[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/how-does-a-person-get-fibromyalgia-a-doctor-explains\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/how-does-a-person-get-fibromyalgia-a-doctor-explains\/","headline":"How Does a Person Get Fibromyalgia? A Doctor Explains","name":"How Does a Person Get Fibromyalgia? A Doctor Explains","description":"Imagine being so tired that you can\u2019t function. You can\u2019t work your day job or do household chores without needing to go back to bed after an hour or two. Now imagine that in addition to this extreme fatigue, you feel a deep, aching pain throughout your body in your bones, joints, and tissues. This…","datePublished":"2021-10-15","dateModified":"2021-10-13","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/author\/beaconmm\/#Person","name":"BeaconMM","url":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/author\/beaconmm\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63603849ac374d72a317bdfe23d943a6dee4f6368ff5d61597b033a7d2c124ff?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63603849ac374d72a317bdfe23d943a6dee4f6368ff5d61597b033a7d2c124ff?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Tri-Cities Functional Medicine","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-1.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_125525207-scaled.jpg","url":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_125525207-scaled.jpg","height":1690,"width":2560},"url":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/how-does-a-person-get-fibromyalgia-a-doctor-explains\/","about":["Chronic Pain & Inflammation"],"wordCount":1264,"articleBody":"Imagine being so tired that you can\u2019t function. You can\u2019t work your day job or do household chores without needing to go back to bed after an hour or two. Now imagine that in addition to this extreme fatigue, you feel a deep, aching pain throughout your body in your bones, joints, and tissues. This is what it feels like to live with fibromyalgia.Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness throughout your body, accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and sleep, mood, and memory problems.If you\u2019ve experienced difficulty walking, extreme body fatigue, or ever-present brain fog, you\u2019re not alone. Fibromyalgia has become highly prevalent in the United States, affecting an estimated 10 million Americans. Yet, despite how common the disease is, the exact cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown.Although there is no known cause, certain triggers can increase your risk of developing fibromyalgia. Here\u2019s what to do about it.If you think you might be living with fibromyalgia, set up a discovery call to get answers.Who Can Get Fibromyalgia?Anyone can develop fibromyalgia at any time, but women between the ages of 30 and 60 years old are most likely to acquire the disease. In fact, women are nine times more likely to get fibromyalgia than men.It\u2019s rare for children to develop fibromyalgia, but not unheard of. Because fibromyalgia tends to run in families, genetic mutations may make children more susceptible to developing the disorder if a parent has it.Symptoms of FibromyalgiaThe symptoms of fibromyalgia are unpredictable. Many symptoms can limit your ability to do everyday functions and impact your quality of life. If you live with fibromyalgia, you might experience some or all of these symptoms daily:Brain fog, also known as \u201cfibro fog\u201dA constant, flu-like ache throughout your bodySevere exhaustion and difficulty sleepingTingling or numbness in your hands and feetDigestive issues or irregular bowel functionBladder problemsAnxiety and depressionMuscle stiffnessBack painChronic headachesJaw painPainful menstrual crampsWeight gainLow libidoDry eyes and mouthRisk Factors for FibromyalgiaRisk factors for fibromyalgia include being female, being middle-aged, having lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, suffering from a traumatic event such as a car accident, having a family history of fibromyalgia, and being obese.What Triggers Fibromyalgia?As we mentioned above, the causes of fibromyalgia are not fully understood. It\u2019s common for symptoms to begin after an event, such as physical trauma, surgery, or infection. Other times, symptoms gradually accumulate with no single triggering event.While you may not be able to prevent the onset of fibromyalgia, you can avoid flares. One of the best ways to fend off a fibromyalgia flare-up is to know what might be causing it in the first place. These causes are called triggers. It\u2019s believed that certain triggers can affect how your central nervous system processes the pain messages that are carried around the body.Common triggers of fibromyalgia include:Hormone imbalancesLeaky gutChronic stressEmotional traumaPoor dietGluten sensitivity or food allergiesPoor sleepToo little or too much exerciseWeather extremesTraveling or changes in scheduleChanges in medicationInjury or illnessGeneticsEnvironmental