Fibromyalgia

About 2% of Americans have fibromyalgia today. The compassionate specialists at Pain Medicine of the South understand how painful and draining fibromyalgia can be. That’s why they offer customized treatments to help in their Knoxville, Tennessee, office. If you’re struggling to find pain relief that lasts for fibromyalgia, call the office or click on the provided online scheduler now. 

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing pain and other symptoms in many parts of your body. Researchers believe that the disease amplifies pain signals and other sensory signals, triggering frustrating and debilitating symptoms and a lower quality of life.

Fibromyalgia primarily affects women, with men accounting for just 10-20% of all cases.
 

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes numerous symptoms, with the most common effects including: 

Bodywide pain

People with fibromyalgia commonly experience widespread pain on both sides of the body. Pain occurs both above and below the waistline, and generally, people with fibromyalgia experience pain on most or all days of the week.   

Chronic fatigue

Many people with fibromyalgia struggle with constant tiredness. You may have a restless sleep, have difficulty falling asleep, or wake up frequently in pain. But sleeping more than usual doesn’t necessarily refresh you. In fact, sleeping for long periods may leave you feeling more drained than ever.

Fibro fog

Up to 80% of people with fibromyalgia experience “fibro fog”: a collection of cognitive issues like difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, lack of alertness, and poor concentration.

Along with pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues, many people with fibromyalgia have additional health problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), depression, chronic migraines, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. 

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There’s no single solution for fibromyalgia. Many patients get good results from a combination of medications and self-care strategies. Common fibromyalgia medications include antidepressants, sleep aids, and pain relievers. 

If you have persistent pain that doesn’t improve with conservative measures, the Pain Medicine of the South team may recommend interventional pain management procedures that disrupt pain signals. 

Some of the treatments that may help include:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Joint injections
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
• Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)

The team works with you to design a treatment plan that lessens all of your symptoms and reduces the frequency of your issues.

While fibromyalgia doesn’t have a miracle cure, many effective symptom management strategies help you establish a better quality of life and a brighter future. 

Pain Medicine of the South compassionately supports fibromyalgia patients as they seek answers and lasting relief, so call the office or book your appointment through the online scheduling feature today.