The following 'text-book' symptoms of fibromyalgia are taken from NHS.uk followed by my (summarized!) thoughts on each.
If you have fibromyalgia, one of the main symptoms is likely to be widespread pain. This may be felt throughout your body, but could be worse in particular areas, such as your back or neck. The pain is likely to be continuous, although it may be better or more severe at different times.
– NHS.uk
Yep. Widespread pain. Different types. Differing areas. Continuous pain, shifting around the body causing a wide variety of symptoms far too numerous and varied to list.
Chronic bad back, abdominal pains, headaches, stiff neck, shin splints, knee and foot pains, always something ...
Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, and you may find that even the slightest touch is painful. If you hurt yourself – such as stubbing your toe – the pain may continue for much longer than it normally would. You may hear the condition described in the following medical terms: Hyperalgesia – when you're extremely sensitive to pain. Allodynia – when you feel pain from something that shouldn't be painful at all, such as a very light touch. You may also be sensitive to things such as smoke, certain foods and bright lights. Being exposed to something you're sensitive to can cause your other fibromyalgia symptoms to flare up.
– NHS.uk
You are in pain, not just overly sensitive to pain. Pressure amplifies what is already there.
I was aware that I was sore to the touch, but I don't remember being any different and having nothing to compare it to, I thought it was 'normal'. A curiosity, rather than an abnormality.
Stiffness. Fibromyalgia can make you feel stiff. The stiffness may be most severe when you've been in the same position for a long period of time – for example, when you first wake up in the morning. It can also cause your muscles to spasm, which is when they contract (squeeze) tightly and painfully. – NHS.uk
You are stiff. A restricted range of movement. The body's connective tissue system has been compensating for an underusage in your main muscles of movement, trying to provide the lacking support.
'Seized up' was the norm for me, but I didn't appreciate how much movement I was missing until I regained it. Old injuries never released.
Without your main muscles of movement engaged, other areas of muscle must compensate, but become stressed and prone to spasm.
Feet, calves, hamstrings, back and neck. I've always experienced intense spasms. I was prone to 'stitches', but again I didn't know these were abnormal. They were just something that happened regularly from my early childhood.
Fatigue. Fibromyalgia can cause fatigue (extreme tiredness). This can range from a mild, tired feeling to the exhaustion often experienced during a flu-like illness. Severe fatigue may come on suddenly and can drain you of all your energy. If this happens, you may feel too tired to do anything at all.
– NHS.uk
A constant struggle with pain whilst awake. Poor sleep (see below). It is exhausting.
I felt lazy. My brain constantly active but feeling worse and worse about myself because I couldn't get around to doing all the things wanted to.
Poor sleep quality. Fibromyalgia can affect your sleep. You may often wake up tired, even when you've had plenty of sleep. This is because the condition can sometimes prevent you from sleeping deeply enough to refresh you properly. You may hear this described as "non-restorative sleep".
– NHS.uk
All this pain, no wonder you can't sleep properly.
I used to have vivid dreams and many nightmares. I did not sleep well - fidgeting, yelping in pain as I moved (using my arms on the headboard to roll myself over). 'Sleep' was preferable to being awake and depressed though.
Cognitive problems ('fibro-fog') Cognitive problems are issues related to mental processes, such as thinking and learning. If you have fibromyalgia, you may have: Trouble remembering and learning new things. Problems with attention and concentration. Slowed or confused speech.
– NHS.uk
Constant pain signals to your brain are distracting. It's hard to focus. It's hard to get the words out.
I would mumble when I felt too overwhelmed to speak clearly, then get so stressed I could only shout. It was impossible to control sometimes.
Headaches If fibromyalgia has caused you to experience pain and stiffness in your neck and shoulders, you may also have frequent headaches. These can vary from being mild headaches to severe migraines, and could also involve other symptoms, such as nausea (feeling sick).
– NHS.uk
Tension everywhere, pulling on your face and epicranial aponeurosis over your skull. Aching jaw and facial muscles.
