4 commonly asked queries about the symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a formidable condition in itself and can inhibit one’s mobility; however, it becomes more challenging when fibromyalgia is coupled with migraine headaches. Migraines are recurring, severe, and excruciating headaches that are known to affect around 36 million in the country. Though the exact cause of migraine remains shrouded in mystery, abnormal activity in the brain has been considered to be a likely cause of this illness.

What is fibromyalgia?

• Fibromyalgia is a condition that is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain that is accompanied by fatigue as well as mood, memory, and sleep issues. Fibromyalgia can amplify the painful sensations by affecting the way in which our brain processes pain signals.
• Physical trauma, infection, surgery, or any type of psychological stress can trigger the different symptoms of fibromyalgia. People diagnosed with fibromyalgia often experience tension headaches, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anxiety, depression, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
• The exact causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown, but studies have revealed that there are a variety of factors at play here. Fibromyalgia is often attributed to one’s genetic predisposition, infections, or physical or emotional trauma.

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are as follows:

• Fatigue – One of the prominent symptoms of fibromyalgia is fatigue. People with fibromyalgia are often tired, they even wake up tired. In fact, they even sleep for a long time. However, irrespective of how tired they are, they cannot enjoy uninterrupted sleep as their sleep is often disrupted by the pain. Patients with fibromyalgia tend to develop several sleep-related issues, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea being the leading ones.
• Widespread pain – The pain caused by fibromyalgia is often described as a constant, dull ache that can last for three months. However, for the pain to be considered widespread, it must occur on both sides of the body, above and below one’s waist.
• Cognitive difficulties – People diagnosed with fibromyalgia often display a symptom known as “fibro fog” that can impair one’s ability to focus, concentrate, and pay attention to mental tasks.
• Migraine headaches – Fibromyalgia causes severe headaches, but the cause of concern is when fibromyalgia causes migraines. In fact, migraine headaches are lesser-known symptoms of fibromyalgia, and only if one treats migraine along with other symptoms of fibromyalgia can the individual experience relief.

Which are the neurological conditions associated with fibromyalgia?

• Though fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic pain and fatigue, it is known to affect the way in which the brain interprets pain. This implies that this condition has neurological undertones.
• People diagnosed with fibromyalgia often display other neurological disorders like photophobia and painful light sensitivity.
• Patients who have fibromyalgia suffer from migraine headache and/or tension-type headaches. In fact, patients with fibromyalgia display symptoms that meet the diagnostic criteria for migraine, with or without the aura. Fibromyalgia-induced-migraine often reflects issues with the way the nervous system processes pain.
• Another neurological disorder that stems from fibromyalgia is allodynia. This condition is characterized by extreme sensitivity when the individual comes into physical contact with anyone or any object.

Which are the popular treatment methods for curbing migraine headaches caused by fibromyalgia?

• Migraine headaches are a prominent symptom of fibromyalgia, and treating migraine headaches can definitely help seek some respite from the chronic pain that fibromyalgia subjects an individual to. This condition can be treated by opting for migraine-specific medication, as it reduces the migraine attacks and can even minimize fibromyalgia flare-ups.
• Antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have proven to be an effective treatment in reducing the pain caused by migraine headaches triggered by fibromyalgia.
• The doctor can also prescribe certain drugs like naproxen, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen to relieve the pain caused by migraine headaches that are a symptom of fibromyalgia. SSRIs and other antidepressants are often prescribed by doctors to treat and reduce the symptoms associated by migraine headaches triggered by fibromyalgia, such as nausea.

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