I Have Fibromyalgia: Can You Help?

Up to 4% of the American population suffers from fibromyalgia, the majority of them women. A chronic condition that produces pain throughout the body, fibromyalgia’s causes aren’t fully understood, though the disease has been connected to stress, sleep disorders, and body chemistry. 

Board-certified family nurse practitioner Savitri Gopaul of Commonwealth Pain Management and Wellness in Richmond, Virginia, specializes in treating musculoskeletal pain. Many of the pain therapies work well for fibromyalgia symptoms. 

There’s no cure for fibromyalgia, so pain management is the primary treatment. Contact us for personalized and holistic care for your fibromyalgia. 

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia

Every patient has their own version of fibromyalgia, though there are many overlaps. The defining characteristic of the condition is pain that’s widespread. It’s also common that sleep doesn’t refresh a person with fibromyalgia, even when it seems you’ve been sleeping soundly. 

Other common signs of fibromyalgia include: 

• “Fibro fog,” interfering with memory and/or focused thoughts
• Migraine or tension headaches
• Joint pain
• Anxiety and depression
• Digestive conditions including irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Overactive or irritable bladder

Medical testing usually rules out other common causes for these symptoms, leaving behind a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Pain that lasts three or more months and covers four of five body regions defines the widespread pain criteria for diagnosis. 

I have fibromyalgia: Can you help? 

Generally, fibromyalgia treatment includes medical oversight and self-care, with a goal of minimizing pain symptoms while improving overall health. 

There’s not a single therapy that addresses all of the signs of fibromyalgia that you experience, so a comprehensive treatment plan is usually necessary. Your treatment plan might include: 

• Over-the-counter pain relievers or, in some cases, their prescription-strength versions
• Antidepressants that have pain-relieving abilities
• Sleep medications
• Anti-seizure drugs designed for epilepsy that also have pain-treating effects
• Low-impact exercise, such as walking and swimming, for aerobic fitness and flexibility
• Counseling to counter the effects on your self-esteem and coping with stress
• Physical therapy for flexibility, stamina, and strength
• Occupational therapy to help adjust jobs and make tasks easier

We don’t use opioid medications with fibromyalgia due to the risk of addiction. The chronic nature of fibromyalgia requires long-term strategies, and your body builds resistance to opioids, requiring larger doses that produce more extreme side effects. 

Commonwealth Pain Management and Wellness focuses on conservative, holistic care using modalities that deliver effective results while emphasizing all aspects of your health. 

Your fibromyalgia treatment starts by contacting Commonwealth Pain Management and Wellness, by phone or online, to request an appointment today.