| > | | | | newly discovered form of interrupted breathing |
| This is a useful article for readers concerned with | | | | called upper airway resistance syndrome, or |
| fibromyalgia. A review of the symptoms are | | | | UARS), bruxism (teeth grinding), periodic limb |
| looked at as well as some common methods of | | | | movement during sleep (jerking of arms and |
| treatment. Millions of people all over the world | | | | legs), and restless legs syndrome (difficulty sitting |
| suffer from fibromyalgia. There is no actual | | | | still in the evenings). |
| cause of fibromyalgia, but experts tend to agree | | | | Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, |
| that there may be triggering events that | | | | abdominal gas, and nausea represent symptoms |
| precipitate its onset. Events such as a serious | | | | frequently found in roughly 40 to 70% of |
| accident or injury that may insult the musculature | | | | fibromyalgia patients. Acid reflux or |
| or nervous system, viral or bacterial infections, | | | | gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also |
| arthritic conditions, thyroid conditions or problems | | | | occurs with the same high frequency. |
| with chemical neurotransmitters (those that link | | | | Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are |
| your immune system to your nervous system) | | | | seen in about 70% of fibromyalgia patients and |
| may lead the body to produce massive amounts | | | | can pose a major problem in coping for this |
| of lactic acid, which is thought to be a waste | | | | patient group. Some headaches are associated |
| product of muscle. | | | | with temperomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) |
| Fibromyalgia is often associated with chronic | | | | which has been common in about one quarter of |
| fatigue syndrome. The fatigue has been | | | | fibromyalgia sufferers. These TMJ problems are |
| described as "brain fatigue" in which patients feel | | | | usually related to the muscles and ligaments |
| totally drained of energy. Patients will usually | | | | surrounding the jaw joint and not necessarily the |
| relay that they feel as though their arms and legs | | | | joint itself. |
| are constantly heavy and tired. Some even | | | | Other common symptoms include painful periods, |
| have difficulty concentrating and may forget why | | | | chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or |
| they are doing a particular task, e.g., brain fog. | | | | memory impairment, numbness and tingling |
| The pain of fibromyalgia is described by patients | | | | sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the |
| as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, and | | | | feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry |
| stabbing, which at times may cause intense | | | | eyes and mouth, dizziness, and impaired |
| burning into the arms or legs. Muscle groups that | | | | coordination can occur. Fibromyalgia patients are |
| are used more often than others, tend to hurt | | | | often sensitive to odors, loud noises, bright lights, |
| more, especially in the morning hours. Pain may | | | | and sometimes even the medications they are |
| or may not subside as the day progresses. | | | | prescribed. |
| Most fibromyalgia patients have an associated | | | | Aggravating factors may include a sudden change |
| sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This | | | | in weather, cold or drafty environments, |
| condition was uncovered in a sleep lab with the aid | | | | infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations |
| of a machine that recorded the brain waves of | | | | (premenstrual and menopausal states), stress, |
| patients during sleep. Researchers found that the | | | | depression, anxiety and over-exertion. |
| majority of fibromyalgia patients could fall asleep | | | | In addition to medications, most fibromyalgia |
| without much trouble, but their deep level (or | | | | patients will need to use other treatment |
| stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by | | | | methods, such as trigger point injections with |
| bursts of awake-like brain activity. | | | | lidocaine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, |
| If you wake up feeling as though you've just | | | | acupuncture, acupressure, relaxation/biofeedback |
| been hit by a truckwhat doctors refer to as | | | | techniques, chiropractic manipulation, therapeutic |
| unrefreshing sleepit is reasonable for your | | | | massage, or a gentle exercise program. |
| physician to assume that you have a sleep | | | | To learn more about how to alleviate pain, please |
| disorder. Many fibromyalgia patients have been | | | | visit our Chicago physical therapy clinics website |
| found to have other sleep disorders in addition to | | | | and click through to the blog. |
| the alpha-EEG, such as sleep apnea (as well as the | | | | |