What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is an uncommon chronic condition that causes widespread pain. It’s far more common in women than in men, but experts don’t know much about what causes it. However, many believe the condition affects the way your brain perceives pain signals. If you have fibromyalgia, your brain overreacts to nerve stimulation.
In many cases, people develop fibromyalgia after some form of physical health condition, surgery, or psychological stress. Certain illnesses and events can also trigger your symptoms. The condition tends to run in families, so you’re more likely to develop it if you have a family member who has it.
While fibromyalgia doesn’t have a cure and can be difficult to manage, the team at Susan Gutierrez, MD, specializes in treating fibromyalgia to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. They might use multiple approaches for optimal results.
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread nerve pain throughout your body, but the condition comes with other symptoms and complications too. If you have fibromyalgia, you might experience:
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Depression and anxiety
- Mental fogginess
- Headaches
- Bladder problems or incontinence
Many people with fibromyalgia have other conditions alongside it, like chronic migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). You might have difficulties with work or your personal life because of your complex symptoms and complications.
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
Diagnosing fibromyalgia doesn’t involve any specific test for the condition itself. Usually, you get a fibromyalgia diagnosis after your provider rules out all other possible causes. The main criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis is pain that lasts for at least three months.
What are my treatment options for fibromyalgia?
In order to treat your fibromyalgia symptoms, Dr. Gutierrez creates an individualized, easy-to-follow treatment plan for you. Your treatment plan includes a combination of lifestyle changes and therapies with minimal medications. More specifically, it might include:
- Calmare® pain therapy
- Physical therapy and exercise
- Antidepressants
- Pain-relief medications
- Dietary adjustments
- Stress management
Since fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects you for the rest of your life, you may need to make some long-term changes to your lifestyle. Dr. Gutierrez can help you adopt healthy habits. You can book regular appointments with her as you undergo treatment so she can track your progress and recommend other treatments that might benefit you.
To learn more about fibromyalgia and available treatments for the symptoms, call Susan Gutierrez, MD, or request an appointment online today.
