A detailed guide to understanding Fibromyalgia symptoms, early warning signs, and how they are diagnosed.
Yes, men also get fibromyalgia, so just how do they cope? I feel a great sense of compassion when I receive messages from men with fibromyalgia. Although the diagnosis is not easy for any of us, a man can feel an additional blow to his purpose, and the need to always be the provider for his family when living with a condition that can really test a person’s strength and resilience. So, to answer that…
Is there a connection between fibromyalgia and immune health status? Yes, especially when we are living with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions of CFS/ME and MCS. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) These co-conditions can be affected by dysfunction in both the mitochondria and the immune system. Links to these related conditions are listed at the bottom of this article. Update on protection against viruses Due to the recent spread of coronavirus, I…
Many women livings with fibromyalgia and menopause have a fear of going into menopause that is either natural or induced surgically through hysterectomy. More than ever before we have to address lifestyle factors and what I like to call “menopause essentials” in order to avoid the pitfalls often associated with fibromyalgia and menopause. I want to stress something of great importance here. Avoid saying and thinking that your fibromyalgia will get worse during or after…
Being the most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder can sure do a lot of things for us, like lifting, reaching, and supporting our good posture. The problem is that with all of that mobility, and wear over time, we can end up having fibromyalgia shoulder pain that can radiate, burn, extend up and down the arm, and cause resulting weakness. Have you noticed that when your fibromyalgia shoulder pain is flaring, you might…
As with many other common symptoms, fibromyalgia neck pain can really be frustrating. I know, I say it often…fibromyalgia causes widespread pain and stiffness and can affect nearly any part of the body, but neck pain is still one of the more noticeable symptoms. We use our neck muscles for hundreds of small daily activities, including turning our head when someone calls our name while cleaning or bending, and supporting our head when we are…
When most people get a fibromyalgia diagnosis, the first questions they have are about what to expect and about their long-term fibromyalgia prognosis. Fibromyalgia is a complex condition affecting multiple systems of the body. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood by friends, family, and doctors on the outside. That is just another reason we are so passionate about what I like to call “accurate awareness” When you are first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may find it…
Some people do not realize that their fibromyalgia and vision problems may be related. While there is no way to determine with certainty that vision problems are exacerbated by your fibromyalgia, it is common for those of us living with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions to experience a variety of issues related to the eyes. Here is a list of some problems that are commonly reported: Some fibromyalgia patients have two or more sets of…
Clavicle or shoulder pain in fibromyalgia is like any other symptom in that it can easily wax and wane, but might be more common than you think. With a recent shoulder injury (and labral tear) myself, I have seen even more clearly the process of shoulder injuries, stiffness, and how fibromyalgia symptoms can “interplay” with common shoulder/ clavicle injuries or tears. One thing I do in working with fibromyalgia is to convey the importance of…
It is not so uncommon to experience fibromyalgia and ankle pain. Although it might not be one of your first symptoms when living with fibromyalgia, you might find that you start experiencing pain in one or both ankles. This pain may extend to your toes, heel, and even up into your calves. It may also just stay around your ankles and may or may not come with swelling. This is an important weight-bearing area of…
When fibromyalgia affects the lower part of the body, this is somewhat different than upper body pain due to the weight-bearing nature of both legs and feet. Although this is just one area of the body affected, I rarely meet a person with fibromyalgia who does not have some kind of leg and/or fibromyalgia foot pain. Fibromyalgia foot pain can be exacerbated by multiple trigger points in the lower body, overactive nerves, and even ongoing…