Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain in the body. It is accompanied by fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and emotional and mental distress. Patients with fibromyalgia may have abnormal pain perception processing, meaning they are more sensitive to pain than people without fibromyalgia.

The cause of fibromyalgia is not known. However; with regular care, it can be treated and managed.

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Common symptoms of fibromyalgia are:

• Widespread stiffness and pain
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Anxiety and depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and thinking
• Headaches and migraines

Fibromyalgia symptoms may also include:

• Digestive problems or disorders
• Numb or tingling hands and feet
• Pain in the face or jaw, including disorders of the jaw such as temporomandibular joint

How will my MMG Pain Management specialist diagnose fibromyalgia?

Your doctor will review your history and complete a physical examination. He/ she may also order blood tests and x-rays.

How will my MMG Provider treat my fibromyalgia?

Your doctor will help manage your fibromyalgia with medication and self-care strategies.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Medications
• Stress management techniques
• Exercise
• Good sleep habits

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of chronic pain. It usually affects a leg or arm. CRPS usually develops after surgery, injury, stroke or heart attack. The pain felt during CRPS is out of proportion to the severity of the injury causing it.

Complex regional pain syndrome is not common. Its cause isn’t clearly understood. We do know however, that the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it will be.

Symptoms

Symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome include:

• Sensitivity to cold or touch
• Continuous burning or throbbing pain, usually in your arm, leg, hand or foot
• Changes in skin temperature — alternating between cold and sweaty
• Changes in skin texture
• Swelling in the area that hurts
• Changes in nail and hair growth
• Joint swelling, damage and stiffness
• Changes in skin color that range from white and mottled to blue or red
• Muscle spasms, tremors, weakness and atrophy
• Decreased ability to move the affected body part

Symptoms may change over time and vary among patients. Redness, swelling, pain and noticeable changes in temperature and hypersensitivity to touch and cold usually happen first.

Affected limbs can eventually become cold and pale. They may experience nail and skin changes as well as tightening and muscle spasms. After this occurs, the condition often cannot be reversed.

Complex regional pain syndrome sometimes spreads to other areas of the body such as the opposite limb.

How will my MMG Physician diagnose CRPS?

Diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome occurs with a physical exam and your medical history. No single test can definitively diagnose complex regional pain syndrome. However, these tests may help provide important insights:

• Bone scan
• X-rays
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• EMG
• NCS

How will my MMG Pain Management Specialist treat CRPS?

Early treatment is key to curing CRPS. It may include:

• Medications
• Heat therapy
• Topical analgesics
• Physical therapy
• Mirror therapy
• Transcut electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Biofeedback
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Intrathecal drug pumps