When Pain moves from your Head Down to the feet in Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) or simply Fibromyalgia is a condition in which pain in a whole-body is persistent for a longer period of time. According to researchers, the disorder amplifies the sensations of pain by disturbing the brain’s functions that increase pain sensitivity.
It can cause after surgery, due to psychological stress, physical trauma or infection. In some cases, it accumulates over time gradually with no solitary prompting incident. The fibromyalgia cannot be identified by any lab test, but from a blood test, its potential chronic causes can be identified.
Symptoms
People who suffer from fibromyalgia may
experience the following symptoms:
- Sensitivity towards pain feeling increased
- Stiffness in muscles
- Fatigue (get more tired)
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Time to time headaches
- Fibro-Fog (cause problem in mind processes) like, memory shortage or poor concentration causing cognitive complications
- Fibromyalgia can co-exist with other painful conditions like:
- IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a digestive problem which causes bloating and stomach aches
- Bladder syndrome called interstitial cystitis, causing pain and aches in bladder hence, improper functioning
- Severe Headaches including migraine
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
Causes of Fibromyalgia
There are many theories that support the idea to identify the causes of it, but few are confirmed yet. Some of the causes of having fibromyalgia, considered by experts play a role in the development of this disease are discussed below:
Central Sensitization: the theory of central sensitization says that the cells, which transmit the feeling of pain in the brain, when stop working properly, causes fibromyalgia.
Genetical problem: according to scientists, the polymorphic genes are responsible for causing fibromyalgia. Other study shows that the polymorphic gene is also responsible for similar conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or depression are mistakenly confused with fibromyalgia.
Stress: the issues in one’s lifestyle, traumas due to different scenarios that can cause the stress is playing a vital role in developing fibromyalgia. There is no clear picture, people have various points of view about this but nothing can be confirmed yet.
Sleeping Disorder: according to scientists, sleeping disorder is not a symptom but a risk factor which causes fibromyalgia in a person. As the body cannot get enough sleep to relax, the muscles stiffs and cause pain that leads towards fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a mystery
First of all, fibromyalgia is not a disease, it a syndrome. Various doctors consider it is the cause of depression. There are a number of symptoms that can vary from person to person. The pain in the whole body is the major symptom that can be due to fibromyalgia. Other symptoms are also there
which makes it easy to identify the problem.
The people suffering from fibromyalgia face symptoms like memory issues, upset urinary system, IBS – irritable bowel syndrome, depression, fatigue, anxiety, menstruation pain in women, pain in tender points, sleeping disorder, frequent headaches, morning stiffness, and numbness, etc.
As there are a lot of symptoms of fibromyalgia that can relate to any other medical issue and make it difficult to identify the reason behind it. But through proper consultation, it is quite easy to find out and helps to end up with correct treatment.
The first thing to check after the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is 18 tender points of the body. If there is a pain in any 11 points, the doctor precedes the examination and can give confirmation that the person is suffering from the problem. A blood test called FM/a is now considered helpful to check whether the patient is suffering from it or not, but the test is quite expensive to afford.
How to treat fibromyalgia
Both medication and care are important in tackling the fibromyalgia. The management of pain is the main focus that should be deal first. Common medication or health care treatment that may help to overcome this syndrome include:
- Anti-depressants
- Pain killers
- Antiseizure drugs
- Natural health care treatments
- Healthy and balanced diet
- Regular exercises like gym or swimming
- Acupuncture
- Physical therapy
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Take a Good Night Long sleep
- Massage therapies
What to eat in fibromyalgia?
There are no such boundaries made for the people who are suffering from fibromyalgia. From the experiences of the patients those are suffering from this issue, we will be able to draw some conclusions that health care management and fitness treatments help a lot to manage and overcome this issue. Here is some healthy food advice that can help a lot a person who is dealing with fibromyalgia that includes:
- Reduce white sugar intake
- Increase water consumption
- Avoid meat and eat more green veggies
- Lose or maintain a favorable weight
- Eat more vegetables and fruits
- Restrict carbohydrates intake
Foot pain in fibromyalgia
One of the main issues that can cause by fibromyalgia is a pain in the foot. Estimated 50 percent of the diagnosed people claim that they felt foot pain. According to the doctors, Continue foot pain may be due to weight, unhealthy food intake or can be due to pain sensitivity. To reduce that pain it is important for a patient to get a foot massage, buying a good orthotic shoe, orthotic stretchers, etc.