Sometimes like my head was in a vice if I moved it, even the slightest.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Some people with fibromyalgia also develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a common digestive condition that causes pain and bloating in your stomach. It can also lead to constipation or diarrhoea.
– NHS.uk
Tensions in your connective tissue system can cause symptoms everywhere. IBS = 'blanket diagnosis' with a wide range of signs and poorly understood causes.
My upper right abdominal pain was the worst. Every evening for years, curled up in pain but there were many other 'digestive' symptoms too, from the intense early morning lower abdominal pain (almost like clockwork) to sharp stabs that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Other symptoms that people with fibromyalgia sometimes experience include: Dizziness and clumsiness. Feeling too hot or too cold – this is because you're not able to regulate your body temperature properly. Restless legs syndrome (an overwhelming urge to move your legs) Tingling, numbness, prickling or burning sensations in your hands and feet (pins and needles, also known as paraesthesia). In women, unusually painful periods.
– NHS.uk
Dizziness and clumsiness.
I was always the clumsy one! Accident prone.
Feeling too hot or too cold. Is there any proof it is a thermo-regulatory problem? Or is your brain overwhelmed by pain signals and can't tell what's going on?
Restless legs syndrome. Pains and spasms as the body tries to kick off some of the tension.
'Restless' is a very mild way of describing all the pains and sleep disturbance, waves of tension and spasms flowing through my legs at night.
Pains, spasms, aches, weird sensations all over.
Depression. In some cases, having the condition can lead to depression. This is because fibromyalgia can be difficult to deal with, and low levels of certain hormones associated with the condition can make you prone to developing depression. Depression can cause many symptoms, including: Constantly feeling low, feeling hopeless and helpless, losing interest in the things you usually enjoy. If you think you may be depressed, it's important to get help from your GP or your fibromyalgia healthcare professional, if you've been seeing one.
– NHS.uk
The pain is real, and very hard to cope with over the years. Your body is so over-burdened trying to function without the support of your main muscles of movement. Nothing ever seems to get better, no wonder it affects your mental health.
My depression evaporated one day as I stood up from a roll-down, like a blanket being lifted. I still had a lot of emotional issues and physical pains to work through, but that day was life-changing and I finally felt like there was hope that I could get better.
There are many more symptoms and clinical signs that I would associate with a dysfunction in the main muscles of movement.
Fibromyalgia is a generalised term, covering the pain associated with imbalances in the body. The combination and location of the pains and weird sensations an individual experiences is dependant on their individual trauma pattern.
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"Fibromyalgia is a generalised term, covering the pain associated with imbalances in the body. The combination and location of the pains and weird sensations an individual experiences is dependant on their individual trauma pattern."
at best this is incorrect and misspoken, and at worst its rude to the point of dismissing fibro as muscle imbalance. I know you are speaking about your own experience but it is just that.
We have people that say it is too much of this, too little of that, thyroid, lyme, undiagnosed hypoglycemia, lack of vitamin d, dental fillings, fluoride, or any number of other things. All said with authority and not a hint of doubt or consideration of current research.
With all respect, I would ask therefore that you be considerate of others that are not following your same path and watch that you do not dismiss others journeys.
I certainly don't want to be rude, or dismissive. "Fibromyalgia" is very real, but it is ultimately a label for otherwise unexplained symptoms, not a diagnosis of a specific disease.
I stand by what I have said. My theory offers an explanation of why everyone's symptoms are different and yet the underlying themes are the same, the damage you carry due to your individual trauma pattern.
I asked you before about current research - have you any studies to offer?
I've done a lot searching for answers too and nothing I have come across explains the reality of fibro.
I'm trying to offer suffers something to try, something that costs nothing more than time and effort.
My path has taken me from a life-time of pain and many years of depression. I think it can help others too.
