Unfortunately, these two unpleasant chronic pain conditions often go together and many experts claim that in order to heal or treat them, people must target them individually and together at the same time.
In case you have fibromyalgia, you probably feel like the pain won’t go away no matter what you do and this pain usually includes back pain. According to some stats, more than 65% of people who are suffering from chronic low back pain also have to deal with fibromyalgia.
Something similar is happening in people with fibromyalgia – about 50 percent of them have lower back pain. As a matter of fact, back pain is so common in fibromyalgia sufferers that in the past, doctors have listed back pain as a symptom of fibromyalgia.
We all know that dealing with fibromyalgia is a very difficult and challenging task and the situation is even worse if this condition is accompanied by back pain.
However, learning more about the intensity and origin of this pain will probably make you feel better and help you learn how to soothe or even Everyday Health.
According to Ronald Staud, pain management specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Alabama, fibromyalgia and back pain are part of a group of health disorders known as central hypersensitivity syndromes. Even though the origin of these conditions is different (for instance, in many cases back pain is caused by a damaged or torn vertebral disk), the feeling that we have from both pain is more or less the same.
For example, chronic pain conditions make people be in a state of high alert, a situation known as hyperarousal. In addition, this type of pain makes people feel miserable because they feel fatigued, anxious, and depressed.
Dr. Staud claims that hyperarousal is a perfectly normal response from our system. While this is true, it is also true that this “normal response” makes many people search for cure and treatment on a daily basis.
What is very important is to get a precise diagnosis of your back pain. Staud says that many doctors who treat fibromyalgia have the knowledge and experience to evaluate the cause of back pain. Of course, if you are not sure whether your doctor has the necessary knowledge to set the right diagnosis, you should look for a pain specialist.
The Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Back pain
In most cases, doctors prescribe pain medications for any fibromyalgia symptom they notice. Unfortunately, these medications are not very effective for many people especially if they are also dealing with back pain. So, creating a plan that will involve the treatment of both conditions is something that every patient must do. This is especially true for those who require special therapy for their back problems.
Take the following ideas into consideration because in this way you will create a full treatment strategy that includes both conventional and alternative methods of healing:
- Mental/emotional health treatment. Depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems can worsen the situation and intensify the pain. A complete treatment strategy should include therapy and medications focused on anxiety and depression.
- Lifestyle changes. It is very likely that both fibromyalgia and back pain symptoms and signs will start to fade once you start practicing a healthier lifestyle. So, work on your weight, increase physical activity and start following a healthy diet.
- Physical therapy. Back pain is always in the focus of physical therapists. These professionals can help you learn how to improve the efficiency of movement during the day and teach you how to perform stretches that can help you with back pain. This practice will ultimately affect fibromyalgia symptoms.
- Alternative treatment methods. Biofeedback, acupuncture, as well as music therapy, can definitely help you with back pain. Dr. Staud says that pain management specialists are well-aware of the fact that pain treatment is complex and they will be glad to answer all the questions regarding alternative methods. After talking to a specialist they may encourage you to try a combination of alternative treatment and medications.
- Education. If you are looking for another way to ease anxiety, then learning more about these health conditions might help you. Discuss with your physician the origin of this pain and the things that affect your perception of pain.
In case you are dealing with fibromyalgia and lower back pain, you may be using two different methods to ease the pain.
However, you can fight these conditions much more effectively by using a combination of therapies – therapies for both conditions and therapies for each of these conditions.
Via Everyday Health