If persistent, widespread pain throughout your body is keeping you up at night, you may have a condition known as fibromyalgia. It’s important to have an experienced physician properly diagnose and manage the pain and associated symptoms of fibromyalgia. At Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Lasers and Cosmetic Medicine in Oakland Park, Florida, the experienced team of doctors treats pain associated with fibromyalgia to help you live a better life. Schedule a fibromyalgia consultation online or by calling the office.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder involving widespread pain throughout your musculoskeletal system. It’s understood that those affected by fibromyalgia experience abnormalities in the way the brain processes pain signals. These abnormalities cause nerves to react more intensely than normal, increasing the amount of pain you feel.
While the condition can affect both men and women, women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
The most common characteristic of fibromyalgia is widespread pain affecting your muscles. To diagnose fibromyalgia, you must have pain lasting longer than three months that affects one or both sides of your body, including above and below your waist.
You may also experience frequent issues with your ability to concentrate — a common symptom known as ‘fibro fog’ — as well as frequent bouts of fatigue, even after a good night’s sleep.
In addition to the symptoms of fibromyalgia, you may experience other chronic conditions, including:
As the result of your chronic pain, you may have major disruptions to your sleep cycle, which can cause irritability, anxiety, and depression.
There’s no specific test to accurately diagnose fibromyalgia. However, your doctor at Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Laser and Cosmetic Medicine may evaluate certain trigger points on your body during a physical exam to rule out underlying conditions, or to see if your symptoms point to fibromyalgia. Your doctor may also access your pain symptoms and location to determine if they’ve been consistent for at least three months.
Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Laser and Cosmetic Medicine offers a variety of treatment options to improve your functionality and manage pain. Generally, more than one type of treatment is necessary to alleviate the different symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Treatment options may include:
Your doctor can also evaluate any issues affecting your mental health as the result of chronic pain and treat you accordingly with antidepressants or refer you for counseling.
If chronic pain is severe enough to interfere with your ability to work or enjoy your normal activities, your doctor may recommend more aggressive treatments to help you manage your pain, such as prescription medications, steroid injections, and nerve blocks.
To find relief from fibromyalgia pain, schedule a consultation online or by calling Port St. Lucie Pain & Medical Institute, home of Bossa Nova Lasers and Cosmetic Medicine.
