Fibromyalgia Specialist

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain in many parts of your body, along with significant sensitivity and other troubling issues. 

Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia feel acute pain due to abnormal pain signal processing. Fibromyalgia frequently begins with a specific trigger, which can include physical stressors like an injury or chronic illness, or emotional stressors like anxiety. 

Certain people are more likely to experience fibromyalgia. It's most common in middle age and twice as likely in women. Having lupus, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another rheumatic disease is also a significant risk factor for fibromyalgia. 

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes whole-body pain, which can be debilitating. In addition, it can cause many other issues, including:

• Chronic fatigue
• Restless sleep
• Severe sensitivity to touch
• Poor memory
• Brain fog
• Depression 
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Bladder issues, like frequent urination
• Pelvic pain

If you have fibromyalgia symptoms, the next step is visiting Valdosta Specialty Clinic for a diagnosis and treatment plan. 

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

Because there's not a single definitive diagnostic test, fibromyalgia diagnosis depends mainly upon your particular symptoms. Your medical provider may perform a physical exam to identify areas of pain and sensitivity. 

A fibromyalgia diagnosis typically requires widespread pain — pain on the left and right sides of the body and above and below the waist — for three months or longer. However, medical providers consider all of your symptoms when diagnosing this condition. 

Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because it can mimic other conditions like hypothyroidism, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. So, you may need specific blood tests or other diagnostic testing to eliminate those conditions. 

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but thanks to extensive research and an ever-increasing understanding of the disease, treatments continue to improve. The Valdosta Specialty Clinic experts usually recommend a multimodal treatment approach that encompasses both lifestyle modifications and medication. 

Your medical providers can prescribe a variety of specific treatments that meet your individual needs and relieve your symptoms effectively. 

You can take control of fibromyalgia symptoms with help from Valdosta Specialty Clinic. Call the office or schedule an appointment online to learn more.