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Fibromyalgia is a well-known condition characterized by
widespread musculoskeletal pain that usually follows with fatigue as well as
sleep, memory and mood complications. While there are currently no known causes
and no known cures for the condition, many individuals who suffer from this painful
disorder can often be misunderstood. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia heightens
pain sensations by altering the way the brain processes pain signals.
Fibromyalgia symptoms are presumed to occur subsequently
from physical or emotional trauma where there’s been considerable psychological
stress, after surgery, or as a result of an infection. In several cases, the
symptoms can also progressively accumulate over time without a single event to
trigger them. The widespread pain that most frequently accompanies fibromyalgia
sufferers can be described as a continuous, dull ache which has lasted for a
minimum of three months. Widespread pain can be defined as a type of pain that
occurs on both sides of the body, and above and below the waist. Other symptoms
for fibromyalgia include fatigue, where the individual awakes feeling tired
despite sleeping for long periods of time, restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea
as a result of an interrupted sleep, cognitive difficulties, and other
complications, such as depression, headaches and pain or cramping in the lower
abdomen.
For years, traditional pain relievers such as non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs and the opioids like Morphine, have been used as a form
of treatment for fibromyalgia but due to the drug’s high probability of dependency
as a source for pain and symptom relief, especially over long term use, opioids
are not recommended by any current guidelines for the treatment of fibromyalgia
symptoms. Fibromyalgia is not a fatal or terminal disease but its symptoms of
chronic pain where the pain can recur throughout an individual’s lifetime can
often be a common reason for drug abuse and addiction. Opioid medications can
only provide temporary pain relief from any type of pain and in clinical trials
with opioids, there is little evidence of sustained pain relief or benefit. Despite
the absence of recommendations and studies that prove the benefit of opioids in
fibromyalgia, currently about 30% of Canadian and American patients with
fibromyalgia report to using opioids for pain relief.
Studies have shown that individuals who use and abuse
opioids tend to have more severe pain, a more severe impairment in daily
functioning as well as the presence of mood disorders compared to those who did
not use opioids. Furthermore, opioid utilization often leads to several other symptoms
that can overlap with fibromyalgia itself including an impaired ability to
focus, pay attention, and concentrate on mental tasks, poor physical and
emotional well being and increasing pain despite the use of medications for
symptom relief. Individuals who’ve been diagnosed with the condition can seek
alternate treatment options for their symptoms to prevent the use of medications
and ultimately avoid drug abuse, dependency, and addiction. Several alternatives
for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia include physical therapy and
chiropractic care to relieve chronic pain naturally.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