Have you thought about your muscles and how you use them at all?
until the etiology is found then yes it will be a collection of symptoms albeit found in a large population with a common diagnostic criteria. Many conditions have went through this journey of lack of understanding, disbelief by medical community, discovery and then validation and ultimately treatment options expanding.
on the current studies I pointed you to a couple of researchers and the title of a summary paper. Searching and not finding anything that explains fibro to you does not mean that you can fill the gap with your single person theory. There are gaps in what we know about fibro but as I said the best current theory which has had vastly more research than your theory is about central sensitisation.
I am glad that you are better but your diagnosis, journey, treatment and environment may be different than others so your theory may not replicate and does not fit with the current evidence. Activity is good and increasing over time is great but at present this is aimed towards preventing deconditioning and mood lifting by endorphins as well as the general health benefits.
That's why I keep using the phase "based on my recovery" and "theory".
I don't think I'm unique enough for it just to be me though.
Maybe, just maybe, I have found an underlying etiology for the pains of fibro.
I appreciate the opportunity to share my journey and I really hope a few people focus on how they use their body enough to feel an improvement too.
What is the "best current theory"? A CNS issue? A lot of research maybe, but no answers, no help, no relief. I never saw the title of a paper - could you please repost it?
The current evidence is a lot of people in pain, taking stronger and stronger medications but still deteriorating over time.
I referred you to the The Science of Fibromyalgia by Daniel Clauw et al. "013 if memory serves and it was a review piece. CNS / CSS is the current theory but this has had quite a few studies by multiple teams in multiple countries. Yours is more of a hypothesis.
"The current evidence is a lot of people in pain, taking stronger and stronger medications but still deteriorating over time."
This is not the whole population. People are managing with activity only, non pharma therapies, small does of meds and a mixture of all of these and more. I personally am existing on one tablet a day and managing to work every day.
Sorry, I missed that as a paper when I saw the people you mentioned.
I've run out of time today, but briefly - what if the changes in CNS neurotransmitters etc. are not a "disorder of pain processing" but actually because of PAIN? If you are in pain then of course the pain pathways are going to be affected....
I've love to come back and debate more... thank you!
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic widespread pain disorder. Our understanding of FM has increased substantially in recent years with extensive research suggesting a neurogenic origin for the most prominent symptom of FM, chronic widespread pain. Neurochemical imbalances in the central nervous system are associated with central amplification of pain perception characterized by allodynia (a heightened sensitivity to stimuli that are not normally painful) and hyperalgesia (an increased response to painful stimuli). Despite this increased awareness and understanding, FM remains undiagnosed in an estimated 75% of people with the disorder. Clinicians could more effectively diagnose and manage FM if they better understood its underlying mechanisms. Fibromyalgia is a disorder of pain processing. Evidence suggests that both the ascending and descending pain pathways operate abnormally, resulting in central amplification of pain signals, analogous to the "volume control setting" being turned up too high. Patients with FM also exhibit changes in the levels of neurotransmitters that cause augmented central nervous system pain processing; levels of several neurotransmitters that facilitate pain transmission are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain, and levels of several neurotransmitters known to inhibit pain transmission are decreased. Pharmacological agents that act centrally in ascending and/or descending pain processing pathways, such as medications with approved indications for FM, are effective in many patients with FM as well as other conditions involving central pain amplification. Research is ongoing to determine the role of analogous central nervous system factors in the other cardinal symptoms of FM, such as fatigue, nonrestorative sleep, and cognitive dysfunction.
on that basis you would be able to see the difference in the controls? Dolorimeter stimuli or similar and then look at the difference. Similar to the brain scan images and seeing the differences.
You are not appreciating what they doing. the stimuli is applied to controls and fibro patients to provoke pain response. Response is amplified in fibros compared to controls.
no you are still not getting it. Clinical study applies stimuli to 2 groups of people with Dolorimeter stimuli or similar. Pain caused by equal stimuli to 2 groups should cause same physiological responses. One group now is fibro group and their response is markedly increased in comparison to the control . non fibro group.
Just to add that these studies have been replicated many times and by teams and the reports peer reviewed and studies published so while these are just my poor attempt at explaining the conclusion the science has been done.
I'm with you, when I was diagnosed by Rheumatology I was given a leaflet & sent packing. Being non the wiser I went back to GP, he told me 'Fybromyalgia is a label for unexplained symptoms, not a diagnosis of a specific disease or illness' also told me it was all the mind and he didn't believe it existed.
I went away insulted thinking the doctor thought I was making it up. Now that GP retired last year and now have a newly qualified GP, who taken the post of Senior Partner. He is understands Fybromyalgia is very real but other than Zomorph for pain for (Arthritis) as well as meds I need for other conditions and agreed I can take Ibuprofen bought over the counter can't or won't do anything for the Fybro. I liked your article and we're all entitled to an opinion and to put forward any info we come across. Sue
It's really annoying when I read things like a doctor saying he doesn't believe it exists. Thankfully attitudes are changing and I'm glad your new GP better.
That "it's all in your head" line must be terrible to hear from someone who's meant to be there to help you.
For years I doubted myself. I wondered if I was a hypochondriac, I seemed to have every pain going. I felt like a fraud, like I was making it up somehow.
Filling out medical forms - have you got X Y Z? "No, No, No" therefore I must be healthy.
Results from a couple of blood-tests over the years were unremarkable. Nothing to see, no evidence that I wasn't healthy.
I was stressed and depressed, I hardly expected to feel physically great. I felt the depression was a fundamental flaw with 'me', I never considered it was because of my body.
I'd been in pain since a small child, I'd never known any different.
I'd given up on the medical profession for most of my pains by the time I was 14. I'd been X-rayed multiple times, told nothing more we can do here and prescribed ibuprofen and recommended see an osteopath. To be fair, there was nothing else to be done and I am very grateful I wasn't prescribed opiates (the current issues with overprescribing (it seems mostly in the USA) are shocking.
Many months into healing I still had that strong feeling of self-doubt. Picking up a frying pan and crying out in pain. I had no audience, no reason to be faking it, yet I still felt I was being overly dramatic despite the searing pain shooting up my arm.
The pains and other symptoms were real. Now that I have healed I know that.
Turning up at a friends house one day in tears because of the depression and her saying "it must be hard living with all that pain" meant so much to me. Someone else acknowledging my pain was something I held onto, but self-acknowledgement and acceptance my pain was real was a big step in my healing process.
Thank you. Thing is new GP is not so good, even though he believes in Fybro he still sent me away telling me there's nothing he
can do, and 'just get on with it' despite me showing him new symptoms developed over 8 months or so that I'd written down for him. I've gone to another lady GP in the same practice gave her what I'd written down and alarm bells rang. Despite the other doctor giving me results of routine bloods I have done every year for a diabetic review, he missed some thing. The lady noticed my Folate levels were rock bottom, said I have Folate Anaemia and gave me Folic acid tabs, within days I was eating better, my balance improved, I have to take a 4 month course to build my levels. She has had tons of other blood work done as she wants to rule out autoimmune conditions as she thinks something else could be going on as latest symptoms don't really fit with Fybromyalgia, could be I was misdiagnosed or something else with the Fybro, I hope not but see what happens, still waiting for results as one lot of bloods sent away to a nuclear sciences lab. Just shows never be afraid to ask for second opinion, I was honest with lady GP and said I was doing that and it was fine, never give up, it's hard fighting but we deserve to be heard.😊Sue
I strikes me that a comprehensive list of things to rule out would be very useful for fibro suffers to have to take to their doctors. Maybe that's something this forum could put together (if there's not already)?
Co-current diseases, deficiencies etc. that can be ruled out or treated as appropriate. Doctors need guidelines too.
And exactly - never be afraid to ask for a second opinion.
Nobody knows it all.
A fresh pair of eyes or a difference approach might just be the thing that someone needs, and if any medical practitioner is arrogant enough to think otherwise (or scared of a second opinion), well...
