By |
Have you noticed more aches and pains as you age? Maybe you take a moment when you get up from your chair and stretch, wondering when you got so stiff and achy? Or perhaps you’re so tired and certain if you get some sleep, you’ll feel better – but then you do get good sleep, and now you’re actually a little stiffer and achier than you were before that nap.
If you’re experiencing physical symptoms that leave you puzzled as to what’s going on, it might be fibromyalgia.
There was a time when doctors thought the condition was a psychological issue rather than a medical one. And even now that fibromyalgia – often known as “fibro” – is acknowledged as a condition that needs medical treatment, it’s still very misunderstood. Part of that is because the symptoms are vague and never really consistent – even the worst aches and pains can come and go, and a person can feel fine in the periods between the flares.
Regardless of whether you have constant symptoms or transient ones, the bottom line is the same: Fibromyalgia is a cause of widespread pain, a lower quality of life, and greater disability. And did you know that those with fibromyalgia are twice as likely to be hospitalized for any reason, three times more likely to have major depression, and face a greater risk of falls?
What is Fibromyalgia?
The National Fibromyalgia Association says that at least 10 million Americans suffer from the condition.1 But considering that so many people might go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, it’s a sure bet that number is even higher.
Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because it has so many wide-ranging symptoms, and some of them can come and go, especially in the early days of the condition. In fact, those who have fibromyalgia might have symptoms that are so mild they aren’t even sure there’s a problem; but over time, those symptoms worsen.
Watch out for the following:
· Pain throughout the body for no apparent reason. The widespread pain is especially pronounced in the muscles and ligaments throughout the body.
· Soreness in the back, neck, or shoulders that doesn’t fully abate with proper rest.
· Deep fatigue that doesn’t stop, no matter how much sleep you get.
· Difficulty concentrating or feeling as though you are in a fog – this “fibro fog” is a general mental tiredness that can make it tough to think clearly.
· Issues with sleep could arise, contributing to the fatigue.
· Headaches come on for no apparent reason. This is a symptom that can come and go with no pattern; one day it’s really bad, and the next day, the headaches are gone.
· Problems with digestion, as well as intestinal issues. Irritable bowel syndrome often goes hand-in-hand with fibromyalgia.
As you can see, it’s entirely possible to have one or two of these symptoms but they point to a different condition altogether. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to what your body is telling you and then convey it to your doctor. Keeping a journal of how you feel from day-to-day, including all of your symptoms, can help your doctor make a diagnosis.
Untreated fibromyalgia can cause widespread, whole-body pain that gets worse over time, and can eventually become debilitating. That’s why a good diagnosis as early as possible in the progression of the disease is so important. By catching it early, treatment can relieve pain and improve your quality of life.
Risk Factors for Fibromyalgia
Though much of fibromyalgia is still a mystery, doctors have pinpointed a few clear risk factors. Though anyone of any age can develop fibromyalgia, it becomes much more common as you get older. In addition, those who have rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune conditions are more likely to develop fibromyalgia later in life.
According to the CDC, other potential risk factors include a history of repetitive injury, obesity, family history of fibromyalgia, a history of viral infections, and a history of stressful events. Negative childhood experiences or experiences that led to PTSD are also a potential factor.2
If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, it’s a good idea to have a fall alert on hand. Fibromyalgia can lead to pain so severe that walking around the house can become an exercise in patience and stamina. Falling becomes a very distinct possibility. Having a medical alarm right at your fingertips that can summon help at literally the touch of a button can provide peace of mind that in any emergency, the assistance you need can be on the way immediately.
What Fibromyalgia Does to the Elderly
Fibromyalgia is tough for anyone to handle, but it might prove especially difficult for seniors. Not only are seniors already dealing with the problems that can come along with aging, such as a rise in chronic conditions, they might find that adding fibromyalgia to the mix makes it much more difficult to perform their usual day-to-day activities. These activities of daily living are vitally important to maintain independence into the golden years, so anything that can compromise that ability is a serious problem.
In addition, more severe forms of fibromyalgia can be extremely painful, especially if diagnosis took a long time and treatment started late. This is more likely to happen to the elderly, as so many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia can be attributed to other conditions that they might already have.
Fibromyalgia often shows up with elevated levels of cortisol, and that overload of the stress hormone can lead to lower muscle mass and faster bone loss. As you might imagine, accelerating the bone loss the elderly already experience is very serious if a person falls down. That’s why it’s so important to have an emergency alert system at your fingertips if you have fibromyalgia. You are at a greater risk of falls and the serious injuries associated with them.
All of this can make you feel depressed, anxious, and helpless. The pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia can lead to you feeling socially isolated and lonely, both of which are dangerous for seniors. The National Council on Aging points out that loneliness and social isolation can lead to dire consequences, including heart disease, a weakened immune system, obesity, high blood pressure, cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and even an early death.3
Is it Fibro?
You might wonder if a doctor will take you seriously if you mention fibromyalgia; after all, there was a time when doctors believed it was “all in the head” and not a true medical condition, so many of those who suffered from fibromyalgia in the past didn’t get the treatment they needed.
Here are some questions to help determine if you may have fibromyalgia:
· Do you cancel plans often because you feel too tired to go? Were you a social butterfly but now you feel like a hermit? Do you avoid seeing the grandkids because it tires you out too much? Deep exhaustion that never goes away is a hallmark of fibromyalgia and deserves a mention to the doctor.
· Do you hurt all over? Maybe it’s a constant aching all over the body or a strong aching pain in one place that seems to move around the body, depending upon the day. You might also be hypersensitive to pain or have painful tingling in the hands and feet. Constant aching can quickly diminish your ability to do day-to-day things and thus affect your overall quality of life.
· Do you feel weak or stiff? You might notice that your range of motion isn’t what it used to be, even when you exercise and stretch to stay limber. It might be more difficult to do things around the house, like lift that heavy casserole from the oven. It could take you much longer to get going in the morning, as your body simply doesn’t want to cooperate.
· Are you developing balance issues? This is a natural part of aging but when you have fibromyalgia, problems with balance could become serious much sooner. And because balance issues easily lead to falls and that can lead to serious injury, choosing from the many medical alert systems offered by Alert1 is a great way to stay as safe as you can be.
· Are you more emotional than usual? The aches and pains of your body can eventually wear down your mental and emotional resilience, making you feel all sorts of intense emotions, including sadness and irritability. Your moods might swing from one extreme to another, something that hasn’t happened since you were a teenager.
· Are you tossing and turning at night with no real sleep? When you’re in pain, it’s not uncommon to have sleep disturbances. But a lack of sleep can often make the pain and fatigue worse. It becomes a vicious cycle that can only be broken with proper management of fibromyalgia.
Getting the Right Treatment
Today, the medical community acknowledges that fibromyalgia is a real condition that demands appropriate treatment to maintain a good quality of life through the golden years.
Treatment will include a variety of approaches – what works for one person might not work well for another. Right now, certain antidepressants are the only drugs approved by the FDA for use in fibromyalgia treatment. Other medications are prescribed to manage the symptoms and help with some of the underlying causes, if that seems to be a clear factor. For instance, by aggressively treating rheumatoid arthritis in someone who has fibromyalgia, the symptoms of both conditions can diminish. Talk to your doctor about the options to treat pain, fatigue, and other symptoms of fibromyalgia.
