Apr 08 2008
Similarities between Fibromyalgia and Lumbar Pain
Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic health condition characterized by an extensive pain occurring in the muscles, tendons and ligaments. On the other hand, lumbar pain or lower back pain, as its name suggests, is the pain sensation occurring in the lower back region of the body. There are close similarities between the symptoms of fibromyalgia and lumbar pain. Let us explore it by analyzing different triggering factors.
Accidental Injury
In most of the cases, accidental injury contributes to the development of lumbar pain and it triggers fibromyalgia onset in many people. Till today, it is believed that accidental injuries are the major causes for the development of lumbar pain in an individual. These types of accidental injury may involve strain resulting from twisting, lifting or bending in an improper posture. Apart from that, serious accidental injury may also lead to the development of both lumbar pain and fibromyalgia.
Infections
Although not so common, infection in the lower back region may lead to the development of lumbar pain, and for fibromyalgia too. Infections caused by bacteria or viruses may harm the muscular tissues and may lead to such complications. In addition, patients suffering from fibromyalgia and lumbar pain share a few common symptoms like persistent ache without any defined reason, chronic infection, etc.
Osteoporosis and Other Fracture Issues
Both lumbar pain and fibromyalgia patients may share common symptoms like osteoporosis, which is much more common in elderly women. Apart from that, both of these two groups of patients may experience compression fractures occurring in the spinal bone area. In some cases, it is seen that patients suffering from lumbar pain at the initial stages of injury influencing the central nervous system, however, it may gradually advance towards fibromyalgia on time.
Changes Occurring in Muscular Metabolism
In both the cases, muscular metabolism may exacerbate the condition. Patients suffering from any of these two health conditions, lumbar pain and fibromyalgia, experience an extreme sense of fatigue as a result of de-conditioning and reduced level of blood flow to the muscles. Changes occurring in muscular metabolism and hormonal imbalance have a profound influence on the function of the nerves in both the cases.
Stress
Stress is an integral phenomenon in both the cases. Both lumbar pain and fibromyalgia are strongly associated with the experience of intense stress. Sometimes at its worst end, it may become disabling too. Poor activity level, increased smoking and persistent dissatisfactory feeling with life may worsen the conditions quite significantly. In both the cases, patients must educate themselves to build a positive attitude towards life in order to improve their health condition.
(ARA) – Getting the flu can have serious consequences, especially for children. Every year, children in the United States get extremely ill and some die from influenza (“the flu”) and its complications. Richard Kanowitz knows this all too well — he and his wife Alissa lost their 4-year-old daughter, Amanda, to the flu four years [...]
Of the 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, 80 percent are women, and having a mother with osteoporosis puts a daughter particularly at risk for fractures.
Priscilla Turner, 67, of Memphis, Tenn., knows this risk all too well. Her 90-year-old mother, Jewell Fondren, suffers from osteoporosis (a disease that causes bone to become weak and susceptible to [...]
When an MRI shows some changes each year in my back from t11 t12 to bottom of spine, why doesn’t the doctor do surgery? I have the pain, pin & needles, numbness, that goes with small herniation @ T12 /L2 / L4 /L4 5 / L5 S1 with sciatica on and off since L5 S1 surgery in 1985. When reflex and feeling is tested at the dr. appt. it all appears to be normal. When I am feeling worse and not at the dr. these things change to be less normal. The doctors say that the symptoms I have could be more from the FMS rather than the slight herniations, free fragment and some nerve sac impingement. They would rather put in a tens type unit for the chronic diableing pain that fix what is wrong. I have had sciatica since 1984 and low back pain most of the time since 1984 also. I also have had bouts of Piriformis Muscles spasms which healed after a few direct shots. I have had lumbar injections done to me on and off since 1986 that add up to approximently 16 injections. Radiolgist was supposed to do a nerve block on L4 but saw more problems with L5 S1 and L2 which he found out later was consitent with my symptoms and pain. That injection did help the pain near my rectum and buttocks crack. This was done in 10-07 and those symptoms have only slightly returned. There’s more on my MRI reports than what I have mentioned here. I have been unable to work since 9-19-2006 and I have lost most enjoyment and everyday abilities since then. I do have other minor health concerns other than written here. A reply would be greatly appreciated from a medical professional. Thank-you Sharon Fowler