Glad someone gets me, I have replied to some other posts that state they are worried about going to their doctor asking for advice how to proceed, I always suggest writing everything down because most people like myself get out of the surgery and then think 'I didn't say this and that and it could have been important', thing is it could have been something that made the doctor sit up and take more notice. I do stress don't be fobbed off, keep at it, you know your own body, you know what's normal for you yes it's harder with Fybro but you should question new symptoms especially when you've had Fybromyalgia for some years, it's amazing what shows in blood work. I'll never understand why my own GP didn't see the Folate issue when reading latest results to me, it was under his nose, I don't knows if it's because he's newly qualified and inexperienced and that's why he's fobbed me of using Fybro or because of my age, I'm in my sixties but I know a 90 something friend that can walk better and
faster than me. If I hadn't got another opinion I wouldn't have known, about the Folate issue and taking the Folic Acid which has made me feel a bit better after a couple weeks. It was Pete my husband who pushed me because he could see the change in me, he said he could see me going downhill since before last Christmas, it's only a few days ago he told he was getting scared what could be wrong. Waiting for other blood results to see if it's Sjogren's or another autoimmune illness, hopefully it's what I already know about. I can't cope with anything else. It would still leave me with really dry flaky skin, looks like dandruff, had awful dry mouth for as long as I remember that's affected my appetite, nothing helps and dry eyes, that weep constantly, all appeared a few after Fybromyalgia diagnosis so not sure if it's part of that but it did make the second doctor I saw decide on more blood work. Wishing you a good day. Sue🤗
It's so easy to forget something during a doctors appt, the adrenaline kicks in, the appointment runs away with you and then it's like "doh" forgot that, we focused on this instead of that with was more important ...
I do think there are many more things that are associated with the issues of a body with fibro. Things I wouldn't have thought were connected but my recovery was almost like my pain in reverse (and much quicker - 3 months of knee pain in 2 days so I could feel the slight differences in location each day). Other symptoms came and went enough that I could start to spot the patterns. "my healing diary" will take me a long time to go through and catalogue but the dry mouth, itchy eyes, ears, nose sudden and intense but over within a few minutes or a couple of hours.
Glad you are keeping pushing for answers. Good luck
Hi I see you are getting clobbered here. What you have said is correct.
Fibromyalgia type symptoms have been treated by the complementary for over 100 years. The treatment is regarded as not scientifically validated. To scientifically validate a treatment costs so much money that a hands on physically therapist cannot validate the physical treatment.
There is the concept of stress breakdown point. I discuss it here.
You can get so overloaded with stress that the body's engineering systems start to breakdown. A slight reduction in stress and your stress becomes lower than the stress breakdown point and you function again albeit with difficulty.
Evidence based medicine produces statistical results that can be quite variable. This means that each person needs to investigate themselves to determine where on the population curve of results they are.
When I broke my wrist a number of years ago I got Fibromyalgia type symptoms in my arm, wrist and hands. Fortunately, my Alexander teacher who was also a physiotherapist and had training in fascial release techniques was able to give me the right sort of exercises. It took six months for the pain to disappear and function smoothly again. To get strength back into my fingers a McTimony chiropractor had to work on stretching the tight muscles clamping on the finger tendon sheaths.
Thomas Myers has treated Fibromyalgia type symptoms. So has F.M. Alexander.
I know what a McTimony chiropractor does. They would be helpful. They would be helpful for your Fibromyalgia type symptoms as well.
There are different types of chiropractor. I only know about the McTimony.
McTimony chiropractic is a very gentle form of chiropractic which uses hand sensitivity to feel for areas that have a certain tightness to them. They release the tightness. I have been having McTimony chiropractor treatment on the NHS since 1994. Over this time I have met many number of conditions that have caused pain and discomfort. These conditions have been treated successfully by the McTimony chiropractor.
Most treatments are very gentle. Some are painful. When I have had muscle knots. The treatment hurt. There have been occasions where my bones have ached. The chiropractor showed that I had a tight muscle which had been continually pulling on bone. The pain went when the muscle had been untightened.
