Today's post from wcfoot.com (see link below) is a useful article highlighting the differences and similarities between fibromyalgia and neuropathy. Not only are they essentially different conditions but the one may cause the other and maybe vice versa. The problem for many doctors and patients lies in the symptoms, which can be very similar and vague for both and this leads to difficulties in diagnosis. For many years the two conditions were thought to be completely separate from each other but now many people with fibromyalgia have been found to also have neuropathy. Both conditions affect the nerves and their responses but it's worth reading this article to get a clear definition of both and an understanding of how they work.
28 Sep 2015
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) targets the body’s soft tissues and muscles, resulting in pain and tenderness throughout the body. Its most common symptoms include fatigue, sleep abnormalities, and continual muscle pain and soreness. It is one of the most widespread causes of chronic pain in the U.S., affecting 18 million people nationwide. Women are disproportionately afflicted, composing 80 to 90 percent of all reported cases. While the precise causes of FMS remain unknown, new studies indicate that neuropathy, or nerve damage, is a contributing factor in some cases.
What Are the Risk Factors of Fibromyalgia?
The exact causes of FMS continue to evade scientists, yet numerous factors are thought to increase the risk of the condition. Some potential risk factors include:
• Illnesses
• Repeated injuries
• Physically traumatic incidences, such as car accidents or falls
• Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal arthritis, and lupus
While FMS predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly women, it can also occur in men and children.
What Are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
There are numerous key symptoms that may indicate fibromyalgia. The most prevalent symptoms are:
• Widespread pain in the body, which is typically chronic
• Sleep irregularities, such as oversleeping, insomnia, or waking up frequently
• Mood fluctuations
• A significant decrease in energy
• Tenderness in the face or jaw
• Increased need to urinate
• Migraines
• Abdominal pain
• Morning stiffness
• Increased sensitivity to light, food, temperature, medication, or odors
• A tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, legs, arms, or face
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are somewhat generic, which can make it difficult to recognize and diagnose. Nonetheless, if any of the symptoms become problematic, it’s important to consult a physician right away.
What Are the Treatment Options?
The most common treatment method for FMS is pain management, which typically includes a combination of physical therapy and medication. The doctor will also work with the patient to develop a lifestyle plan that can reduce the pain and stiffness. With a combination of routine exercise, a healthy diet, and sleep regulation, the patient can notice a significant reduction in muscle discomfort.
What Is the Relation Between Neuropathy and Fibromyalgia?
Research correlating neuropathy and FMS is still fairly recent. However, studies have demonstrated that some people with FMS have experienced some level of neuropathy. Neuropathy is a result of damage to the peripheral nerves, which can manifest as mild to severe pain in those with the condition. While difficult to detect in its early stages, late stages of neuropathy can cause significant pain and result in irreversible damage to the body. In severe cases, neuropathy can lead to infections, ulcers, amputations, and death. Due to the known link between fibromyalgia and neuropathy, it’s critical that people with fibromyalgia receive routine nerve biopsies to assess for nerve damage. While neuropathy is irreversible, the condition can be slowed or stopped if it’s treated early.
What Are the Symptoms of Neuropathy?
The symptoms of neuropathy vary depending on the types of nerves that are damaged. The three classifications of nerves include:
• Sensory nerves: Sensory nerves control the sensations in the body, such as sensitivities to touch, vibration, pain, and temperature. Those with sensory nerve damage experience small fiber neuropathy, which causes increased sensitivity to heat and touch, sharp pains in the body, a burning sensation in the body, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
• Motor nerves: Motor nerves control muscle movement. When the motor nerves become damaged, people may experience weakness or spasms in the muscles, reduced coordination, and a tingling sensation in the extremities.
• Automatic nerves: Automatic nerves regulate organ and bodily functions such as bladder control, digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure. Damage to the automatic nerves may result in a lessened tolerance to heat, increased sweating, bladder and bowel problems, digestive problems, blood pressure alterations, heart rate alterations, and lightheadedness.
If the symptoms of neuropathy are detected, it’s essential to seek a physician for further testing. Early treatment of neuropathy has the potential to stop the progression of nerve damage. By ignoring the warning signs, the nerve damage can progress throughout the arms and legs, causing irreparable harm.
Neuropathy Treatments
There are many effective treatment options available for neuropathy, which can not only substantially decrease the pain of the condition but can stop its progression entirely. To reap the greatest benefit, it’s recommended to implement a combination of treatment options that includes pain management, physical therapy, and surgery.
• Pain management: To manage pain, doctors typically prescribe medication, which varies from patient to patient. Anti-depressants, such as selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), have shown to be highly effective at reducing the pain associated with neuropathy. In cases of sensory nerve damage, an anti-seizure medication may be prescribed, as anti-seizure medications can calm the nerves, thereby reducing the pain and burning sensations. For those seeking an alternative to traditional medications, Biowave is an innovative technology that is proven to minimize pain. Biowave machines, which are covered by Medicare, transmit electrical signals into the deep tissues of the body, which reduces pain and increases mobility. The machine takes just 20 to 30 minutes to use and can provide pain relief lasting 24 to 48 hours.
• Strength and mobility: For damage to the motor nerves, physical therapy is very effective at reducing muscles spasms and cramping, while increasing the strength of the muscles. As muscle strength increases, patients also notice a considerable increase in coordination and mobility.
• Surgery: While medication and physical therapy can work together to decrease pain and increase functionality, neither can slow or stop the progression of neuropathy. For those seeking a more permanent solution, nerve decompression surgery provides lasting benefit. Evidence shows that surgery substantially reduces pain in neuropathy patients, while reducing their risk of further nerve damage. Patients who have received nerve decompression surgery show a significant decrease in the risk of ulcers, infections, and amputations.
FMS is a painful condition and one of the leading causes of chronic pain in the U.S. While not all people with FMS experience nerve damage, new evidence suggests that neuropathy is a contributing factor among many with fibromyalgia. As such, it’s important for those with FMS to receive regular testing for neuropathy, to avoid future complications.
If you’re living with fibromyalgia and are experiencing symptoms related to neuropathy, early treatment is essential. Give us a call at (561) 674-0757 or make an appointment to learn how our podiatrists can diagnose and treat your chronic foot and leg pain and possible nerve damage.
http://wcfoot.com/foot-and-leg-pain/learn-about-fibromyalgia-and-neuropathy/
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