Have you ever felt pain and fatigue all over your body despite not doing any intense activity or just waking up? Do you find sleeping a challenge because you either wake up several times throughout the night or find it hard to fall asleep? And do you have trouble remembering things or concentrating throughout the day?
If your answer to any of these questions is a resounding yes, you might want to visit a medical professional to see if you have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain that is typically associated with mood, memory, sleep, and fatigue irregularities. With all disorders, fibromyalgia may vary in severity between individuals.
Apart from the typical signs and symptoms of the disorder, some individuals may also experience other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, skin issues, flu-like symptoms, urinary and pelvic problems, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, stiff muscles and joints in the morning, irritable bowel movements, headaches, as well as sensitivity to touch, smell, or light.
Fibromyalgia is a draining and frustrating disorder that can make one feel like one is trapped in their own body. Because of the disorder’s complexity, there are several misconceptions about it. In this article, we will debunk four common misconceptions.
1. Fibromyalgia is an older woman’s disease
Fibromyalgia affects women twice as much as compared to men, with symptoms developing from 35 years old. With that being said, the disorder can still affect anybody of any age. This is vital to note because many people do not get a diagnosis for many years due to the fact that they do not seem like somebody who might develop fibromyalgia.
This is a critical reason why men who might be suffering from fibromyalgia, hide it from friends and family, and children do not get early treatment because they might be told that it is simply growing pains.
2. Individuals with fibromyalgia just have to exercise more
While we agree that individuals with fibromyalgia can feel better by exercising, what many are not aware of is that exercising beyond their tolerance can lead to flare-ups or the development of severe symptoms. The thing about fibromyalgia is that one may experience good and bad days.
On good days, the symptoms are manageable enough to conduct daily activities. However, on bad days, one may experience flare-ups where the usual pain and symptoms are too much to bear, affecting their ability to move about.
3. Fibromyalgia is a psychiatric disease, a hypochondria, or does not exist in reality
Despite all the existing symptoms and pain that one experiences, fibromyalgia will not show up on blood tests or any medical tests. Hence, it is even hard for medical professionals to diagnose and understand the disorder. Furthermore, its mood-related signs are usually associated with depression, which can be alleviated with antidepressants. Thus, many assume that it is a psychological disease.
However, studies have shown that individuals with fibromyalgia display several physiological abnormalities in their hormones, nervous system, and cells. The reason why antidepressants work is because the medication alters certain neurotransmitters’ functions, which are also involved in several non-psychological functions, such as muscle function, cognitive ability, memory, and sleep.
It is worth noting that fibromyalgia is considered a neurological disorder, similar to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
4. Fibromyalgia is all about having low pain tolerance
One of the most obvious signs of fibromyalgia is widespread musculoskeletal pain. Most individuals with fibromyalgia would complain a lot about body pains and aches apart from feeling fatigued most of the time. Many around them would assume that they are experiencing typical pains and aches but cannot handle them well.
What many do not know is that fibromyalgia is a boosted version of typical pains and aches. Brain scans have shown that stimuli like pressure and cold light up the pain receptors of individuals with the disorders intensely, proving that they experience great pain, unlike normal pains and aches.
Conclusion
If it has not been reiterated sufficiently, the severity and symptoms of fibromyalgia vary between individuals. Hence, what may work for one may not work for another. Hence, it is vital that you get it diagnosed and treated professionally.
One method that individuals with fibromyalgia are finding to be effective is chiropractic care. Through spine alignment, not only is their pain reduced significantly, but their range of motion increases, allowing their body to function more effectively as well as their muscles and bones to be strengthened. Chiropractic care can improve your overall quality of sleep too!
Even if you have decided to visit your nearest doctor, visiting a chiropractor in Singapore would offer additional benefits. Here at Healing Hands Chiropractic, we specialize in treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as lower back pain treatment and frozen shoulder treatment.
Our chiropractors will conduct a thorough physical examination to determine an accurate diagnosis of your pains and aches, after which they will come up with the best-suited treatment solution that will improve your condition. Do not hesitate. Contact us to make an appointment today!
