Photo by Jasper Graetsch on Unsplash
Muscles are at the core of fibromyalgia issues, and where a patient is going to notice the majority of their issues. Controlling fibromyalgia is based on a lot of factors, but many of them are related to the muscles that are most affected by the disease.
Muscle twitching is one of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia, and it’s important to deal with it quickly. Let’s try to get and understanding of this symptom and review ways to cope with it.
Why Does Muscle Twitching Happen with Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that includes constant pain. However, there isn’t really a single known cause of the disorder, and because of that, it’s often hard to treat. Many times, professionals are just dealing with the symptoms and trying to make it as simple as possible for the person suffering from the disorder to live a normal life if at all possible.
Muscle twitching is just one of many symptoms that can afflict fibromyalgia patients. So, what is a muscle twitch? In short, it’s when the nerves in your body (usually in muscles) start to work without you telling them to.
They shoot off signals indiscriminately. Many people know about the twitch in their eyelids or in their fingers, but twitching can be a lot worse in those with fibromyalgia. But why do they happen?
Stress and anxiety are probably the two biggest reasons. Many people who suffer from fibromyalgia will deal with one or both of these problems at some point.
Under these conditions, our bodies will start to tense up, making it difficult for a fibromyalgia patient to control what is going on with their bodies. Trembling or twitching can occur at random times.
Even subconscious anxiety appears to trigger the muscle twitches in that patients start twitching with little or no awareness of being anxious.
An injury or tension can also trigger twitches. Whatever the cause, the twitching can be frightening and frustrating.
How To Deal With Or Prevent Muscle Twitching?
A physician or fibromyalgia specialist is the best person to turn for for advise on dealing with or preventing muscle twitching. However, there are some holistic options, as well.
Staying active can actually play a huge role in preventing muscle twitches as a result of fibromyalgia. If you are exercising, then you are stretching your muscles and making them less tense. Even just doing stretches or yoga can really help limber you up.
Stretching also make it easier for you to move around. Remember – some movement is better than no movement at all, so even a little bit can be helpful. Take a walk around the block, or just use the muscle that is twitching or trembling. Sometimes, just using the muscle is enough to turn off the misfiring nerve that are controlling your muscles.
Muscle twitches could be signs of other problems.
If you can’t move a part of your body because of the twitch, if you start to feel dizzy or sick, and/or you are in so much pain that moving your body, you should go to the hospital and get treated – there could be some other, serious issues going on.
If the twitching is severe and making it difficult to function, your doctor may end up prescribing medications for you. Muscle relaxers and anti-spasmodic medications are available. You may also be sent to see a physical therapist. Electrical therapy is also used depending on where the spasm is located.
Muscle twitching is, unfortunately, something fibromyalgia patients have to deal with. If muscle twitching has become an issue for you, talk to your specialist. They can help you with more suggestions and give you a treatment plan that actually addresses the twitching and its severity.
Further reading
Muscle Twitching and Weakness: http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_dysmen.html
Information for Neurologists: http://www.fmsow.ca/dsneuro.htm
References:
https://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_dysmen.html
http://www.fmsow.ca/dsneuro.htm
https://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_dysmen.html
https://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/guide/what-is-fibromyalgia#1
Comments