Are you experiencing more and more days when your body just doesn't seem to cooperate, leaving you feeling drained and in pain without any apparent reason? It's easy to chalk up these symptoms to stress or overexertion, but they could point to a chronic condition.
Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition that disproportionately affects women twice as often as men. While there’s no cure, recognizing the early signs can make a difference in managing symptoms and improving your quality of life.
At Raleigh Spine and Pain Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, our board-certified neurologist Daljit S. Buttar, MD, and our care team help women struggling with fibromyalgia find relief through accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Here’s a look at five signs to be on the lookout for when deciding if your symptoms could be caused by fibromyalgia.
One of the hallmark signs of fibromyalgia is a persistent, widespread pain that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
The pain associated with fibromyalgia is usually characterized as a deep, aching soreness that lingers, though it can differ between women. For example, in some fibromyalgia patients, the pain is described as shooting, stabbing, or throbbing.
If you find yourself frequently massaging your shoulders, neck, back, or any area that feels tender to the touch, it's worth paying attention to. Keep in mind that fibromyalgia pain isn’t usually limited to one spot but rather it spreads across the body, making everyday tasks feel challenging.
Do you feel tired even after a full night's sleep? Fibromyalgia is known to cause severe fatigue that even a full night’s rest doesn't alleviate.
The fatigue associated with fibromyalgia is often described as “bone-deep,” meaning even the most basic activities, like getting out of bed or taking a shower, can become overwhelmingly exhausting.
In other words, rather than just “feeling tired”, the fatigue from fibromyalgia affects all aspects of your life, from physical movement to your ability to concentrate to your mood, causing you to feel down and depressed.
Ironically, even though you might be feeling exhausted, another early sign of fibromyalgia is the inability to get a good night's rest. You might find yourself tossing and turning, unable to find a comfortable position due to pain or restless leg syndrome.
And again, even if you eventually manage to get to sleep, you might wake up feeling as tired as you did when you went to sleep. Fibromyalgia can trigger an unpleasant cycle: the pain makes it hard to sleep, and the lack of good quality sleep makes your pain worse.
Since fibromyalgia can affect your cognitive abilities, another early symptom to watch out for is what’s often referred to as “fibro fog.” This describes cognitive issues like memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and trouble staying focused on tasks.
Everyone experiences these from time to time, but if you notice these cognitive troubles becoming a regular part of your day, it could be an early sign of fibromyalgia.
Another early sign of fibromyalgia is an increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli. This means you might find yourself unusually bothered by things like bright lights, loud noises, or certain foods.
Even the weather might affect you more than it used to or than it bothers other people, with changes in temperature or barometric pressure triggering flare-ups.
This heightened sensitivity can extend to painful responses to pressure on your body, known as allodynia, where even a gentle touch can feel uncomfortable or painful.
Recognizing these early signs is the first step, and if you feel like they describe your symptoms, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider who understands fibromyalgia like Dr. Buttar and the team at Raleigh Spine and Pain Center.
Your provider helps confirm a diagnosis through a thorough evaluation, ruling out other conditions with similar symptoms. From there, Dr. Buttar can work with you to develop a personalized fibromyalgia management plan.
Depending on your unique situation, your treatment plan may include:
Living with fibromyalgia can be challenging, but early detection and a comprehensive management plan can significantly improve your quality of life. If you've noticed these early signs, reach out to Dr. Buttar for personalized help.
For help diagnosing and managing fibromyalgia, schedule a consultation online or over the phone at Raleigh Spine and Pain Center today.
