Beyond Pain Management: A Root-Cause Approach to Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia
Effectively addressing chronic pain and fibromyalgia requires a medical approach that looks beyond pain relievers to the systemic drivers of your condition. At SouthPark Functional Medicine, Dr. Mahtani conducts a deep investigation into the root causes of your pain, creating a strategic path toward reducing inflammation and restoring physical function.
What Is Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia?
Chronic pain is a persistent discomfort lasting beyond the expected healing time, often affecting physical and emotional well-being. Conditions such as arthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis and migraines are examples of chronic pain.
Fibromyalgia is a specific chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness. Although its origins are unclear, research suggests it involves an amplified pain response. Both conditions require a multidisciplinary approach to management. Treatment may include medication, physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments. Collaborative care and ongoing support are key to enhancing the quality of life for those affected.
Our approach to chronic pain involves a detailed investigation into factors like underlying inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and nervous system sensitization. Dr. Mahtani’s goal is to create a personalized roadmap to help calm inflammation, improve energy production, and enhance your overall resilience to pain. Her expertise in fibromyalgia functional medicine allows her to identify and address these root causes with precision.
If you are ready to invest in a higher quality of life, we invite you to take the next step.
What Symptoms Are Associated with Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia?
Chronic pain and fibromyalgia share symptoms, including persistent discomfort, fatigue and cognitive challenges such as brain fog. Some symptoms of chronic pain and fibromyalgia include:
Brain Fog
Brain fog involves a set of cognitive symptoms that can include confusion, forgetfulness, lack of focus and mental clarity, and a general feeling of mental fatigue. Your thinking feels fuzzy or hazy, like you are just going through the motions.
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue refers to persistent, unexplained, and severe tiredness or exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep. This tiredness can vary from day to day and hour to hour. Physical or mental exertion can exacerbate this fatigue. It’s often associated with other symptoms, such as muscle pain and brain fog.
Joint Pain
Joint pain involves one or more joints. The discomfort or pain may be sharp, stabbing, dull, or achy, ranging from mild to severe. It may include swelling, stiffness, redness and warmth. It can result in limited mobility and weakness in the affected area.
Migraines
Migraines are intense headaches often characterized by severe, throbbing pain, typically on one side of the head. Common symptoms include sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances and dizziness. Migraines can be debilitating and cause you to seek a dark, quiet environment.
Muscle Pain
Muscle pain, or myalgia, is characterized by sensations such as aching, soreness, stiffness, cramping, tightness, burning and throbbing. It can be mild or severe and begin suddenly or progress over time. Activity level and time of day can affect the pain level.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy involves damage to peripheral nerves and results in sensations such as tingling, numbness, burning, electric shock-like feelings and pain. It can be constant or intermittent and lead to muscle weakness, coordination problems, sensitivity to touch and difficulty with fine motor skills, like brushing your teeth, tying your shoes and writing.
Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia Explained
Chronic pain sets itself apart from acute pain in terms of duration and persistence. Acute pain is the immediate discomfort you experience when injured and diminishes once your body heals. Conversely, chronic pain endures long beyond the recovery period from injury or illness, persisting for months or even years. It can affect any area of your body and can be caused by numerous conditions such as arthritis, cancer, or nerve damage. Yet sometimes, it happens for no apparent reason.
Fibromyalgia is a complex illness with an unknown cause. Although men and women can develop the illness, women are affected more than men. Fibromyalgia intensifies the perception of pain by altering the processing of signals in the brain and spinal cord. It’s characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often coexisting with fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive challenges. Symptoms may occur following events like physical trauma, surgery, infection, or stress. In other cases, symptoms accumulate gradually without a triggering event.
The fibromyalgia functional medicine approach to treating chronic pain and fibromyalgia doesn’t just treat symptoms. It sees your body as a whole, with each organ and system affecting the others. Uncovering the root cause of chronic pain or fibromyalgia is the first step in healing. The benefits of this treatment include:
Personalized Care
Functional medicine tailors treatment plans to your specific needs. This care may involve lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your diet and activity level and incorporating stress management techniques into your daily life.
Symptom Management
Functional medicine is geared toward improving your day-to-day life through targeted treatment and a holistic approach.
Empowerment
Taking a functional medicine approach empowers you to take charge of your health with lifestyle changes you embrace.
Preventive Strategies
Functional medicine focuses on preventive measures that ensure you not only get relief in the short term but also work toward your long-term health and resilience.
Monitoring
Regular follow-ups allow for timely adjustments to your treatment plan when needed. This proactive approach helps identify emerging issues.
Why Choose SouthPark Functional Medicine?
Because a complex condition like chronic pain and fibromyalgia requires a sophisticated expert. Dr. Sarita Mahtani’s unique dual expertise as a board-certified MD and an IFM Certified Practitioner allows her to move beyond symptom management. She utilizes a precise, evidence-based methodology to identify the complex root causes of the systemic inflammation and nervous system sensitization that drive these conditions and creates a personalized plan for lasting results.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Fibromyalgia Be Cured?
Although there’s currently no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with. The functional medicine approach to managing fibromyalgia typically involves a combination of strategies, including:
- Lifestyle Optimization: Incorporating targeted lifestyle changes, such as personalized exercise programs and relaxation techniques.
- Integrated Treatment: Addressing concurrent conditions that may contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms, such as treating sleep apnea and managing depression.
- Medication Management: While not a cure, medications may help manage specific symptoms, such as pain or sleep issues.
- Physical Therapy: Personalized exercise programs and physical therapy can enhance mobility and reduce pain.
How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
No test or scan can specifically diagnose fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed primarily on symptoms, medical history and a physical exam. However, some lab tests may be used to rule out other conditions, such as Hypothyroidism, Lyme disease and rheumatoid arthritis. This process of ruling out other causes with similar symptoms is called a differential diagnosis.
When Is Pain Considered Chronic?
Pain is considered chronic if it lasts or comes and goes for more than three months. In addition to a physical examination, numerous tests can be used to diagnose chronic pain, including, Blood tests, Electromyography, MRIs, Spinal fluid tests, Urine tests and X-rays. Approximately 25% of individuals experiencing chronic pain will develop chronic pain syndrome (CPS). This condition occurs when individuals experience symptoms beyond pain alone, encompassing challenges such as depression that disrupt their daily lives.
What Are Some Ways To Cope With Chronic Pain And Fibromyalgia?
- Engage in activities you enjoy to distract yourself from pain.
- Use moderation and pacing your activities by setting realistic goals and reminding yourself to take frequent breaks.
- Focus on your progression. Do you have less pain than the previous day, or are you feeling better than a week ago?
- Practice mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga to promote relaxation.
- Seek support by connecting with others experiencing similar struggles.
When Should I See A Doctor If I Have Pain?
When deciding to see a medical doctor, there are a few things to consider:
- If your pain comes with other symptoms, like fever or tingling in the area or your extremities.
- If the pain is sharp or persistent.
- If the pain Impacts your mobility and makes it hard for you to go about your daily life.
- The sooner you seek care, the sooner you can start on a treatment plan that will bring you relief.