Fibromyalgia: It's not ''just in your head''
Imagine the aches and pains of a bad flu. Now imagine feeling like that all the time — and worse yet — not knowing why. That's what it feels like to have
fibromyalgia.
"The condition is not easily diagnosed with medical tests, so some people assume what they're feeling is 'just in their head,'" states James Dwyer, DO, Virtua Health rheumatolgist and vice president of physician services.
Fibromyalgia is actually a chronic condition of the musculoskeletal system that causes fatigue, pain throughout the body, muscle stiffness, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and sleep disorder.
Once diagnosed, fibromyalgia is treated with medication to enhance sleep, as well as anti-inflammatory medications and exercise. Dr. Dwyer says: "The key to feeling better is taking care of yourself: get extra rest and exercise, and seek physician and family support."
Virtua Health offers a fibromyalgia support group as well as warm water therapy at the William G. Rohrer Center for HealthFitness.