Fibromyalgia
Living with fibromyalgia can be frustrating, overwhelming, and exhausting. Widespread pain, fatigue, and brain fog can disrupt daily life and make even the simplest tasks seem impossible. At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we go beyond this diagnosis to uncover the root causes of your symptoms and create a personalized plan for lasting relief.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness, and fatigue. It is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, memory issues, and other symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life. While the exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, it is believed to involve an overactive nervous system and abnormal pain processing in the brain.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary in intensity and frequency but often include:
Widespread pain and tenderness
Fatigue, even after a full night’s sleep
Cognitive issues, often referred to as "fibro fog"
Sleep disturbances or unrefreshing sleep
Sensitivity to light, sound, or temperature
Digestive complaints and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Anxiety or depression
What causes Fibromyalgia
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unclear, but research suggests it involves multiple factors, including:
Nervous System Dysregulation: Overactivity in specific areas of the central nervous system can amplify pain signals, leading to heightened sensitivity to pain.
Autonomic Nervous System Imbalances: Dysfunctions in the "fight or flight" and "rest and digest" systems can exacerbate symptoms like fatigue, pain, and brain fog.
Stress and Trauma: Physical or emotional trauma may trigger the onset of fibromyalgia in some individuals.
Sleep Disturbances: Poor sleep quality can worsen fatigue and increase pain sensitivity.
The Sympathetic Nervous System in Fibromyalgia
One of the key contributors to fibromyalgia is the overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system—the part of your nervous system responsible for the "fight or flight" response. While this system is crucial for survival in dangerous situations, its chronic overactivation can lead to heightened pain sensitivity, fatigue, and other fibromyalgia symptoms.
How the Brain "Learns" Pain
In fibromyalgia, the brain plays a key role in sending pain signals, even when there’s no actual injury or damage. Normally, the brain learns to create protective responses, like pulling your hand away from something hot, to keep you safe. However, in fibromyalgia, the brain can "misfire" and continue sending pain signals, even long after the initial tissue damage or injury has resolved. This is called central sensitization. It happens when the brain becomes overly sensitive, causing normal sensations to feel painful and making the body more reactive to things that wouldn't usually cause discomfort.
Breaking the Pain Cycle
At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we understand that pain in fibromyalgia isn’t “just in your head”—it’s a result of how your nervous system processes and perceives pain. Our functional neurology approach focuses on rebalancing the sympathetic nervous system to allow your body to feel safe from pain or threat. We retrain the brain to unlearn previous pain responses and rebuild healthier neurological patterns. Rather than asking you to “overcome” your pain, we create a safe environment for your body and nervous system to learn and change. We identify rehabilitation activities that don’t trigger pain or discomfort, and we gradually increase intensity to promote healing and progress.
Not Satisfied With Your Fibromyalgia Diagnosis?
At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we recognize that a fibromyalgia diagnosis often feels incomplete or unhelpful. That’s why we go beyond this label to identify the underlying causes of your widespread pain and other symptoms. Our functional neurology approach examines the intricate connections between the nervous system, brain, and body to develop a customized treatment plan.
How We Treat Fibromyalgia
Autonomic Nervous System Regulation: Biofeedback, breathing exercises, and vagus nerve stimulation are used to balance the nervous system and alleviate symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
Neuromuscular Therapy: Targeted therapies to reduce muscle tension and improve mobility, helping to relieve widespread pain and stiffness.
Vestibular and Visual Rehabilitation: Addressing balance and oculomotor dysfunction can reduce symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and brain fog issues associated with fibromyalgia.
Cognitive Training: We help improve memory, focus, and processing speed with exercises tailored to combat "fibro fog."
Chronic Pain Management: Our functional neurology approach focuses on calming overactive pain pathways in the brain and body for long-term relief.
Sleep Optimization: We address the root causes of poor sleep and implement strategies to help you achieve restorative rest.
Why Choose Clarity Brain and Body Clinic?
Dr. Timko understands that fibromyalgia is more than just a diagnosis—it’s a condition that affects every aspect of your life. Our compassionate, patient-centered approach focuses on identifying and addressing the unique factors contributing to your symptoms.
We believe that fibromyalgia isn’t something you just have to live with. By digging deeper into the root causes, we help you find the relief you deserve.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
You don’t have to let fibromyalgia control your life. At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we are here to help you feel better and live better. Schedule a free discovery call with Dr. Timko today to learn how our functional neurology approach can help you overcome fibromyalgia and get back to doing what you love.