Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that causes sensations of pain to be significantly amplified. Researchers have found that the disorder causes a change in how the brain and spinal cord process signals indicating pain throughout the body. While there is still quite a bit unknown about fibromyalgia regarding specific causes or triggering events of the disorder, symptoms have shown to be likely to appear after events such as physical trauma, psychological trauma, an infection, or a surgical procedure. Those who develop fibromyalgia also often have conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anxiety, depression, and tension headaches, and it is more commonly diagnosed in women, though studies show it appears equally through sexes.

The earliest indicator of fibromyalgia will persist of widespread aching and pain throughout the muscles and joints in the entire body, likely feeling worse in the mornings and providing sensations similar to the aching you may experience with the flu. The disorder also is often associated with varying levels of fatigue, from mild and feeling as if you are unable to get enough sleep throughout the night to entirely debilitating, causing people to struggle to continue to work or function properly. Other initial signs of fibromyalgia include a loss of proper cognitive functioning, impaired memory, and the inability to concentrate, and often leads to feelings of depression.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia early on are what persist throughout the chronic condition, continuing or gradually worsening over time. The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is the pain and tenderness experienced in the muscles and joints, which will often appear as flare-ups, coming and going, but potentially becoming debilitating when present. That pain is due to your body becoming hypersensitive to any physical contact made to your body, with all sensations signaling to the brain that pain is being experienced. Physical symptoms of fibromyalgia can also lead to feelings of stiffness, especially when in the same position for long periods of time, so it is common for patients to experience more stiffness first thing in the morning after staying in one position all night. Fatigue is the other most common symptom of fibromyalgia, the severity of which can vastly differ from patient to patient. It is also common for fibromyalgia to cause several different emotional and mental symptoms including sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction can look like increased problems with memory, and the feeling of an overall “brain fog”.

Since fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the musculoskeletal system and the central nervous system, pain, and sensitivity can be experienced throughout the entire body, but is most frequently felt in the head, chest, abdomen, back, limbs, and buttocks. Sensations will include throbbing or tingling at any of these sites, most likely more than one at a time, during flare-ups. The central nervous system is essentially the communication that occurs between the brain and the spine, so pain can really be felt anywhere in the body as the signals sent to the brain are perceived as painful even if they wouldn’t be in a perfectly healthy body. With the brain being one of the main players affected by fibromyalgia, typical cognitive functioning can become significantly influenced as well, which is why there are so many common emotional and mental symptoms associated with the condition.
 
If you are looking for treatment for fibromyalgia, Body & Mind Consulting provides specialized treatment through our specialists. We serve clients in Murfreesboro, Nolensville, Brentwood, Franklin, Smyrna, Mt Juliet TN, and surrounding areas.