Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain & fatigue condition
Fibro fatigue has a number of root causes. There’s no cure – but it can be well managed with the right support. Your health professionals use clinical guidelines for making a diagnosis, but because it has similar symptoms to other chronic conditions it can take a long time to get diagnosed.
The Big Four
People with Fibro can experience many many symptoms, but these four are the most common:
Pain
Fibro people’s pain can take different forms at different times – aching muscles &/or joints, nerve pain & trigger points are most common. Lots of people with Fibro have related pain conditions such as migraines or auto-immune conditions. Pain is often ‘traveling’ & can appear in different parts of the body without warning. Fibro pain is connected to an overactive nervous system and one way to reduce Fibro pain is to get our nervous system to be less ‘on alert’.
It’s exhausting to be in pain all the time.
Fatigue
Fibro patients often suffer from chronic fatigue and low energy levels, which make it easy for them to become less mobile.It also makes it harder for them to exercise. ‘Crashing‘ after exercise is common so Fibro people often find it hard to get moving regularly.
Fibro Fog
Brain fog’ is a common side effect of lack of sleep and an overactive ‘fight or flight’ system. Brain Fog affects thinking, memory and concentration and makes completing everyday tasks difficult.
Unrefreshing Sleep
Fibro people don’t get the same amount of deep sleep as other people, which is like sleeping with one eye open – this lack of restorative sleep can cause problems in a raft of other areas to do with health and wellbeing. Nearly 50% of Fibro people have some kind of sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is common, and easily treated once diagnosed.
If this describes you – don’t despair – there is hope! You can break the cycle of pain and fatigue.
I coach women like you to break that cycle so you can get back to doing the things you love. I would love to chat with you to explain how and why I do what I do – I’m here for you! Book a time for a chat here
Take Care
Deb
