Fibromyalgia – The Mystery Revealed!
Fibromyalgia, a debilitating chronic pain syndrome, still baffles many physicians around the world and continues to be a scary, mysterious condition to those diagnosed with it.
Most of the time, health practitioners who see patients with pain, try to explain it based on the degree of injury, tissue damage or inflammation happening somewhere in the body. They look for the ”cause” of the pain and if none is found the struggle in respect to diagnosis, treatment and management of the pain begins. Often patients feel like their pain is not real as no-one explains to them why they hurt and how to put an end to their suffering. There is no fibromyalgia specific diagnostic tests and the condition does not come up on scans. Because of that individuals with chronic pain syndromes such as Fibromyalgia often hear that they have non-specific pain, “nerve pain” or that their pain is psychological in nature.
The diagnosis and the diagnostic process itself have been controversial among health practitioners. In 1990 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) re
commended two criteria for the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia which included history of widespread musculoskeletal pain and 11 out of 18 tender points as described by ACR. As the pain is often perceived as arising in the muscles and joints, with accompanying joint stiffness in the morning, Fibromyalgia has been considered an arthritic condition or a muscle disease for most of the 20th century. However, as our knowledge of the nervous system and chronic pain mechanisms has changed significantly over the last two decades, so has our understanding of Fibromyalgia, which is now one of the most studied chronic pain conditions.
Today, we define Fibromyalgia as a complex, multi-symptomatic chronic pain syndrome, with changes in sensory processing at the central nervous system level. This means that the central nervous system misinterprets the information about our internal and external environment coming from the danger or threat sensing receptors and overreacts by responding with heightened sensitivity to both painful and non-painful sensory stimuli. The contemporary term to describe this phenomenon is central sensitisation or centralised pain. This explains that while ongoing input from the periphery might be one of the triggers or drivers of central sensitization, it is not the areas of the body where the pain is experienced that are the problem, but rather the central nervous system that creates, amplifies the pain and keeps it going.
Fibro-Fog & Co. – What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The most common Fibromyalgia symptoms include diffuse, multifocal pain, sensitivity to touch, fatigue, memory difficulties, sleep and mood disturbances. Many Fibromyalgia sufferers also experience headaches, problems with attention and concentration (Fibro-Fog), weight fluctuations as well as heat-cold-intolerance. Irritable Bowel and Bladder Syndrome, dizziness and Restless Leg Syndrome are also commonly reported.
While symptoms such as persistent pain and fatigue are a result of the mechanisms underlying Fibromyalgia, they also lead to further symptoms and aggravate the existing ones. Pain and fatigue reduce physical activity which in turn leads to general de-conditioning and exacerbates pain, affects sleep and mood as well as increases physical and mental exertion. It is therefore crucial for health and allied health practitioners to take a thorough history to address the symptoms in a way that will break the self-perpetuating symptoms loop.
Most people who develop Fibromyalgia have a history of chronic pain, regional pain syndromes, acute pain that lasted for a few weeks, as well as systemic infections, rheumatic or autoimmune conditions and physical or psychological trauma. It is not uncommon for ongoing infections or acute pain to trigger Fibromyalgia because of how they affect sleep, level of distress, physical activity, lead to obesity and poor life satisfaction and employment status.
The ACR diagnostic criteria have changed since 1990 and the tender points are no longer recommended as a diagnostic criterion. The contemporary diagnostic process is based on the history of widespread musculoskeletal pain and patient self-report. As many of the symptoms experienced by individuals with Fibromyalgia can mimic other conditions, a thorough medical examination is also necessary to exclude other possible diagnoses.
We are Neuroplastic – The new Approach to Fibromyalgia Treatment
Due to the nature of the condition, Fibromyalgia presents a challenge in respect to treatment and management of symptoms. Most recent treatment guidelines favour non-pharmacologic therapies over analgesia. Contemporary non-pharmacological treatments have been shown to reduce Fibromyalgia symptoms significantly which allows patients to experience a meaningful improvement of the quality of life. Mobilise offers the most up-to date, cutting edge Fibromyalgia Treatment and management approach based on the latest neuroscience research and treatment programs currently implemented in the biggest chronic pain clinics in Australia.
The Fibromyalgia Treatment offered at Mobilise includes manual therapy, MFR, TENS, electro-needling, exercise therapy/rehab, return to activity/pacing, 3-stage Graded Motor Imagery, Virtual Reality, relaxation and sleep hygiene. The underlying revolutionary feature of our Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia Treatment is client education. Chronic Pain Scientists agree that once patients understand their condition and know what they are up against, they regain a sense of control over their recovery and are more likely to follow their treatment and rehabilitation goals. Patient Neuroscience Education (PNE) has been recognised as the missing link to a successful outcome in chronic pain treatment and management and is now an integral part of chronic pain treatment programs in Pain Clinics worldwide.
Here at Mobilise, we address not only the main Fibromyalgia symptoms and its underlying neural mechanisms but also treat conditions that may occur along with Fibromyalgia such as e.g. osteoarthritis, to reduce the peripheral input amplifying the pain and exacerbating other Fibromyalgia symptoms.
Our Fibromyalgia Treatment is based on the plasticity of the nervous system. Neuroplasticity means that our nervous system is not hard-wired but highly adaptable and can change and re-organise itself accordingly to the inputs it receives. And that is great news because it means that with commitment, determination and time and effort put into the recovery, change and pain relief are possible.
It’s time we change the way we look at chronic pain. Join the Chronic Pain Revolution at Mobilise and learn the language your nervous system speaks. It’s time to be Neuroplastic!
To find out more about our revolutionary approach to Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions visit: https://mobilisetherapies.au/chronic-pain-treatment-2/
To book a Chronic Pain Treatment session give us a call on 0473 090 442 or go to https://mobilise-remedial-therapies.splose.com/booking to book online.