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Foot pain isn't always caused by tendinitis or plantar fasciitis. Sometimes it happens as a result of another less common condition like fibromyalgia. While not all people with fibromyalgia will suffer foot pain, those who do can find it difficult to exercise, walk, or stand.
Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that affects the way your brain processes nerve signals, especially pain. People with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain. Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million adults in the United States, or about 2% of the adult population.
People with fibromyalgia may experience:
While scientists have yet to discover the cause of fibromyalgia, they have found evidence that links it to an inflammation in the brain. You may be at a higher risk if someone in your immediate family has the disorder. It is believed that the condition may be caused by a genetic mutation that can be inherited.
According to pain management expert Benjamin Abraham, MD, "We still don't full understand what causes fibromyalgia. But brain scans of patients with fibromyalgia show this neuroinflammation."
Severe physical or psychological stress may also contribute to the development of fibromyalgia, as can certain bacterial or viral infections. If you suffer from arthritis or other autoimmune disorders, you could be at a higher risk as well.
Women are more likely than men to develop the condition. In fact, as many as 90% of cases are diagnosed in females, according to US government statistics. When men do develop fibromyalgia, their symptoms are typically fewer, milder and less frequent.
People with fibromyalgia have higher sensitivity to pain and lower pain tolerance. Studies have indicated that a significant number of fibromyalgia suffers report pain in their feet, though pain is more common in other parts of the body.
An Arthritis Research & Therapy study found that 50 percent of fibromyalgia patients surveyed experience pain in their feet. It is possible fibromyalgia-related foot pain is a symptom of underlying foot problems, may of which can be corrected with a quality pair of insoles.
If you have fibromyalgia foot pain symptoms, speak to your podiatrist about what you can do to eliminate the pain. It may be that adding a pair of arch support insoles that provide extra support and cushioning for your feet can help control or reduce your foot pain.
Because there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, most treatments only help relieve symptoms. Health care providers tailor treatment to the individual, using medicine, physical therapy, and lifestyle advice to address their unique symptoms of each patient.
If you think you have fibromyalgia or are seeking treatment, start by talking with your doctor. You may be prescribed:
In addition to medicinal treatments, physical or occupational therapymay also be helpful in reducing the impact of fibromyalgia on your body. Many people with fibromyalgia benefit from counseling, which can help to address the mental, emotional, and psychological pain of living with the disorder.
If you suffer from foot pain, ask your podiatrist if orthotic shoe inserts would help to support your feet and ease your pain.
Foot pain may be exacerbated by fibromyalgia, impacting your ability to walk, stand, or exercise. Though the exact cause of fibromyalgia foot pain is not understood, it is most likely a result of overactive neural pathways sending pain messages to the brain.
If you do have an underlying foot condition, however, your fibromyalgia can intensify your discomfort—even when that same condition would be painless for another individual. Common foot irregularities contributing to pain include:
If you are experiencing pain in your feet, a podiatrist can help to identify the cause of it. Correcting the biomechanical irregularities that cause foot pain can be done easily by adding pain relief insoles to your footwear.
Walking and running are the last things you feel like doing when your feet hurt. Still, healthcare providers stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle for those living with fibromyalgia. To find what works best to relieve your fibromyalgia foot pain, talk to your doctor, wear proper footwear with insoles for support, and listen to your body.
Pain management specialist, Dr. Benjamin Abraham, says patients can greatly improve their pain with physical therapy or tai chi. Medical research also points to other relaxation practices like yoga, massage therapy and acupuncture for helping to improve sleep, fatigue and quality of life.
Finding the right pain management techniques can hugely impact the lives of people with fibromyalgia. There are lots of different options available, and while finding the right one can take time, it can make all the difference.
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