Fibromyalgia in Louisville

A Holistic Approach to Treating Fibromyalgia’s Complex Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is often misunderstood, with its wide-ranging symptoms being incorrectly attributed to other conditions. But it is a very real disorder caused by abnormalities in how the brain and spinal cord process painful stimuli.

The hallmark fibromyalgia symptoms include:

• Chronic widespread pain and tenderness
• Fatigue, sleep issues and “fibro fog”
• Sensitivity to smells, bright lights, loud noises
• Numbness/tingling sensations
• Anxiety, depression
• Headaches, memory issues
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

While the underlying mechanisms behind fibromyalgia are still being researched, certain triggers are known to exacerbate symptoms, like stress, injury, illness, weather changes, and poor sleep habits.

Our fibromyalgia physical therapy services utilize therapeutic exercises, hands-on joint and soft tissue mobilization, and pain neuroscience education. This multimodal approach addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of fibromyalgia for more effective management.
By getting to the root causes behind your symptoms and equipping you with coping strategies and self-care techniques, our goal is to help you reclaim functionality, restore wellbeing, and start feeling like yourself again.

The Life-Changing Benefits of Fibromyalgia in Louisville

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, our multifaceted treatment programs can help you better manage symptoms and start reclaiming your life.

1. Gain Control Over Your Pain
Our fibromyalgia physical therapists utilize a variety of manual therapy techniques that provide both immediate and lasting pain relief by decreasing muscle tightness and joint restrictions. This includes soft tissue and trigger point release, joint mobilizations, dry needling, and assisted stretching. We also train you in alternate pain coping strategies, like mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing, and imagery.

2. Restore Strength, Flexibility and Endurance
Custom exercise plans focus on improving flexibility, core stability, balance, posture, and muscular endurance. Moving more and building strength reduces strain, alleviates fatigue, enhances circulation, and promotes better sleep. We emphasize a gradual progression to avoid flares.

3. Achieve Optimal Functionality
Our therapists analyze all your daily movements, from how you sit and stand to picking things up or reaching overhead. We then make ergonomic changes tailored to you reduce painful straining patterns. Improving biomechanics and building strength enhances your ability to complete activities pain-free.

4. Integrate Lasting Lifestyle Changes
We recognize the chronic nature of fibromyalgia requires long-term management strategies. Your PT provides comprehensive education on your condition, treatment options, flare triggers to avoid, and energy conservation tips. We help formulate a realistic self-care plan – integrating pain and stress coping methods into your routines. This empowers you to better control symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Fibromyalgia Physical Therapy

What are usually the first signs of fibromyalgia?
While fibromyalgia symptoms can occur suddenly after an illness or injury, they often come on gradually over time. Many patients recall first noticing deep muscle aches and sore areas that wouldn’t go away, increased sensitivity to touch, persistent fatigue regardless of sleep duration, or difficulty concentrating (fibro fog).

Does fibromyalgia ever go away?
There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia. However, with consistent utilization of pain management strategies and lifestyle modifications, patients can achieve long periods with minimal symptoms. Committing to regular physical therapy and continuing exercises at home are key to keeping fibromyalgia under control.

What does it feel like to live with fibromyalgia?
The widespread pain and fatigue from fibromyalgia can make even simple daily activities seem monumental, severely impacting quality of life. Symptoms fluctuate daily, which makes it difficult to predict good days from bad. The uncertainty and perceived loss of control can negatively impact emotional health. Treatment focuses both on physical relief and equipping people with effective coping strategies.

What can trigger fibromyalgia?
Stress is one of the biggest culprits for flare-ups of symptoms. Other common triggers include: lack of restorative sleep, injuries/falls, illnesses, exposure to temperature extremes or allergens, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, infections requiring antibiotics, and hormonal changes. Identifying individual triggers and making protective lifestyle modifications are key in management.