perception
- emotional stability
- memory function
In addition to tackling these emotional issues, the stimulation of new nerve cells in the CNS reduces symptoms like muscle tenderness.
Patients have been able to successfully reduce their symptoms through the use of stem cell therapy.
Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapy
Pluripotent stem cells are by far the most comprehensive and have have powerful regenerative potential. They are capable of epigenetic reprogramming in all organs, repair damage in every tissue type, since they have the most comprehensive signaling profile for all cell types in the body. David Sinclair and his team at Harvard have backed this up with research, showing that regular pulsing doses of pluripotent signaling factors from embryonic stem cells are the key to reprogramming tissue to a younger metabolic and biological age. They have even restored sight in aged mice. If you can restore tissue and organs to a younger biological age, they can better repair and regenerate.
These are the most comprehensive and powerful regenerative stem cells available for treatment.
Bottom line
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder. The symptoms of this condition include widespread pain, stiffness, and a feeling of tightness in the muscles. It is estimated that two percent of the population has fibromyalgia. A fibromyalgia diagnosis is not the end - there are many treatments to ensure you can live a normal life.
