Symptoms Associated with Fibromyalgia

Sciatica and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain which is also generally accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood health issues. The most common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia include muscle pain and tenderness, however, many people with this painful condition also experience sciatica, a collection of symptoms characterized by pain, discomfort, tingling sensations, and numbness along the length of the sciatic nerve in the lower back.

Because fibromyalgia can cause painful symptoms throughout several regions of the human body, many people with fibromyalgia may also be diagnosed with other health issues which may overlap with their present symptoms, such as sciatica. It's essential for patients to seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare professional to receive a proper diagnosis of all of their symptoms as these other health issues may generally require different treatment approaches. 

Sciatica is one of the most common health issues to coexist with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia doesn't necessarily cause sciatica or sciatic nerve pain, however, these can ultimately exist together. It's also essential for people with fibromyalgia to understand what sciatica is and how these painful symptoms can affect their health and wellness. Healthcare professionals believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the human brain processes pain signals. Moreover, fibromyalgia can affect a variety of other structures and functions in the human body, such as the gastrointestinal tract.

Fibromyalgia and Digestion Problems

Along with muscle pain and tenderness, patients with this painful disorder also experience digestive health issues. About 70 percent of people with fibromyalgia suffer from irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, including gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Although the causes of digestion health issues and fibromyalgia are unknown, healthcare professionals have demonstrated that there is an undeniable connection between fibromyalgia and digestive health issues.

The gastrointestinal, or GI, system consists of several fundamental parts including, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, and the bowel. When digestion slows down or a food intolerance, described in further detail below, disrupts the natural process of digestion, a chain of events can cause pain and discomfort, among other symptoms, throughout the entire gastrointestinal, or GI, tract. Patients with fibromyalgia commonly report frustrating digestive problems, such as:

• Acid reflux. When the gastric juices are not being utilized in the stomach, they can often travel back up through the esophagus, causing heartburn or a painful sensation in the chest, known as acid reflux.
• Cramping and constipation. When the process of peristalsis, or the smooth muscle contractions which move food through the gastrointestinal tract, becomes affected due to the irritation of the intestines, it can begin to cramp and prevent the movement of waste through the bowel, causing cramping and constipation.
• Diarrhea. When the digestive process slows down or stops, undigested food can move from the stomach and into the intestine, where it can irritate the lining of the colon and produce IBS symptoms, such as diarrhea.
• Gas. The longer food stays in your stomach and intestines, the longer the natural GI bacteria has to break down the compounds and the more methane gas is produced from bacteria metabolism, resulting in gas.

Research studies have utilized brain scans to demonstrate the physiological responses of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, and patients with fibromyalgia. According to the research studies, both groups of patients demonstrated higher neurological responses to pain. Patients with IBS and fibromyalgia also demonstrated higher pain awareness. Due to the similar brain activity to pain stimulus, researchers suspect that the two health issues may share underlying causes.

Many people with fibromyalgia frequently report that certain types of foods irritate their stomach or exacerbate their fibromyalgia symptoms. Dairy and gluten, among other foods, can worsen fibromyalgia. Many people have food intolerances which can be challenging to diagnose. Another common explanation for the digestion problems of patients with fibromyalgia involves the autonomic nervous system, which is in charge of regulating the structure and function of internal organs.

This autonomic nervous system is made up of two subsystems: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, which rarely work together simultaneously. In patients with fibromyalgia, the sympathetic nervous system, which is largely responsible for increasing blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline, is almost always active, causes the parasympathetic system, which is largely responsible for relaxation and digestion, to become inactive. Fortunately, patients with fibromyalgia and its associated symptoms like sciatica and digestive problems, can find relief through treatment.

Patients with fibromyalgia commonly experience widespread pain and discomfort, however, research studies have demonstrated a connection between other symptoms and health issues, such as sciatica and digestive problems. The purpose of the following article is to educate as well as discuss how fibromyalgia may be connected to other symptoms like sciatica and irritable bowel syndrome, among other digestive problems. By understanding how these symptoms and health issues are associated with fibromyalgia, patients and doctors can safely and effectively treat this painful condition and its symptoms. - Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Many people with this painful condition also experience sciatica and digestive problems. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez