Best Mattresses For Fibromyalgia and Pressure Points
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Fibromyalgia
This article will discuss the best mattresses for fibromyalgia and pressure points. We are not doctors, so please consult with a physician for advice. As writers reviewing mattresses, one of the features we often consider is the amount of support and pressure relief provided by mattresses. Poor pressure relief is known to unevenly distribute weight.
Sleeping on a mattress that distributes the body weight evenly is considered to be a benefit to reducing discomfort while sleeping. We will discuss not only mattresses but other alternative approaches people are using.
While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, there are some steps to take in order to ease the impact of the condition. Such practices as achieving restful sleep with a proper mattress is critical to reducing body pressure during the night that can cause pain symptoms to appear.
In this article, we will discuss fibromyalgia, symptoms, causes, and pain relief practices such as massage therapy, acupressure therapy, and choosing a proper mattress to relieve pressure point pain while getting restful sleep.
There are many common problems in our modern world. Whether they’re caused by poor diet, inadequate exercise, trauma from car accidents, or anything else, more common ailments are becoming popular amongst a larger population.
One of those fast-rising problems that can be debilitating to all those suffering from it is fibromyalgia. This is a word that maybe you’ve heard of, or maybe you know a few things about it, but you’re not sure if it fits the symptoms you’re having.
Regardless, let’s look at it piece by piece and see how we can understand this cause of chronic pain. From there, we’ll be able to show you how to get pain relief in an effective but safe way. Education is key, so let’s get started.
Best Mattresses For Fibromyalgia
What is fibromyalgia?
Understanding what we’re dealing with seems like a good place to start, wouldn’t you think? So, by definition, fibromyalgia is considered a disorder associated with widespread chronic pain throughout the body, precisely the musculoskeletal system.
When you are dealing with fibromyalgia, it can be understood as a condition where you feel pain, but the better definition is, it changes the way your brain processes pain signals.
When you are living with this disorder, your brain will tell you that you are living with pain and that your body is hurting. It could be in one spot, or it could be in multiple spots, and the severity will differ depending on what you’re dealing with on any given day.
We’ll talk more about the suspected cause of fibromyalgia later, but in a general sense, this is something you can inherit from loved ones, and it manifests later in life, or it could be caused by a trauma of some kind. The reality is, there isn’t a spot that is understood as being the core cause for fibromyalgia.
This pain disorder can come on suddenly, with you waking up to widespread chronic pain with no cause and no warning whatsoever, or it can come on gradually and increase in severity as time goes on.
The unfortunate news with fibromyalgia is that there is no cure for it. The world of medicine is not yet advanced enough to create a cure for something that still has so many questions.
However, the silver lining is that it is bearable, and you can still focus on enjoying your quality of life. The only thing you need to do is put focus and effort towards finding the right ways to live with that. We know you’re concerned, so we are glad to offer a whole section on that below to help you understand this is more than possible.
A lot of the above information may seem broad and uncertain, but there are set symptoms and signs that you can look for. Let’s look at some of the most common ones below.
What are common symptoms of fibromyalgia?
If you think you might be living with fibromyalgia, you should look at the symptoms below to help you to confirm whether you actually are. We understand you are looking to get the information you need as clearly as possible, so we’ve listed the main complaints that previously diagnosed patients have used to help define it.
Widespread pain or soreness: If you are suffering from widespread pain or soreness in your joints, this is one of the clearest indicators of fibromyalgia. This pain could be in more than one spot at a time, come in varying degrees, and last for short amounts of time or longer.
Widespread pain means it must occur over the waist as well as under the waist. It also must last longer than 3 months to be considered chronic widespread pain. Often, fibromyalgia is from undetermined causes (meaning, not from an obvious injury to a foot or a hip).
Unclear fatigue: Sure, we know what you’re thinking; fatigue is listed for just about every condition, and you’re right. The thing is, when it comes to fatigue, it tends to feel unique with fibromyalgia.
When you are living with this disorder, you will find you are simply worn out all the time. You’re struggling to keep your life moving with this new pain and soreness and trying to focus on staying on top of everything, but you’re just so tired.
