Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread muscle and joint pain, extreme fatigue, and migraines. It is often misdiagnosed as depression or rheumatoid arthritis and goes untreated for years. The symptoms of fibromyalgia are not only debilitating but are also very hard to live with daily. It impacts every part of your life, from your relationships to your career, which makes it challenging to find the motivation to keep fighting.
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Who is Jenny Blackham?
Jenny Blackham specializes in working with people with fibromyalgia and has done so for 15 years. Through her private practice, she has assisted many clients in successfully transforming their way of life. Jenny has specifically designed this course for fitness professionals. The system will have both theoretical and practical components.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread pain and fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. It amplifies painful sensations in the brain by affecting how it processes signals from both types of stimuli: those relating to pain or not.
In many cases, symptoms of fibromyalgia slowly accumulate over time. Women are more likely to get this condition than men are. Many people with fibromyalgia experience tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and anxiety/depression. While there is no cure for the disease, medications can help control it, and exercise may also be beneficial in terms of symptom reduction. In contrast, relaxation exercises could be helpful as well.
How to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness in the body. Inflammation in the central nervous system may be responsible for its development. Here are some of the features:
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration
- Headaches, including migraines
- Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
- Pain in the face or jaw
- Digestive problems
What Causes of Fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to various chemical imbalances in the brain and changes in how the central nervous system processes pain messages. Some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of inherited genes from their parents.
The symptoms of this condition are typically triggered by physically or emotionally stressful events, including:
- injury or infection
- giving birth
- having an operation
Why Does Doing Certain Exercises Make Fibromyalgia Symptoms Worse?
Fibromyalgia patients need to be careful about which type of exercise they are doing. It would be wise for you to see a doctor first to ensure it is the right time and that there isn’t an underlying medical condition. Otherwise, if people living with fibromyalgia continue with physical activity without getting their pain under control, it may lead to reckless behavior. Such as ignoring the red flags early on or continuing through periods when symptoms worsen despite having other evidence suggesting one should stop. Ultimately, they make things worse for themselves by worsening their symptoms or causing injury due to not being aware of what’s going on with them physically at times because they’re so focused on trying new lifestyle changes like exercise.
How to Treat Fibromyalgia?
If a person has fibromyalgia, they will find relief by using medication and strategies to help improve their quality of life. For more information on self-management strategies, check out the section below titled “How can I improve my quality of life?” Doctors usually treat fibromyalgia with a combination of treatments, including:
- Medications
- Muscle strengthening exercises
- Stress management
- Good sleep pattern
- Cognitive-behavioral activity
Using proven self-management strategies, people with fibromyalgia can reduce pain and disability and continue regular activities.
Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. However, treatment plans combining medications with physical and mental therapies can help people manage their condition long-term.
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Take care and have a great day.
Rick Kaselj, MS
