Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a group of symptoms that includes widespread pain, tender areas, deep fatigue, poor sleep and changes in mood. Fibromyalgia physical therapy focuses on low-impact exercise, strengthening and drug-free pain relief, paced to what your body can handle. We treat fibromyalgia in Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho, with Jared Pugmire, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, Dip Osteopractic, Cert. SMT/DN/VCS guiding care.
What fibromyalgia feels like and why it happens
It is a cluster of symptoms, not a single disease, and no one knows the exact cause.
Widespread pain and fatigue
Widespread pain, tender areas, muscle pain and debilitating fatigue are the usual signs, often with changes in mood and sleep.
Fibro fog
Many people also notice trouble concentrating, often called fibro fog.
A possible nervous system link
Some believe an overactive sympathetic nervous system, the part that triggers fight or flight, plays a role.
How it begins
Some people first notice symptoms after a physical or emotional trauma, or after long stress. For others it builds over time. It affects women more often than men and may run in families.
Medication helps, but it does not rebuild how you move
Doctors usually treat fibromyalgia with a mix of pain medicines, antidepressants or anti-seizure medicines to settle the nervous system. Those can help symptoms, yet they do not restore the strength and movement that widespread pain takes away.
That gap is where physical therapy fits. It does not replace the care your doctor gives you. For pain that is not fibromyalgia, see Chronic Pain.
Why gentle exercise helps with fibromyalgia
Exercise with fibromyalgia has to start low. Your plan usually combines these parts.
Low-impact cardio
Walking on a treadmill or other low-impact exercise to improve blood flow, ease stress and build fitness. Your therapist prescribes it for your ability.
Strength and range of motion
Guarding a painful area weakens its muscles and shrinks its range, which brings more pain. Gentle strengthening breaks that cycle through Therapeutic Exercise.
Drug-free pain relief
Heat, ice, trigger point therapy, stretching and electrical stimulation can limit pain so you can keep exercising.
Starting slowly and handling a fibro flare
Exercise with fibromyalgia works best when it starts small. Fibromyalgia exercise should feel manageable the next day, not just in the moment.
A fibro flare is a stretch when symptoms spike, and doing too much on a good day is a common trigger. We start at a low level, add a little at a time, and agree on what to do when a flare hits so one bad week does not undo your progress.
Pacing your energy through the day is part of the plan, along with the sleep and stress habits that affect how you feel. Together, exercise and pain relief can help retrain your body to send and receive signals without setting off widespread pain.
What to expect at your visits
Treatment is built around you. Our office is in Chubbuck, Idaho, and we also see patients from Pocatello.
- An evaluation of your pain, strength, motion and daily function
- A starting program you can manage on your worst days as well as your best
- Hands-on care, with Manual Therapy kept gentle when your body is sensitive
- A home plan, and a check on how your sleep and energy are doing
- Changes to the plan as you improve, or if a flare sets you back
Related care
If joint pain is part of the picture, read Arthritis & Joint Pain too. Other pages:
Related care
Fibromyalgia care in Chubbuck, Idaho
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area.
Fibromyalgia treatment here is built around what your body tolerates on a given week.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.