One of the theories I subscribe to is the theory of stress overload. BY reducing the minor stresses so that stress is reduced there can be an increase in better quality of life. The big stress ie Fibromyalgia may not have been touched (it is too big). The removal of the little stresses has improved things so that better sleep occurs.
Fascia forms a continuous tensional network throughout the human body, covering and connecting every single organ, every muscle, and even every nerve or tiny muscle fibre. The first International Fascia Research Congress was held at Harvard Medical School in October 2007.
The fascia has thousands of nerve endings which feed into the brain. It has contractile components which can contract and relax. Fascia has layers which slide over each other. Sometimes these layers can get a little stuck.
A helpful book on fascia is “Fascia what it is and why it matters” by David Lesondak ISBN 978-1-909141-55-1.
I think I may have over answered your question. Hope I have been able to be helpful. Be very interested how you get on with a chiropractor.
I've used the term "connective tissue" rather than fascia but
"Fascia forms a continuous tensional network throughout the human body, covering and connecting every single organ, every muscle, and even every nerve or tiny muscle fibre." sums up a lot.
Connective tissue (mostly collagen fibres) is everywhere - a body-wide web. Ask a surgeon or butcher about connective tissue, it comes in lots of guises and is very overlooked - something to be cut through on the way to anywhere in the body.
Tightness, stiffness, tension... I believe are due to adaptations in connective tissue in a response to injury and as a long term attempt at providing support to a body that is not balanced around the main muscles of movement.
Myofascial release, manipulations, massage, exercise - moving the body, freeing the tissues.
A balanced and aligned body will have a full range of natural movement - (think all those yoga poses!). No tensions, no signs of fibro.
If however you have physical restrictions on your body, you will have restricted movement .
The body skips over painful movements and restricted areas by adjusting your posture throughout your body. You may not realise how much movement you are missing, or attribute it to getting older but we should be "flexible" and free to move.
For example: Can you spread your arms wide? Can you roll forward and put your hands on the floor? Can you lift a knee to your chest?
I would have said no no no. I was stiff. rigid. To look over my shoulder my whole body turned, and it was only one shoulder I could look over.
I like your reply. You have done the work observing yourself. How have you been looking at movement where the brain has made errors in how to move.
When I was in my 50s I suddenly found that i could not put my underpants on easily. It was several months before I discovered that I was engaged in bending the back which prevented the task. When I engaged in bending the hips and avoided bending the back I was able to put my underpants on easily.
In doing everyday things there are a whole host of movements we do which actually prevent us doing what we want to do easily. Lifting the arms is a case in point. Many people lift the arm as a solid arm. A better way is to lift the arm with the wrist and elbow free to move. The difference in smoothness of movement is a lot. one way of moving generates discomfort and the other way of moving feels nice.
See if you can experiment on these two ways of moving and enable yourself to notice what happens. Mindfulness is useful for this.
Research into brain functioning has found that the brain responds to a body's infection because it actually samples the blood for infection and responds to the infection in a number of cases. A virus can stress the brain in a manner such that it can lose well established skills.
Skills are developed over time. Sometimes over many years. These skills can be stored in a database of skills. What can happen is that the pathway connection to these skills can get damaged. When this happens you lose access to the skills. The skills can be still there, but not accessible. The pathway connection can be very minute and the old way of thinking was that minute damage can have no effect. However, if the damage is to a pathway which now no longer exists it becomes impossible to access certain skills until a new pathway is formed. Viruses can do all sorts of damage which can be undetectable.
If the brain movement centre is giving incorrect instructions to muscles resulting in muscles not functioning correctly you can get all sorts of side effects. These side effects can be unpleasant. Muscles irritate tissue when not moving in line with the needs of tissue. The result pain and discomfort. The body has reflexes which try and reduce damage. These reflexes can sometimes turn into positive feedback loops which cause further damage. I have experienced internal tissues sticking together. When this happens certain movements can become painful until the internal tissue unsticks and slides again.