toxinsSome flare-ups are unavoidable, and certain triggers are beyond your control. But you can try to identify what aggravates your fibromyalgia so you know how to better manage the symptoms.Effects of Fibromyalgia on Your Quality of LifeIt might feel like an invisible struggle if you live with fibromyalgia because you can often look happy and healthy from an outsider\u2019s perspective. The truth is this chronic condition can have complications that severely impact your quality of life. Some ways this condition can affect your life include:Being twice as likely to be hospitalizedBeing three times more likely to have major depressionIncreased risk of injuryHigher risk of developing other rheumatic conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritisManaging Your FibromyalgiaDespite your best efforts, your fibromyalgia will sometimes flare. Your initial urge might be to reach for a magic pill. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for fibromyalgia once it\u2019s flaring. So preventing flares is your best option. There are several lifestyle changes you can make that will help mitigate the effects of fibromyalgia.NutritionEating a balanced and nutritious diet promotes optimal health and function of your body. Eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, such as pain, depression, and sleep problems.ExerciseIf you have fibromyalgia pain, exercising is probably the last thing you feel like doing. But experts say it\u2019s one of the most effective strategies you can try to manage the condition. If you slowly build up physical activity over time, you will strengthen your muscles, reducing pain and discomfort. Aerobic exercises like swimming, walking, and cycling can improve your physical function and reduce pain and stiffness.SleepFibromyalgia can cause sleep problems, but sleep is crucial for your health. Developing effective sleep strategies to get a full night\u2019s rest can help to improve symptoms.Pacing YourselfWhen you feel pain-free, you might be tempted to overdo things, which trigger a flare-up. Try keeping on an even level and avoid doing anything too extreme to prevent fibromyalgia symptoms. Remember that doing too much on good days can increase your number of bad days.Diagnosing FibromyalgiaA definitive diagnostic test for fibromyalgia isn\u2019t available yet. As a result, many people struggle with symptoms for months or years before being diagnosed. Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be tricky because its symptoms often mimic other conditions like lupus or multiple sclerosis. Arriving at a diagnosis is often a process of elimination. If you suspect you may have fibromyalgia, work with a medical practitioner who you trust to listen to your concerns while ruling out other conditionsYour functional medicine doctor will ask you if you\u2019ve had pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will also ask if you\u2019ve had tenderness in at least 10 areas of the body, such as your neck, back, hips, arms, legs, or shoulders.There are no quick fixes for fibromyalgia, but reducing the time it takes to diagnose you can not only improve your symptoms but return you to living a normal life.Functional Medicine for FibromyalgiaA functional medicine approach will address the underlying biochemical processes that drive your chronic pain and other symptoms from fibromyalgia. Functional medicine aims to tackle the root of the pain in a holistic strategy to eliminate your symptoms, which then positively impacts your overall health.Once you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a functional medicine doctor will help you treat the pain through detoxification, \u00a0lifestyle changes, and supplementation. After you begin to experience some relief from the pain, you will be better equipped to implement other lifestyle changes, such as increasing your level of mobility.At Tri-Cities Functional Medicine, we work diligently to understand the root of your symptoms to create a treatment plan that is best for you. Through customized adjustments, many fibromyalgia patients experience natural, lasting relief.Beat fibromyalgia naturally!. We can help you.Tri-Cities Functional Medicine is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and serves patients throughout Tennessee and into Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky. These areas include but are not limited to: Washington County, TN, Sullivan County, TN, Carter County, TN, Greene County, TN, Knox County, TN, Bristol, TN, Holston Valley, TN, Tri-Cities, TN, Walnut Hill, TN, Elizabethton, TN, Greeneville, TN, Morristown, TN, Blountville, TN, Bluff City, TN, Kingsport, TN, Jonesborough, TN, Colonial Heights, TN, Limestone, TN, Knoxville, TN, Bristol, VA, Abingdon, VA, Grundy, VA, Asheville, NC, Boone, NC."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"How Does a Person Get Fibromyalgia? A Doctor Explains","item":"https:\/\/tcfxmed.com\/how-does-a-person-get-fibromyalgia-a-doctor-explains\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]