Fibromyalgia causes pain similar to osteoarthritis, but throughout your body. You may suffer fatigue and sleep problems as well, and other common symptoms include:

• Anxiety and depression
• Tender points of pain at the shoulder, back, hips, arms, legs, and neck
• Burning, twitching, or tightness in your muscles
• Problems with concentration and memory

Fibromyalgia is extremely common but often misdiagnosed. You feel pain, but evidence of it doesn’t readily show up on scans or in blood tests, so it can be hard to pinpoint.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Fibromyalgia may have a genetic component, and it’s most common in women who have another painful disease, such as an infection or arthritis. A sedentary lifestyle, mood disorders, and a history of emotional or physical abuse or trauma also increase your risk of developing the condition.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications, including brand name Cymbalta®, Savella®, and Lyrica®, are often the first line of treatment for fibromyalgia. Regular exercise can also improve function if you have fibromyalgia and lifestyle changes that include significant stress reduction can effectively help you manage fibromyalgia pain.

When these treatments fail to alleviate chronic pain and fatigue, Dr. Parmar may recommend trigger point injections.

Trigger point injections introduce anesthetic into the center of a pain point to reduce inflammation and tightness. These pain points are knots where the muscle is unable to relax -- you may feel the knot under the skin. These knots irritate the nerves surrounding them and cause pain to radiate to other parts of the body. Dr. Parmar targets the injections at these tight, spastic bands of muscles to reduce tension and pain.

Following the injection, your body can’t process the pain, and this helps bring you relief from fibromyalgia pain. Trigger point injections are especially effective when you have active points of pain that don’t respond to massage or stretching. The injections are usually well tolerated, causing minimal discomfort and you’re in and out of the office relatively quickly.

If you have fibromyalgia, consult Alleviate Pain for comprehensive pain relief that can help get your life back. Call or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment today.