Category: Fibromyalgia

Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia: The Connection

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f you have fibromyalgia (FMS), chest pain may be one of your symptoms. A condition called costochondritis, which causes pain around the breastbone and rib cage, could be to blame. It is caused by inflammation in the cartilage that connects your ribs and sternum (breastbone). It’s believed to be common in people with FMS.1 Costochondritis is also called noncardiac chest pain or musculoskeletal chest pain. It does not involve the heart, but it is sometimes confused with heart palpitations. Because any other sources of pain can make your FMS symptoms worse, it’s crucial to treat costochondritis.2 Fibromyalgia…

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What Kind of Healthcare Provider Treats Fibromyalgia?

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Fibromyalgia (FM) is often treated by a team of healthcare providers. The first stop in diagnosing and treating FM is typically a primary care provider. Rheumatologists, pain specialists, mental health professionals, and other specialized care providers may also be part of a diagnostic and treatment plan for FM.1 This article will discuss the kinds of providers who diagnose and treat FM, why a diagnosis may be delayed, how to find FM specialists and get referrals, and how to foster a good relationship with FM specialists. Providers Who Diagnose and Treat Fibromyalgia  The first…

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Cigarette Smoking and Fibromyalgia

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Do you smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco? When you have fibromyalgia, tobacco use may have even greater health risks than you thought. Multiple studies have shown that tobacco use is associated with worse fibromyalgia symptoms. Smoking may also be a risk factor for developing this condition. At the same time, people with fibromyalgia often claim that smoking helps them cope with fibromyalgia pain. What do the studies tell us, and how can you use this information to improve your health? Understanding Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a frustrating condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness,…

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How Loss Weight When You Have Fibromyalgia?

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Losing weight with fibromyalgia is especially difficult due to several aspects of the condition. At the same time, research shows that a large percentage of people with fibromyalgia are overweight, as well as studies showing that weight loss can help improve symptoms. Thus, losing weight may be important for you as you work to manage your illness, but you’ll need to overcome some extra barriers along the way. Barriers to Weight Loss Some of the things that complicate weight loss in fibromyalgia include: Problems Sticking to a Diet Sticking to a healthy…

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Concentration and memory issues can result from fibromyalgia and ME/CFS

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People with fibromyalgia or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experience a specific kind of cognitive dysfunction called fibro fog or brain fog. It involves: Some researchers suspect that pain, fatigue, and the need to constantly monitor your symptoms may prevent you from effectively directing your attention to things outside of yourself.1 This article explains ME/CFS and fibromyalgia brain fog, the mechanisms behind them, and how medications and other treatments can help clear the fog. Symptoms of Brain Fog Symptoms of fibro fog or ME/CFS brain fog differ from person to person and can range from…

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How Showering Can Worsen Symptoms of Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS

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If you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), you may experience new or exacerbated body aches, weakness, dizziness, and other symptoms of your condition during or after a shower. This may happen for several reasons, including heat sensitivity, the energy it takes to perform a simple task like this, how your nerves respond to the water flow, and even an abnormal drop in blood pressure. This article explores why the shower you thought might ease your fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue symptoms does just the opposite, as well as what you can do to…

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Can a Rash Be a Symptom of Fibromyalgia?

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Fibromyalgia is a complex medical condition that adversely affects those who have the condition in several ways. Certain skin conditions that cause skin rashes are common in people with fibromyalgia but are not specific symptoms of the condition. These rashes can vary in appearance and may be itchy. This article will discuss what a fibromyalgia rash might be, what causes rashes more common in people with fibromyalgia, and how to relieve a rash. What Is a Fibromyalgia Rash? No specific rash is a symptom of fibromyalgia. But researchers have found that certain…

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A Deep Dive Into Fibromyalgia Pain

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Fibromyalgia pain is not like other kinds of pain. It doesn’t always indicate something is awry with the body part that hurts, and it doesn’t respond to many treatments that usually help alleviate pain. Fibromyalgia pain is believed to come from complex and interrelated dysfunctions throughout the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves).12 It can manifest in many ways. The pain type and pattern can differ from one person to the next. This article explores where you might feel pain, the nature of that pain, what flares feel like, what is happening with pain…

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