Whole-body pain, fatigue, and unrefreshing sleep — fibromyalgia is real, it's physical, and it responds to a coordinated multidisciplinary plan.
Too many fibromyalgia patients arrive having been dismissed. Not here. Fibromyalgia doesn't respond to a single needle — it takes a coordinated plan across medication management, physical treatment, and sleep medicine. We're one of the few practices with all three under one roof.
Not sure which is yours? That's normal — and exactly what the first visit is for.
Same-week appointments in most cases. Bring your imaging if you have it — we'll handle the rest.
Your physician reviews your history, imaging, and goals. You leave understanding what's actually causing your pain.
A stepwise plan starting with the least invasive option that works — most procedures happen on-site.
The complete clinical explanation, in plain language — the same material we use to educate patients and referring physicians.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help.
Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain's pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.
Fibromyalgia often co-exists with other painful conditions, such as:
Doctors don't know what causes fibromyalgia, but it most likely involves a variety of factors working together. These may include:
Risk factors for fibromyalgia include:
Your sex. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed more often in women than in men.
Family history. You may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia if a relative also has the condition.
Other disorders . If you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
The pain and lack of sleep associated with fibromyalgia can interfere with your ability to function at home or on the job.
The frustration of dealing with an often-misunderstood condition also can result in depression and health-related anxiety.
If you have any questions about fibromyalgia, or if you would like to find out if you could be a candidate for treatment please don't hesitate to contact us.
From the Southwest Ohio Pain Institute medical library. Reviewed by our physicians.
Yes — not with one silver bullet, but with a coordinated plan. Most of our fibromyalgia patients improve meaningfully once pain, sleep, and activity are treated together.
It's the foundation of how this practice was built. Diagnosis-first means your experience is evidence, not exaggeration.
Most interventional pain procedures are covered by Medicare and major insurance plans. Call us and we'll verify your specific coverage before your visit.
Call and mention this page — same-week appointments in most cases, and we'll verify your insurance before you come in.