You may have no problem sleeping more than 13 hours per night, or you may find it is difficult to sleep from the pain. Fatigue that is caused from an unclear cause should be considered a symptom.
Sudden numbness or tingling: If you notice random bouts of numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or other parts, it could be a sign to watch for as well. The numbness or tingling could be widespread; it could last for a short amount of time or last for an extended period of time.
It could impact motor skills, or it could just be that you can’t feel things the same way when you’re holding them (similar to pins and needles).
Hypersensitivity to noise or light: Some sufferers of fibromyalgia report feeling sensitive to light and noise when suffering from fibromyalgia attacks. This could be a slight sensitivity or a more pronounced one that lasts for an extended period of time.
Some report that it happens in conjunction with a sensitivity to touch. Some say it is present at some times, but not at others, and so on.
Skin irritations: There are some people who find they have a lot more skin irritations than before when suffering from fibromyalgia. It could be a simply itchiness. Some report rashes and other outbreaks from something as simple as a cat scratch or a broken nail.
Skin tends to be sensitive in terms of burns and dryness as well, calling for more care and attention to keep it as healthy as possible.
It’s important to remember this is not a complete list. It is simply some of the main symptoms that some people feel when getting diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It should, however, lead you in the right direction.
What does fibromyalgia come from?
Now comes the ever-present question on a lot of people’s minds. What does this come from? The truth is, there aren’t many confirmed sources. The best confirmation is said to be that it can often be inherited. If a parent or another source of DNA has fibromyalgia, there is a likelihood you could develop it within your lifetime.
It is often more common in women than men with statistics to support it.
In terms of the cause of fibromyalgia with regards to its onset, research tends to lack a bit on this topic. The fact is, a lot of cases are different. Some people find they start to feel fibromyalgia after being in a car accident and suffering trauma from it. Other people find that it can start after a psychological trauma, such as losing a loved one or going through a stressful time.
Another link that is common with fibromyalgia is that it is often found to correspond with individuals who live with depression or anxiety. It’s thought that these conditions can often cause flare-ups, as well as a susceptibility to this disorder in the first place.
This is also the case with those who suffer from migraines or other pain disorders such as this. This is not always the case, of course, but it’s thought to be a link.
In terms of links to physical conditions, it’s thought that often fibromyalgia can go hand in hand with those living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or joint disorders. When living with these flare-up related conditions, you may be at risk of developing fibromyalgia as a result.
What it comes down to is the fact that no one knows for sure where it comes from or why it impacts certain people the way it does. This is why diagnosis can be difficult and why it is so important.
The more we understand about fibromyalgia, the faster we can find some sort of cure for those who must live with it. Let’s take a look at that some more.
How do I live with fibromyalgia?
When you’re looking for a trustworthy option for pain relief, and you want to know it will help you when suffering from chronic pain as a result of fibromyalgia, it can be disheartening to know there is no such thing as an actual cure.
As of yet, science has not provided a cure for this disorder, but there are ways to live with it and still experience the quality of life. There are three main things that you can consider:
- Conventional medication
- Therapy
- Lifestyle changes
Let’s look at each one to see just what it may mean for dealing with long-term chronic pain. Some of it may surprise you!
- Conventional medication: Since, as discussed, anxiety and depression can often go hand in hand with those who have fibromyalgia, a lot of times, medical intervention can be helpful to alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain. You can look at traditional tricyclic antidepressants, for example. In terms of treating the primary pain, steroids are often prescribed to help with the worst of it.
- Therapy: Since fibromyalgia can sometimes be brought on from trauma, therapy can be helpful to deal with it long-term, especially if you are not looking to try medication right away. For example, physical or massage therapy can have many benefits on those suffering from fibromyalgia from presumed physical trauma. If it’s brought on by mental or emotional trauma, cognitive brain therapy can often be a great option for those looking for support and a long-term option.
- Lifestyle changes: Regardless of the assumed cause, lifestyle changes are significant to consider. When looking at reducing the flare-ups, losing weight, and eating healthy foods are always thought of as excellent preventatives. The healthier your body is, the better you can fight pain and soreness. Exercise and proper use of your muscles and joints are also thought to help reduce the severity of fibromyalgia outbreaks.