I have 40 years experience of Alexander Technique. I have been treated by a McTimony chiropractor for 25 plus years. I have engaged in meditation and mindfulness for 40 years. I have done T'ai Chi for 40 years.
The new information on fascia I came across 2 years ago.
Everything comes down to personal investigation by the patient. Does changing the way I move make movement easier or more difficult. Does changing the way I move make sleep easier or more difficult.
Alexander Technique is about learning new ways of using muscles under the guidance of a teacher. The new way of doing things is impossible to obtain from a book. You read the book according to your own experience. So a new experience does not enter into ones comprehension.
I found all this very interesting. After having this virus I lost widespread muscle strength. I have been regularly exercising over 40 years & was within weeks unable to perform press ups & side planks etc due to loss of muscle strength. I also lost my grip, this was all in addition to widespread pain. I never stopped exercising all through this. I have now got all my strength back & my flexibility is actually better than before, but it didn’t always build up steadily. I often found that I could suddenly do something I hadn’t been able to the week before. It was as if something unlocked. However even with all this the pain will not go. I can quieten it to a degree with meditation but I think that’s more about my body dealing better with it. I also seize up really quickly, not found how to sort that one yet though.
viruses can just "wipe us out", whatever the underlying mechanism of that is. Last years round of flu/cold seemed to be like that, lots of people (myself included) taking 4 -6 weeks to get over it but the pathophysiological processes that are responsible are way out of my knowledge range.
What to do: "breathe with your Base-Line". Focus on your pelvic floor and rectus abdominis muscles stronger and longer with every in breathe. Look at anatomy pictures, find the muscles on you body and try to connect with them. Use the roll-down action whilst thinking of your Base-Line supporting the rest of the body. Start from there.
Were you perfectly healthy, pain and injury free before the virus?
A fit of coughing, an awkward sneeze, anything that causes a muscle strain could start the process of imbalance around the main muscles of movement.
I believe the pain sets in early when the body becomes imbalanced and, if you were pain free, then it's likely the pains are considered significant enough to seek medical advice leading to an early diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Or has it been slow deterioration? A list of painful symptoms and old injuries that don't seem to heal but were considered separate issues as the twinges, aches and spasms increased over the years? And then a diagnosis of fibro that came after the virus?
Thank you so much. It’s the best explanation about us I could see myself on almost each word , others don’t apply to me. But yes I agree it’s a neurological imbalance of neurotransmitters , agree with all I’ve been studying reading and I work on health area , and trying to study myself to be able to cope mentally speaking .... I have to prepare for future events in advance so I’m ready on that occasion , it works it does work , but it’s a process . Thank you once more . Xx
I have been working on my pelvic floor & abdominal muscles for over 40 years. So have good control over them. I’m well in tune with my body from Pilates & yoga. I feel that I’m probably misunderstanding or missing something from your theory. Do you just propose this roll down action or is there another set of exercises that I’m missing?
I'll just add, an awareness of when the "wrong" muscle areas activate was a very interesting phenomenon for me. Nearby areas that activated instead of my main muscles, the location of which varied depending on what I was trying to do and the position I was in.
Do you think you have a full range of movement or do you have tension areas and asanas you can't do very well/Pilates exercises you struggle with?
Joseph Pilates learned to use his muscles correctly - have you read his original book? It's interesting even if I don't agree with all of it (he says start with the 100 - there was no way I could do any of that! Even lifting my leg from the floor was impossible - I had to lift it with my hands to get started.)
Focus on the rectus abdominis - two stacks of muscle panels to be activated in sequence. Lying within the rectus sheath formed by aponeuroses of the lateral abdominals, the rectus abdominis "guides/controls/aligns - looking for the right word" the lateral abdominals to work as they should but they need to be engaged and elongated. Working towards maximal extension of the linea alba, our primary guide for body alignment.
