Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that causes pain and hypersensitivity in your muscles and soft tissue. Your pain may be localized, or it may migrate throughout your body. In addition to pain, fibromyalgia also causes tenderness, fatigue, and disrupted sleep. If you have fibromyalgia, your chances of having a secondary chronic condition are increased. Common secondary illnesses include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Headaches and migraines
• Impaired concentration and memory
• Neurological disorders
• Raynaud's syndrome
• Depression and anxiety

Women are more likely than men to develop fibromyalgia, and the disease can affect patients of all ages.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Medical researchers and physicians don't fully understand the precise causes of fibromyalgia. However, most researchers believe the condition is a central processing disorder that causes dysfunction in your neuroendocrine system and neurotransmitters. This means your body has abnormal central nervous system function that amplifies pain signals.

Medical researchers also believe fibromyalgia has a genetic component, which means that if a member of your family has the condition, your chances of developing it are higher.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

Unfortunately, no single test identifies fibromyalgia. Dr. Lopez provides an extensive consultation, where you will discuss your symptoms and undergo a thorough physical exam. He may also order blood work and other diagnostic tests to rule out conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There is currently no known cure for fibromyalgia, but Dr. Lopez offers a wide range of customizable treatments to manage your pain and help you maintain an active and healthy life. It can sometimes take trial and error to find the right therapies, but Dr. Lopez is committed to helping you control your symptoms.

You may benefit from a combination of treatment options. Dr. Lopez may suggest any of the following:  

• Medication
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Massage and physical therapy
• Mental health counseling
• Dietary adjustments
• Heat and cold therapies

During your appointments with Dr. Lopez, be frank about your symptoms and let him know what therapies and medications you’ve tried in the past and how they’ve worked for you. These conversations will help Dr. Lopez identify the most effective therapies to treat your condition.

Don’t let fibromyalgia and chronic pain disrupt your life. Call West Texas Pain Institute or schedule a consultation online today.