Member-only story

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain: Are We Really Getting Better at It?

New therapies, smarter pain management, and the art of helping patients thrive

Alain Suppini
6 min readAug 23, 2024
Photo de Hanna Postova sur Unsplash

Chronic pain feels like a sentence without an end. For those with fibromyalgia, it’s a daily grind — a never-ending loop of aches, fatigue, and mental fog. Yet, hope grows. Thanks to advances in treatment, pain management strategies, and better patient support, people are starting to reclaim their lives. So, what’s the state of play for fibromyalgia? Let’s dig into the latest treatments, pain strategies, and crucial support systems making life more manageable.

What Is Fibromyalgia and Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Fibromyalgia isn’t just another word for pain. It’s a chronic disorder defined by widespread muscle pain, extreme fatigue, and memory issues. Although predominantly affecting women, it doesn’t discriminate by gender or age. The exact cause remains elusive, but experts agree that fibromyalgia amplifies the way your brain and spinal cord process pain signals.

What makes fibromyalgia different from typical pain is central sensitization. This means the nervous system stays in overdrive, perceiving even the slightest touch or movement as painful. Stress, infections, or physical trauma can…

--

--

Alain Suppini
Alain Suppini

Written by Alain Suppini

Anesthesiologist and Intensive Care Physician passionate about Holistic Medicine and Well-Being.

Responses (1)