Living with fibromyalgia doesn’t mean you need to give up your life or change it in a huge way. It just means that making adjustments to help you minimize the flare-ups and deal with them when they do happen is important.
You’ll find that certain options work better than others, and their effectiveness may differ throughout short- and long-term use. Find the right blend for you.
Alleviate Your Fibromyalgia Pain with Massage:
Massages have been used to alleviate pain for centuries, and massage therapy is a strategy to reduce pain by applying pressure to various points on your body. In theory, the pain travels throughout your body, sending impulses from your central nervous system and spinal column to your brain.
Once these impulses reach your brain, you experience pain, and this takes place in a second. In theory, pain relief is based on your body, only being able to send a certain number of signals to your brain at one given time.
Therefore, if a signal does not reach your brain, it will not register. If you are having a great massage, pleasant signals will reach your brain, not allowing for negative signals to get there first.
The Swedish Massage:
Swedish massages have been around for almost 200 years and have proven to be excellent for the relief of pain. It was first developed by Henrik Ling, who learned the techniques from a friend named Ming.
When he returned to Copenhagen, four years later, he created a method for massage and then brought it to the United States in the 1980s. Today, you can find a Swedish massage parlor just about everywhere in the country, and it is considered the most popular choice.
The Swedish massage is based on long strokes of the masseuse’s hand across your skin, followed by kneading.
Here are some of the benefits of a Swedish Massage:
The relaxation of muscles caused by stress, tension, or even damage caused to a specific muscle. The massage loosens the muscle and reduces the pain and, in some cases, even brings down swelling.
It can also reduce pain from an area of your body that has been damaged by a fracture, sprain, or even stiff joints.
Swedish massages remove uric and lactic acid and other waste material from your muscles, which will help to speed up your recovery from an injury rather quickly.
It’s used to stretch muscles, ligaments, and tendons, to prevent future damage from many activities, such as jogging or sports activities. Therefore, a Swedish massage is an excellent choice for preventative alternatives.
In general, Swedish massages will stimulate your blood circulations and nervous system, relax tension, and reduce stress.
There are many different practices for massage therapy, and all have shown excellent results. You should look around and get all the information you can before deciding which will work best for you. Whether you are on medications or not, a r nice, relaxing massage is good for the soul!
Not all answers are sitting inside a pill bottle, and many have shown excellent results without side effects or placing you in a dangerous situation. Keep in mind, if you have a serious condition that has caused enormous pain that you have to live with continually, always consult with your doctor first.
There are forms of cancer that leave people in horrible pain, and the chances of massage therapy or acupuncture helping are probably slim.
Thousands of people are constantly looking for relief from their pain that haunts them every day. Finding solutions can be a bit daunting while sifting through an unending list of over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs. Many people are now turning away from drugs due to the countless side effects, hoping to find something natural. In this article, we will offer alternative solutions that have proven to alleviate the pain you might be experiencing.
Acupuncture
There are many alternatives for treating your pain, whether chronic or temporary. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles at specific points of the body. The pain is relieved by the body, releasing endorphins, which affect a specific part of the brain.
Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and has shown incredible results for improving one’s health and relieving pain. Acupuncture is performed by inserting fine needles in a specific area of the body as practiced by the ancient Chinese.
This practice addresses both psychological and medical problems that you might be experiencing. To read more on acupuncture visit our article Chronic Pain & The Importance Of Sleep
Wrapping Up
With what you’ve learned here about fibromyalgia, it may seem as though you are going to be struggling with this condition in a painful and eternal way. The thing to remember is that advances in natural and medical pain relief are constantly evolving.
As with a lot of common medical conditions, the cure could be just around the corner. All you need to do is take the time to understand what you’re dealing with and experiment with the various kinds of medical treatment options, so you’ll be able to get back to your normal life and enjoy all the perks that are going to be waiting for you just as they were before.
Whether you think fibromyalgia describes your pain or not, it’s worth checking with a medical professional to know for sure. After all, the first step to dealing with a medical condition is knowing exactly what you’re dealing with, and a diagnosis is still the key to getting that kind of information.
