Fibromyalgia Treatment in Northern New Jersey
When patients experience pain in muscles and joints throughout the body, they may be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This chronic condition is associated with severe fatigue and other challenges. While there is no known cure, there are fibromyalgia treatments available.
If you are experiencing generalized pain and fatigue, make an appointment with a medical practitioner in the rheumatology or internal medicine departments at Bergen Medical Associates. Our practice in northern New Jersey offers board-certified physicians, nurses, and highly trained staff, who represent a wide breadth of specialties and services.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Patients with fibromyalgia can experience pain and stiffness all over the body, especially in muscles and joints. Defined as a chronic condition, the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. It could be that this disorder arises from the way the brain and spinal cord interpret and process pain signals.
Along with widespread musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia is associated with tiredness and fatigue, as well as sleep disruption. In addition, fibromyalgia can affect memory function, as well as the ability to handle emotional distress. Patients often describe the pain as burning, throbbing, or aching. Fibromyalgia treatments can help reduce the severity of symptoms in patients with this condition.
What Are Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
People who experience fibromyalgia sometimes refer to a mental fog, or lack of ability to concentrate, that accompanies the various aches and pains. Other symptoms may include:
- Fatigue and trouble sleeping
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Muscle and joint pain, stiffness, and tenderness
- Face and jaw pain, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Numbness and tingling in arms and legs
- Headaches, including migraines
- Sensitivity to loud noise, bright light, and strong smells
- Digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome
- Painful bladder, and lack of control
- Anxiety and depression
- Postural tachycardia syndrome (increased heart rate when first standing up)
What Are the Risk Factors for Fibromyalgia?
Although the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, a few risk factors have been observed. It’s important to remember that fibromyalgia affects every demographic, including children. However, the risk appears greater for:
- Women of middle age and older, especially those over 40 years old
- Those with associated diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis
- Family history of fibromyalgia
- Individuals who experience high levels of stress
- Those recovering from severe infections
- People who have experienced physical or emotional trauma, severe injuries, or PTSD
- Viral illnesses
How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed and Treated at Bergen Medical Associates?
Fibromyalgia is a condition that is difficult to diagnose. Because the symptoms are also prevalent in many other conditions, your practitioner at Bergen Medical Associates may recommend several tests, including X-rays and a variety of blood tests. These will help identify or rule out conditions with similar symptoms. The visit will also include a thorough physical examination and a discussion of the patient’s medical history. A sleep test may be ordered for patients with symptoms of sleep apnea.
Because fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that is widespread throughout the body, recommended fibromyalgia treatments may vary. The rheumatologists at Bergen Medical Associates may try several types of fibromyalgia treatments, or successive treatment options, to determine which works best for the individual patient. Here are some of the fibromyalgia treatment options available:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Exercises to build strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Anti-seizure medications
- Antidepressants
- Muscle relaxants and analgesics
- Stress reduction techniques, including biofeedback
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Counseling services, patient education classes, and lifestyle changes
- Acupuncture
- Sleep therapy and sleep medications
- Massage therapy
Find Trusted Fibromyalgia Treatment in Northern NJ
At Bergen Medical Associates, our practice is designed to help patients in northern New Jersey by providing quality medical care. Our practitioners work together to determine the best diagnosis and treatment options.
With chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, patients experience pain and fatigue that can limit their ability to function well. We offer a variety of medical specialties to provide comprehensive care.
Let us help you determine the cause of your pain or other symptoms. We offer several convenient office locations. For more information, contact us today.
