Morning stiffness, deep muscle pain, painful pressure points, sleep problems, fatigue, and anxiety are all symptoms of Fibromyalgia. It is generally agreed that pain is the most significant symptom of fibromyalgia. Unlike unilateral joint pain, or even back pain, fibromyalgia pain is felt across the entire body. The Arthritis Foundation has described the muscle and deep tissue pain as tender, aching, throbbing, sore, burning, and gnawing.
Patients with fibromyalgia will likely have painful pressure points of tenderness around their joints that hurt when pressed with a finger. It’s the tissue around the muscles and joints instead of the joints themselves that hurts. These pressure points are often not areas of deep pain, but instead, they are superficial, located just under the skin. If you apply pressure to the pressure points on a person without fibromyalgia, he or she would just feel pressure. For a person with fibromyalgia, pressing the pressure points would be extremely painful.
The initial treatment for fibromyalgia is an antidepressant, because antidepressants will relieve stress and fatigue, which are responsible for pain. Ongoing treatments may include NSAIDs, OTC treatments, muscle relaxants, anti-convulsants, pain relievers, and vitamins. Holistic treatments may include exercise, physical therapy, deep tissue massage, acupressure, acupuncture, chiropractor, meditation, and more.
Is your activity of daily living affected by fibromyalgia pain? Come to DPM Clinic and get your active lifestyle back. Enhance your quality of living, enjoyment of participation in activities, and perception of what is possible–call (720) 519-1236!