Fibromyalgia doesn’t cause visible symptoms, but the pain you feel can be life-changing. If you have fibromyalgia, visit Asher C. Goldstein, MD, and his team of pain experts at Zephyr Medical in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Their considerable experience enables them to offer the best diagnostics and treatments to patients with fibromyalgia. Call Zephyr Medical today or book a consultation using the online form to benefit from exceptional fibromyalgia care.

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What is fibromyalgia?

Unlike many musculoskeletal disorders, fibromyalgia causes pain throughout your body. Most fibromyalgia patients primarily feel this pain in their musculoskeletal system (the muscles, connective tissues, joints, and nerves). Some also develop pain in their organs or soft tissues, like the breasts.

The causes of fibromyalgia aren’t clear. Some research suggests links with inflammatory and immune system conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. You’re more likely to have fibromyalgia if you also have an autoimmune disorder. Fibromyalgia often affects several family members, so there might be a genetic link.

What symptoms does fibromyalgia cause?

Fibromyalgia pain is constant or nearly so. It can also flare up at times. Pain ranges from dull aching and widespread tenderness to unbearable agony. In addition, you might have symptoms like:

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Lack of energy
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Headaches
  • Memory and concentration problems (fibro fog)
  • Depression
  • IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

People often find their fibromyalgia symptoms get worse in response to triggers like energetic activity, stress, and weather changes.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

No lab or imaging tests can diagnose fibromyalgia. Your Zephyr Medical doctor must first rule out other possible causes. They begin by reviewing your medical history and discussing your symptoms. They may take blood for lab tests to exclude other conditions.

During your exam, your doctor presses 18 pressure points around your body. If someone has fibromyalgia, pressing on these points causes a pain flare-up that can last for an hour or more.

This test helps confirm fibromyalgia. But you could still get a fibromyalgia diagnosis even if you don’t have pain in these areas.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There’s, as of yet, no cure for fibromyalgia, but the condition is manageable. The Zephyr Medical team offers selected treatments that can help reduce your symptoms, including:

  • Low-dose antidepressants
  • Antiseizure medicines
  • Pain medication
  • Stress management
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Psychological counseling
  • Steroid injections
  • Nerve blocks
  • Medical marijuana

Some patients find that acupuncture, biofeedback, and other complementary treatments help reduce their symptoms.

Improving your overall health is also highly beneficial. Regular exercise is vital to stop muscles from weakening and joints from stiffening. Gentle exercises like yoga and tai chi are often better for fibromyalgia than vigorous activities like running.

For patients with severe symptoms where nothing else is helping, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) might be effective. PNS uses electrical pulses to scramble the pain signals your nerves send to your brain.

Call Zephyr Medical today or book an appointment online to benefit from the finest fibromyalgia care delivered with compassion and unrivaled expertise.