Fibromyalgia Foot Pain
For those navigating the challenges of fibromyalgia, foot pain can feel like an ever-present obstacle in daily life, a constant companion that refuses to fade away.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about fibromyalgia foot pain. From what causes it to how you can find relief, we’ve got you covered.
What causes fibromyalgia foot pain?
It’s likely that central sensitization is part of the cause1. But there may be other contributing factors that can be understood and worked on too, and we’ll get to those as we go on.
Firstly, what’s central sensitization? Picture your nervous system as an orchestra where every nerve has a part to play in perfect harmony. In fibromyalgia, central sensitization acts like a conductor who’s lost control, resulting in a chaotic overreaction from the musicians.
Central sensitization means your nervous system has become hypersensitive, and is producing pain in response to many stimuli, even gentle touch, turning a soft caress into a distressing symphony. In the case of foot pain, this heightened sensitivity translates into an intense reaction to stimuli that would typically go unnoticed. The nerves in your feet become overly reactive, interpreting normal activities such as walking, standing, or wearing certain footwear as painful experiences.
Fibromyalgia foot pain symptoms
Symptoms of foot pain associated with fibromyalgia often manifest as a burning sensation in various areas of the feet, including the soles, tops, and sides. This is particularly noticeable upon waking, almost as if you’ve been on your feet for hours.
Other conditions that can contribute to your foot pain
Although the pain of fibromyalgia stems from central sensitization (rather than physical or structural issues), it can exacerbate other conditions. So, what else could it be?
Foot pain can present as pain in the heels, Achilles tendon, arches, or toes and there are a few different potential diagnoses:
- Plantar fasciitis: This condition involves inflammation or stretching of the fascia, a group of connective tissues on the underside of the foot.
- Achilles tendonitis: Tenderness in the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf to the heel bone, calf and heel is often the result of suddenly increasing the distance you walk or run, rather than building up to it gradually.
- Lupus: An autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue, joint pain, rash and fever.
- Morton’s neuroma: A sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot, maybe with stinging, burning or numbness in some toes could be the result of a thickening in the nerve that goes to your toes.
- Raynaud’s syndrome: This circulatory problem usually causes fingers, toes and other extremities to be cold and white in cooler temperatures. Although this isn’t usually painful, it can cause pain, particularly in people who also have fibromyalgia.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: A type of arthritis that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints and may result in misshapen toes.
Your biomechanics – the way you walk, your footwear, carrying heavy loads and so on – can also impact your foot pain:
- Flat feet: Here, the foot arch collapses or lacks sufficient support, either from birth or through gradual development.
- High arches: These exert excessive pressure on the metatarsal (the ball of the foot), potentially leading to pain and related foot problems.
- Overpronation: This is a type of gait, or a way of walking, in which the foot and knee rotate inward, causing an imbalance in weight distribution and eventual pain.
It’s important to talk with your doctor about any underlying foot conditions that may be causing or increasing your pain, so they can help you find targeted treatments for both conditions.
Diagnosing fibromyalgia foot pain
To diagnose fibromyalgia foot pain, a doctor will probably refer you to a physio or podiatrist, who specialize in foot problems.
A doctor may also perform tests and scans to rule out the other potential causes of your pain (such as arthritis). To do so, they will also ask about your medical history and symptoms. To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, your pain must have been ongoing for at least three months, be widespread (across the body) and accompanied by some other symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, sleep problems and mood disturbances.
How does fibromyalgia affect walking?
When you’re dealing with fibromyalgia foot pain, it can really affect how well you can walk. Recent studies have shown that fibromyalgia can even change how you walk2.
Typically, people with fibromyalgia take shorter steps and walk more slowly than someone who doesn’t have this condition. This change in how you walk, which has a lot to do with pain in your feet, can make it much harder for you to move around.
Should you walk a lot with fibromyalgia?
When it comes to exercising with fibromyalgia, it’s understandable to feel hesitant, fearing it might worsen your pain. However, research shows that regular, appropriate exercise (such as walking) is actually one of the best treatments to reduce your pain! It promotes blood flow throughout your body, including your feet, which can help alleviate discomfort3.
Walking is also a great way to elevate your heart rate, increase your fitness, and strengthen your muscles. This is important for your overall health, boosting your mood and energy levels, and improving your sleep, mental health and overall wellbeing.
It’s very important to start slow and low – don’t walk to the point that you make your pain worse or cause a flare-up but start with a distance that you can comfortably do (although it’s normal to feel a little sore for an hour or two afterwards, if is intense or lasts for more than a couple of hours you’re going too hard). Then, gradually increase this amount.
