Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes widespread body pain. It is often confused with myofascial pain, but is different in that it causes pain not limited to the muscles and fascia—and does not usually involve trigger points.

Pain caused by fibromyalgia can be felt in more than just the muscles and fascia. It can be a cause of joint pain, and may also cause numbness or tingling in the body.

The pain experienced with fibromyalgia is commonly described as burning or throbbing. Additionally, fibromyalgia can cause other symptoms such as the following:

• Headaches
• Fatigue, tiredness
• Body and muscle pains/aches
• Tenderness
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Diarrhea and constipation
• Incontinence
• Brain fog
• Anxiety, depression, mood changes
• Sensitivity

Fibromyalgia symptoms can come and go suddenly, and this cycle of highs and lows can be overwhelming for individuals to experience.

Fibromyalgia can even coexist with other conditions, which may cause additional or worsened symptoms in the case of conditions like endometriosis or IBS.

Fibromyalgia can be felt in many places of the body, such as the arms, legs, buttocks, head, chest, abdomen, back, and pelvis. Because it can involve muscles and fascia, fibromyalgia can have a direct connection to pelvic pain and pelvic conditions such as pelvic floor dysfunction.

When fibromyalgia affects the pelvis, it can cause symptoms related to the bladder, bowels, and other related areas.

The effects of fibromyalgia on this area of the body can mimic symptoms of other conditions such as incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, or dyspareunia (painful sex).

In fact, pelvic floor dysfunctions relating to sexual dysfunction, bladder incontinence, and bowel conditions often become major symptoms for those with fibromyalgia. It may cause an individual to experience chronic pelvic pain that may be more intense than those without fibromyalgia. 

This is because individuals with fibromyalgia frequently have central sensitization, meaning they have a heightened level of sensitivity to touch and pain.

This can create painful symptoms, as well as increased levels of stress and anxiety—which only adds to the worsening of symptoms.

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Fibromyalgia does not have a known cause or cure. However, studies suggest that certain aspects can increase your risk of fibromyalgia:

• You are more likely to have fibromyalgia if a family member has it, although there are still many cases where the condition develops in individuals whose family history did not have previous cases.
• Pre-existing mental health disorders of anxiety or depression may increase your risk of fibromyalgia.
• Although this condition can affect anyone at any age, it is more commonly seen in those above the age of 40.
• Individuals born with a vagina are more likely to have fibromyalgia.
• Those with pre-existing conditions such as IBS, osteoarthritis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
• Some infections or other illnesses are thought to increase the risk of fibromyalgia.

Additionally, those with fibromyalgia can have their symptoms and pain triggered by certain factors, such as:

• Emotional stress
• Lack of sleep
• Developing an illness
• Lack of nutrition
• Hormonal changes
• Medications

Physical therapy and pelvic floor therapy can be very important forms of symptom management for those with fibromyalgia.

Individuals with fibromyalgia can work with their physical therapist to address their unique symptoms and pain with a variety of treatments—such as manual therapies, pain-relieving treatments, relaxation techniques, exercise prescription, and behavioral modifications.

A physical therapist can not only help with the physical pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia, but also provide education that can make your symptoms and pain easier to understand.

Your physical therapist can provide you with plenty of education, from anatomical explanations to pain neuroscience.

Understanding why different areas of your body hurt and how physical therapy treatment works to solve this pain can help ease anxiety and stress associated with your symptoms.

At Hive Therapy and Wellness, your physical therapy care plan will be especially curated to your unique needs and symptoms, but typically aims to reduce pain and stiffness as well as increase physical fitness, muscle function, flexibility, and overall wellness.

Your physical therapist will customize their treatment strategy in order to relieve your pain and allow you to better manage your symptoms caused by fibromyalgia.

This will be achieved through a variety of treatment methods:

• Pain-relieving modalities (dry needling, cupping, tissue scraping, etc)
• Exercise prescription, stretching, and posture correction
• Spinal manipulation or join manipulation
• Education on at-home pain management
• Behavioral modifications to reduce potential triggers

Individuals experiencing pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction as a result of their fibromyalgia will want to work with one of Hive’s pelvic floor physical therapists.

Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on the pain and symptoms you experience in your pelvis, hips, lower back, and abdominals—as these areas are all closely interconnected.

When you experience chronic pelvic pain and other symptoms such as incontinence or constipation, this often indicates dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles.

Therefore, your pelvic floor physical therapist will work to address those muscles and get them back to optimal function. For individuals with fibromyalgia, these muscles are typically overactive, tight, tense, and inflexible.

Chronic pelvic pain such as with fibromyalgia causes muscle tension and straining, making it both a cause and a symptom of pelvic floor dysfunction.

To ease tension and relax your tight, painful muscles, your physical therapist will utilize a variety of treatments, such as the following:

• Pain-relieving treatments such as cupping, dry needling, tissue scraping, and more.
• Manual therapies to release tension and tightness in muscles.
• Neuromuscular reeducation and biofeedback to help you gain better awareness and control over your pelvic floor muscles, which are supposed to effectively contract and relax for proper function.
• Relaxation and breathing techniques allow you to not only relax your pelvic floor, but also relieve anxiety and stress associated with your symptoms.
• Exercise prescription to address muscle imbalances in the pelvis, hips, lower back, and abdominals.
• Lifestyle changes such as your sleep habits, nutrition, fiber intake, fluid intake, and posture—all of which can affect general health and symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Hive Therapy and Wellness believes in holistic care that provides long-term and effective relief, both inside and outside of the clinic.

Therefore, while under our care, you may experience a variety of treatment methods, including the following:

• Neuromuscular re-education 
• Manual therapy
• Exercise prescription 
• Dry needling 
• Cupping 
• Tissue scraping 
• Behavioral modifications 
• Therapeutic activities 
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Spinal manipulation 
• Therapeutic modalities 
• Biofeedback