Then think of your gluteus maximus and rectus femoris muscles. The rectus femoris from hipbone to shin 'aligns' the hip and knee joints. Feel for it contracting along it's entire length, a solid pole down the front of the thigh. The gluteus maximus "links" from Base-Line support to the rectus femoris which should then allow each leg to be moved in a smooth and controlled fashion through a full range of movement (leg circles of Pilates.)
The trapezius muscles should be free to extend in all directions without pain or tension, supporting the head and arms through a full range of movement. Movement of the upper body starting from the lower trapezius extending upwards and out. Like a blanket to be smoothed from mid-back to the base of the skull, extending out towards both shoulders. The nuchal ligament and supraspinous ligament between the trapezius muscles should be thought of as the secondary guides for alignment.
Focusing on these muscles develops conscious proprioception, and the ability to feel the balance and alignment of the body and with it the ability to feel how to move in order to release any physical tensions.
As for exercises, the roll-down was, and is, my go-to move. Then a pattern of movement I developed whilst rolling down - from a swinging of my arms, bending knees, pulling faces, standing up a bit, lifting a knee, going into warrior pose (I don't know much about yoga but I've heard of them) all started to come naturally. It's a good start, giving the Base-Line muscles the maximum freedom to move and work.
Otherwise, whatever exercises you are doing, think of the condition of these main muscles and see what you can feel.
Thank you for your reply. I was actually taught Pilates by someone who used the original classical style. My yoga teaching is in the Hatha & Ashtaga styles. I have got my strength back, my flexibility is much improved since I became ill. I’m even more aware of the muscles & movement of my body. The only things I struggle with are postures that I am training towards. But..... I still have stiffness & widespread pain. Whilst I agree your theory of movement & getting your body under control will help if you have done no exercise & want to take control of your general aches, pains & mood, I think it will not cure Fibromyalgia, whatever it is, it’s not as simple as this or I would be pain free. I’m not, I’m in agony quite often, in some degree of pain all the time, and as stiff as a board in the morning. But you just get on with it as I believe that most people who don’t actually have it haven’t a clue what it’s really like.
Thank you for being open enough to my theory to read, and think about it, It will be interesting to know if focusing on these 5 main muscles of movement and feeling for the balance between left and right sides will help you with the postures you are struggling with, to move through the pain to release it a little.
You shouldn't be in pain, and please just know I want to try and help. I'm not at all dismissing that there are other factors involved in the generation of pain, and viruses can do weird things, but if you are already very familiar with your body and movement you are also great candidate for a prove me right or wrong guinea pig. Try really focusing on the condition of these muscles. The upper body especially collect tensions which are easily avoided rather than confronted, and so really feel for the trapezius muscles being extendable in all directions if you can already feel your Base-Line and leg muscles working well.
When you encounter a pain, pause and focus on what you can feel as you breathe with your Base-Line.
How are you interpreting the signals coming from your body?
A new pain or an old pain?
What kind of pain is it? "good pains, bad pains"
Where is the pain coming from?
Is that an accurate description? Or a habitual response?
Focus on where the pain signals are originating.
Does the pain remain consistent, or does it move and change?
For every position the human body can get into there is a unique 'thread' that arcs from the tips of each extremity (toes/feet, fingers/hands and head) to a central connection board - the rectus abdominis muscles. T
It should be possible to extend each thread to its full potential and each thread should be free to move. This is when we have a full range of movement.
When there is a tension along a particular thread - a physical restriction or painful area it can cause pain along the rest of the associated thread.
I get the stiff as board in the mornings, mine feels like a "physical stiffness" something that can be released as I move. It's almost like during the day the 3 steps forward with movement , a night in bed is a step back as my body returns to its old state (the one it's much more familiar with!) and some stiffness returns but it can be released again.
Thank you again for not just dismissing me. Give it 3 months working with these muscles as you do your Yoga and Pilates, and throughout the day.
I wish the NHS understood that we are not machines we are human beings and when we get to our 30s nature does not look after us so well, so we need more vitamins and Minerals. That's why I take my care in to my own hands
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