Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can make your whole body hurt, cause extreme fatigue, mood disturbances, and memory problems. Adam Shestack, MD, and Cy Blanco, MD, experienced specialists at Florida Pain Management Institute, provide treatment for this hard-to-diagnose condition to help relieve pain and improve your energy levels. To learn more about how you can manage fibromyalgia pain, call the office in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida, or use the online tool to book an appointment.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a very real, chronic condition characterized by pain in your muscles and joints, 

pinpoint areas of tenderness, sleep troubles, memory and mood problems, and general fatigue. 

Fibromyalgia can be hard to diagnose as its symptoms are similar to those that occur with many other conditions and there’s no one test that can confirm your diagnosis. 

The providers at Florida Pain Management Institute take your fibromyalgia symptoms seriously and do everything possible to manage them so you can restore a high quality of life. 

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain that affects soft tissue, bones, and joints. In addition, you may have:

• Sleep disturbances
• Mood changes and irritability
• Anxiety and depression
• Tender points of pain at the shoulder, back, hips, arms, legs, and neck
• Burning, twitching, or tightness in your muscles
• Problems with concentration and memory

What makes fibromyalgia tricky is that you feel symptoms, but they don’t show up on screenings or tests, so they’re hard to pinpoint. 

What is at risk of developing fibromyalgia?

Researchers aren’t sure why some people develop fibromyalgia. Factors that may put you at a greater risk of developing the condition include:

• A close family member with fibromyalgia
• Female gender
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Mood disorders
• Presence of other painful diseases like a systemic infection or arthritis

People who have a history of emotional abuse or who have experienced trauma also seem more likely to develop the condition.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

The providers at Florida Pain Management Institute understand fibromyalgia and are uniquely qualified to help you manage your condition. 

Prescription medications like Cymbalta®, Savella®, and Lyrica® offer a conservative way to address many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Your specialist can manage your medication type, dosage, and side effects to ensure you’re getting the best results.

Lifestyle strategies, like getting regular exercise and participating in stress reduction practices, also can help with fibromyalgia pain. 

Other treatments that can help you manage fibromyalgia symptoms include trigger point injections, which involve placing an anesthetic into pain centers in your muscles to reduce inflammation and tightness. The injection makes it so your body can’t process the pain. Trigger point injections work best on fibromyalgia patients who have active points of tenderness or pain.

To learn more about how the specialists at Florida Pain Management Institute can help you manage fibromyalgia, call the office or use the online tool to schedule an appointment today.