5 Early Warning Signs Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disease that is recognized by all medical organizations (and world helseorganisasjo n since 1992). The prevalence and early warning signs of fibromyalgia are undoubtedly higher in women.

Today, fibromyalgia is a challenge for both science and medicine. The clinical profile and symptoms can be very broad, ranging from chronic musculoskeletal pain, to irritable bowel syndrome, to an overactive bladder, sleep disorders, bruxism…

Hypersensitivity to pain and mood disorders, which this chronic condition causes, are two of the most common realities, along with limitations in daily life, that patients have to face.

Their disorder can paralyze them, which is why it is difficult to provide a complete and functional treatment regimen for patients so that they can restore their quality of life.

As always when dealing with chronic diseases, it is important to have as much information as possible, and to be part of a support group that will help you try different treatments until you achieve the best results.

In today’s article, we invite you to learn about five early warning signs of fibromyalgia that may be worth remembering.

Early warning signs of fibromyalgia

Let’s start by considering something important. On average, it takes a long time before a person with fibromyalgia gets the correct diagnosis. This is because of the different symptoms they have.

It is common to go to a number of different doctors and specialists until you finally get the correct diagnosis. For example, you can hear more about rheumatic or arthritis diseases.

However, fibromyalgia is much broader than that.

Neurologists have found that fibromyalgia is not actually a rheumatic disease, but a problem that occurs in the central nervous system.

This is why you need to pay attention to the following symptoms. If they are persistent or combined with other problems, it is time to visit a good specialist.

Ossification

Ossification, or the feeling of losing mobility in the joints, is very painful.

• This feeling of paralysis usually occurs in the morning and is one of the earliest warning signs of fibromyalgia.

• When you have been sitting or lying down for long periods at a time, your body and joints will not react in the same way.
• You may also experience this symptom when you experience changes in temperature or humidity.

An example might be when you are in a room that is equipped with air conditioning. When you go outside and notice the difference in temperature, you will experience a headache and stiffness in the muscles of the neck or shoulders.

Sleep disorders

Despite getting enough sleep, patients suffering from fibromyalgia may wake up and still feel tired, as if they had only slept for a few hours.

Several studies on this topic suggest that during the deepest phase of sleep (delta sleep) you may experience disturbances in brain waves that induce calmness.

This therefore means that despite sleeping, you do not rest.

Small cognitive impairments

People with fibromyalgia often report that the first symptoms they noticed were difficulty concentrating, or a slow ability to focus on certain tasks.

• These problems are known as “fibro fog”. They are characterized by small errors in memory or problems with taking on several things at once.
• It is important to note that these symptoms can also be associated with stress. So if you are trying to determine if there may be fibromyalgia, it is best to consider other, more definite symptoms (joint pain, fatigue, etc.).

Abdominal discomfort

Many people with fibromyalgia experience various digestive problems that manifest early with the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Problems digesting or swallowing food. Experts say that sometimes fibromyalgia can cause problems in the muscles of the esophagus

Myofascial pain syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome is a neuromuscular condition in which very painful spots (known as trigger points) are formed and distributed around muscles or connective tissue.

• If you experience painful repetitive movements that are in unexpected places, it may be an indication of this condition.
• Sometimes just carrying a heavy shoulder bag can cause severe pain in the neck, shoulder, and even the elbow. This is something to keep in mind.

Remember that fibromyalgia can affect each person differently, with a wide range of symptoms.

However, there are some symptoms that are more common, and we encourage you to seek help if any of the ones we described today become persistent and affect your quality of life.