Coping with Fibromyalgia,
Numbness and tingling.
For most people, the morning brings enough energy to get going. That is, most people who don’t have fibromyalgia.
People with fibromyalgia can barely walk in the morning, but they still manage.
Some days the pressure just to put your feet on the ground is unbearable.
Feet are stiff and tingling, legs are stiff, knees are throbbing and it takes enormous effort to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen.
A restless night’s sleep leaves you feeling like you’ve run a marathon.
Sleep with pillows under your feet, between your ankles and knees, and make sure your legs touch each other as little as possible.
Does this scenario sound familiar? This numbness and tingling is called paresthesia and is seen in one in four people with fibromyalgia.
What causes paresthesia?
Why is numbness common in fibromyalgia?
There are a few theories about the causes of numbness and tingling in people with fibromyalgia.
So why do many of us with fibromyalgia often experience numbness and tingling in our hands, feet, legs, or other parts of the body?
There is no definitive answer to that.
But there are several possible reasons:
• Muscle spasms and stiffness. Tight or jerky muscles can put pressure on nerves, causing numbness, tingling, or even a feeling like something is crawling on your skin.
• Cold-induced vasospasm, also known as Raynaud’s disease or syndrome.
This occurs when cold or stress causes an artery to spasm, usually in the hands or feet, narrowing the blood vessels and restricting blood flow. This causes the area to feel cold, tingly, numb, and change color.
A study suggests that people with fibromyalgia may be more likely to experience cold-induced vasospasm.
• Vitamin deficiency . A deficiency of vitamin B1, B3, B6, B12, or E can cause neuropathy due to nerve damage.
• Too much vitamin D. Too much vitamin D in your system can also cause neuropathy.
• Magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is an essential mineral for our bodies to function. Not having enough leads to increased muscle spasms, which in turn can put pressure on nerves and cause numbness.
If the numbness and tingling is not something you often experience with fibromyalgia flare-ups, but is a new symptom, it is important to see a doctor, as it could be a symptom of other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, hypoglycemia, or peripheral neuropathy in diabetes.
Techniques to deal with muscle spasms
Effective training includes increasing cardiovascular (aerobic) capacity, as well as stretching and mobilizing sore muscles.
Low-impact aerobics, such as brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or water aerobics, are generally the best way to get into an exercise routine to minimize pain.
Physiotherapy may be helpful and can be included to help address these problems.
Heat and ice massage, hydromassage, ultrasound and electrical stimulation to control pain.
