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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition where pain can be felt all over the body.
It’s a common condition that affects around 1 in 20 people, usually between the ages of 20 and 60. And, it’s much more common in women than in men.
Experiencing pain isn’t the only symptom - we’ll be exploring these more below - but all symptoms can suddenly improve and suddenly get worse. This unpredictability, as well as an unknown cause, can negatively impact day-to-day life. And while treatments exist that can ease symptoms, they’re unlikely to ever disappear completely.
Since 2018, medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription through licensed clinics like Alternaleaf for 50+ conditions. We’ll be exploring medical cannabis for fibromyalgia, as well as how to manage fibromyalgia symptoms, the causes, and risk factors below.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
As we mentioned above, the main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain. But other symptoms can vary from person to person, and include:
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Muscle stiffness
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- Headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Feelings of frustration or worry
- Low mood
Common fibromyalgia pain areas include the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
How is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed in the UK?
When it comes to fibromyalgia diagnosis in the UK, it can be quite difficult. There’s no specific test, and symptoms can overlap with other conditions such as arthritis. Your GP should be able to do tests, such as urine and blood tests to rule these out. They may also recommend X-rays and other scans.
Your GP will also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history, and will do a physical examination of your body to see where you’re experiencing pain. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist for further tests or treatment.
If you do have another condition, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have fibromyalgia, as it’s possible to have fibromyalgia alongside other conditions.
However, to receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, you need to have been experiencing symptoms of a similar pain level constantly for three months.
Causes and Risk Factors
There’s no known cause of fibromyalgia. However, there are some things that are thought to possibly contribute to the condition.
- The first is a change in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) transmits information over the body.
- Another is genetics, and being more likely to develop the condition due to genes.
- Physical or emotional stress. For example:
- a serious injury
- an infection
- having a major operation
- significant emotional trauma
- A diagnosis of another condition that usually affects the joints.
Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia in the UK
Although there’s no cure, there are fibromyalgia pain relief options and pain management techniques. Some of the below treatment options are thought to help ease symptoms, and therefore potentially improve quality of life. A healthcare professional will guide you through the below, and help you decide what’s best for you based on your symptoms. But remember, what works for one person, may not work for you.
However, if you find the below aren’t effective, we’ll be exploring medical cannabis as a treatment option a little later.
Lifestyle Changes
It’s important to exercise and be physically active if you’re suffering from fibromyalgia. In fact it’s one of the top three treatment options alongside talking therapy and medication. Easier said than done if you’re in pain, we know, but it’s been shown to help reduce this symptom.
Exercising can help with stiffness, increase strength and improve movement. If you find that your pain is preventing you from moving, just start slower and smaller, and gradually build out a routine.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This is a talking therapy that can change the way you think and behave. And therefore it’s possible it’ll help you manage your problems, including pain.
A second talking therapy that may be able to help reduce pain caused by fibromyalgia is acceptance and commitment therapy. This is where you accept what’s out of your control, and commit to making changes to improve your life. It’s been shown to reduce pain, as well as improve sleep quality, and help people deal with negative thoughts and feelings.
Medications
Pain relievers and muscle relaxants are the obvious choices to help with pain. However, another option is antidepressants. You don’t need to be suffering from depression to be prescribed these. They’re known to help with sleep and pain, and this is what they’ll be targeting.
Unfortunately long-term use of some of these more commonly prescribed treatments like opioids come with a chilling set of risks – like high tolerance, dependency, or even death. So, they’re not always a good solution. It’s likely your clinician will recommend exercise and talking therapies before medication, and keep antidepressants as a last resort.
Physical Therapy & Alternative Therapies
This can include massages, hydrotherapy, or acupuncture, which is where a therapist inserts fine needles into areas of the body experiencing pain. Although acupuncture is thought to reduce pain, and improve quality of life, it’s only been shown to be effective for up to three months.
Supplements & Herbal Remedies
Other things you can incorporate into day-to-say life include magnesium, turmeric, omega-3s and CBD, one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. This compound produces no psychoactive effects and can be purchased over-the-counter.
However, it isn’t always properly regulated, and therefore you can’t always rely on the dosing. So, an alternative would be to buy CBD products from Alternaleaf’s Pharmacy, Montu Pharmacy. And because they’re non-prescription products, you can order them without a prescription, but still trust the source you’re purchasing from.
Although the above may work for some people suffering from fibromyalgia, they may not be effective for everyone. Depending on your body, and the way it reacts, the results of the above treatment options may vary. So, if you’re considering an alternative option, why not explore medical cannabis, as this could also have potential medical benefits.
Can Medical Cannabis Help With Fibromyalgia Pain?
Research is ongoing to establish a reliable link between medical cannabis and fibromyalgia treatment, although the data that exists so far is promising. For instance, a 2019 paper concluded medical cannabis “appears to be a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms.”
More recently, a 2022 study was also optimistic, but was clear more fibromyalgia and medical cannabis research is needed.
Whether you’re dealing with fibromyalgia and sleep disturbances or lower back pain in fibromyalgia, you may be able to get a medical cannabis prescription. If you have any questions, or want to learn more about medical cannabis and the potential benefits, head to the Alternaleaf website. It can be prescribed for 50+ conditions, so it may be worth completing our 30-second eligibility questionnaire to see if you qualify.