If you or someone you love is living in unexplainable pain, fatigue, brain fog, or unexplainable swelling in the hands or feet then you may have Fibromyalgia. This condition still stumps doctors today, it is hard to diagnose, and many have been told their symptoms are in their heads when doctors cannot figure out what is causing the symptoms. Thankfully, there is more known about this condition even if it is not completely understood. There are tests to see if this is the cause of your symptoms and even medications you can take for treatment. Here are a few things you should know about Fibromyalgia. 

What Are The Symptoms? 

If someone has been experiencing unexplained pain for longer than three months and all other conditions have been ruled out then Fibromyalgia may be the culprit. While pain is often the most common symptom, there are also some other symptoms that you may be experiencing such as:

• Fatigue,

• Physical weakness,

• Mental fogginess,

• Problems sleeping,

• Mood disorders,

• Swelling or tingling in the extremities,

• Morning stiffness,

• Headaches.

Not everyone with Fibromyalgia experiences all of these symptoms and some may even come and go. 

What Are The Causes? 

Thankfully there are ways to diagnose and treat Fibromyalgia, but the exact cause is still not understood. They do believe there are some factors that could be considered a potential cause. 

Genetics

Fibromyalgia tends to be more prevalent in certain families so there could be some genetics at play. If you or someone you love has Fibromyalgia you may want to be on the lookout. 

Infection

There are recent studies that show that some people developed Fibromyalgia after getting an infection. It is clear that Fibromyalgia is not caused by an infection, but the association is still unclear.  

Stress

Another factor that they are still studying is the link between stress and Fibromyalgia. There is definitely a link, but does it cause it? The answer is still unclear. Being under a great amount of stress can have lots of negative impacts on the body and does seem to make the symptoms of Fibromyalgia worse. 

Trauma 

When the body goes through a traumatic experience, there can be a lot of different outcomes. They have noticed that many people develop Fibromyalgia after experiencing a traumatic event such as a car crash. 

How To Get Diagnosed 

If you have been experiencing any or all of the symptoms above for several months and cannot seem to figure out why you are having these symptoms, it may be time to talk to your doctor. In previous years, when doctors could not find the answer to a person’s symptoms they were told it was in their heads. Thankfully that should not be the experience you have thanks to modern science. The part that is tricky is that this disease cannot be treated by x-ray, blood work, or any other common ways diseases are diagnosed. To be diagnosed, a physical exam is required and it is often based on the patient’s symptoms and medical history. Women are more frequently diagnosed than men and it is most common for someone to get diagnosed between the ages of thirty and fifty. A doctor may want to run a series of tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms so nothing is missed. 

How To Treat Fibromyalgia 

There are several Fibromyalgia treatments despite so much still unknown about it. It can be managed through natural methods or through medication. After your diagnosis, here are some things to try. 

Natural Remedies 

Supporting our bodies through natural ways such as: 

• Probiotics- Taking a regular probiotic improves our gut health and in return boosts our immune systems. This helps the body fight off Fibromyalgia. 

• Antioxidants- These fight inflammation. 

• Magnesium- Taking 500mg a day can help keep nerves healthy. 

• De-stress- Because stress is a factor linked to worsened symptoms. Finding ways to destress through activities such as massage, chiropractic care, and even exercise can help tremendously. 

• Topical Treatments- Rubbing mentholated pain relief cream on the body can help relieve pain and make getting around easier. 

• Diet- avoid eating processed foods, chemicals, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. All of these cause inflammation in the body and can make symptoms worse. 

Medication 

On top of trying the natural remedies, if you are still struggling your doctor may prescribe some medication. The most common medication is Pregabalin which is typically a treatment for seizures but helps with nerve signals in Fibromyalgia patients. Talk to your doctor to see if this could be right for you. 

Living With Fibromyalgia 

While there is no cure, people living with Fibromyalgia can still live happy healthy lives. Talk with your doctor to see what your options are to get back to living your life pain free.