What Most People Don’t Understand About Fibromyalgia

You notice pain throughout your body that just won’t let up and find yourself too lethargic or mentally drained to function at your best. If another cause isn’t at play, you may be dealing with fibromyalgia. If you do, getting the care you need can help bring relief and keep your symptoms from worsening. Gaining understanding about the disorder may be equally important.

At California Pain Medicine Center in Santa Monica, California, expert pain management specialists, Dr. Joshua Prager and Dr. Gabriel Barnard, diagnose and treat fibromyalgia, offering conservative solutions and support to help you manage the disease.

Take a few minutes to learn important facts about fibromyalgia that we wish more people understood.

It’s a legitimate and complex disorder

Some people chalk fibromyalgia up to a “catch all” diagnosis or believe the symptoms are all in one’s head. On the contrary, it’s a valid condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, as well as cognitive issues that can impact your memory, moods, and ability to sleep well. 

While the diagnostic process for fibromyalgia involves ruling out other conditions, versus a specific blood or imaging test, you have to meet certain criteria for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. 

These criteria include:

• Multiple painful body areas (above and below the waist on both sides)
• Additional symptoms, such as poor concentration, fatigue, or poor sleep
• Symptoms that linger on for at least three months
• No other apparent cause of your symptoms

It can affect most anyone

Some 10 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. And while there are certain risk factors, such as genetics, prolonged emotional stress, and being female, people of any gender and walk of life can develop it. As many as 90% of diagnosed cases are among women, but women may also seek help more readily and tend to experience higher levels of stress than men. 

Treatment can go far

When you have fibromyalgia, it’s important to take your symptoms seriously. A proper diagnosis and pain management plan can help you regain and maintain a higher quality of life and help you feel less alone in the process. 

At California Pain Medicine Center, we often start with over-the-counter medications to help minimize your pain. From there, we may recommend additional medication, such as an antidepressant or anti-seizure drug, psychotherapy, and physical therapy to keep your symptoms at bay. Appropriate exercise, learning to better manage stress, and prioritizing positive sleep habits can also help. 

To learn more about fibromyalgia or get the care you need, call our office or request an appointment through our website.