Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes widespread pain and fatigue. Most people who suffer from fibromyalgia have specific tender points. These are areas on the body, usually on the neck, shoulders, arms, hips and legs that hurt whenever there is pressure on them. There are other symptoms as well that can really affect the patient’s quality of life. Fibro has been found to be a surprisingly common condition and estimated that between 2% and 4.5% of the UK population has Fibromyalgia which means that between 1.2 and 2.7 million people in the UK alone are suffers. Using a wheat bag or heat pad to provide heat therapy can help to relieve the pain associated with Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Not everyone who suffers from fibromyalgia will experience the same symptoms. However, the most commonly reported symptoms include chronic pain, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and tingling in the hands and feet. Many people also experience fibro fog, which is a phrase used to describe problems with memory and other cognitive skills.

Fibromyalgia Causes

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Researchers believe that there may be a number of different factors involved. Some of these factors might include stressful or traumatic events, illness, repetitive injuries, and genetics. People who have certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, may be more likely to have fibromyalgia. It is estimated that 80 to 90% of sufferers are women, most are diagnosed during middle but anyone from children to the elderly can develop the condition.

Fibromyalgia Treatments

This can be a very difficult condition to treat. One of the most important things is to find a doctor who understands and is familiar with the disease. It can often require a team approach because many times, physical therapy or other treatment is needed. Pain clinics are often a good place to start.

There are some medications available for fibromyalgia. Many of the prescription medications have strong side effects, so it may take your physician a bit to find the correct dose for your symptoms. Heat therapy with wheat bags and heat pads is also very helpful. Heat therapy helps to reduce the signals sent to the brain from the affected nerves. It promotes better circulation, which can also reduce pain and discomfort. Heat therapy helps the muscles to relax, which can often provide relief and allow for more restful sleep. The application of heat was rated as one of the most helpful pain management modalities by people with Fibro in an internet survey of 2,596 participants.

Lifestyle changes may also be needed. Exercising is very important for fibromyalgia sufferers. Consistency is the key to making exercise work, so start out slowly. As you begin to feel more fit and healthy, then you can increase the intensity of your exercises. It can be quite difficult at first, simply because of the pain and discomfort. Heat therapy can help reduce the pain and should be used both before and after an exercise session.

Sleep is one of the things that most fibromyalgia patients do not get enough of. Since fatigue can be so great with this disease, it is important that you get a good night’s sleep every night. You should have a set bedtime routine. Avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages. Not only do these drinks make it difficult to fall asleep, many researchers believe that these substances can contribute to your pain.

Diet is also important and there are specific foods that may increase your fibromyalgia symptoms. These foods include tomatoes, white potatoes, pepper, chocolate, red meat, and fried foods. While each person is different, decreasing the amount of caffeine, refined sugars, and highly processed foods seem to help decrease the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Research continues on ways to effectively treat fibromyalgia. Until such time as a cure is available, patients will have to rely on prescription medications, heat therapy, and lifestyle changes to alleviate their chronic pain and fatigue. Zhu-Zhu offer an extensive range of wheat bags, heat pads and microwavable hot bottles that could provide relief to suffers of fibromyalgia.