Fibromyalgia

Does this sound like you?

Most people have several of these, not all of them.

• Widespread pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist
• Fatigue that is not relieved by rest
• Waking unrefreshed regardless of hours slept
• Difficulty concentrating and word-finding, often called fibro fog
• Heightened sensitivity to touch, temperature, light and noise

Why it happens

• Changes in how the central nervous system processes pain signals
• Frequently triggered by physical trauma, illness or a period of severe stress
• Sleep disturbance, which both results from and worsens it
• Family history, which raises the likelihood
• More commonly diagnosed in women, though it affects men too

What we would do about it

Roughly in this order — each step waits for the one before it.

1. Graded exercise started well below the level that provokes a flare
2. Pacing strategies to level out the boom-and-bust pattern
3. Hydrotherapy, which many people tolerate better than land-based work
4. Gentle manual therapy where it helps, avoiding heavy-handed techniques
5. Sleep strategies as a central part of the plan
6. Working alongside your GP and any specialists involved