Frequently Asked Questions About Fibromyalgia
What is “fibro fog”?
Fibro fog is a term commonly used for the cognitive difficulties that can occur with fibromyalgia. These include confusion, lapses in memory, word mix-ups and difficulty concentrating. The reason for fibro fog has been the subject of several studies and much speculation. One of the most popular theories has been that these problems are caused by sleep deprivation and/or depression, but one study found that neither poor sleep nor depression seemed related to cognitive performance. Brain scan studies have shown that from time to time, people with fibromyalgia do not receive enough oxygen in different parts of their brain. One possible reason is that part of their nervous system is off-kilter, causing changes in the brain’s blood vessels.
New research – though not on fibromyalgia specifically – shows that chronic pain itself may affect the brain. A technology called functional MRI found that in people with chronic pain, a front region of the brain mostly associated with emotion is constantly active. The affected areas fail to “shut off” when they should, wearing out neurons and disturbing the balance of the brain as a whole.
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
The two key symptoms of fibromyalgia are widespread body pain (meaning it affects both sides of the body and above and below the waist) and tender points, or areas of the body that are particularly sensitive to pressure. However, you may not realize you have tender points until your doctor presses on them in an exam.
Other symptoms may include sleep disturbances, severe fatigue, depression and anxiety, cognitive difficulties, headaches, bladder irritability and spasms, irritable bowel syndrome, jaw problems and painful menstruation.
What kind of doctor should I see for fibromyalgia?
The best doctor to treat your fibromyalgia is a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating people with fibromyalgia and rheumatic diseases. If possible, you’ll want to find a rheumatologist with a special interest in the condition.
Before selecting a doctor from the phone book or a list provided by your insurance company, ask friends with fibromyalgia if they can recommend their doctor. Ask your primary care physician to recommend a specialist, or check with your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. If you get the names of several different doctors, you may want to interview a few to determine their knowledge of, interest in and attitude toward fibromyalgia.
