How does the pain management in Fibromyalgia different from other acute Musculoskeletal pain conditions?

Although Fibromyalgia patient’s primary complaint is musculoskeletal pain, the pain mechanism is different in Fibromyalgia. Unlike other musculoskeletal pain conditions, Fibromyalgia requires specialist pain management physiotherapist who has knowledge in pain science, skills to assess the pain mechanism and experience to treat chronic pain. Treating fibromyalgia same as other MSK pain conditions may often aggravate the pain. 

Why does my pain get worse after physiotherapy?

It is not uncommon to see patients complaining of increased pain after physiotherapy.  It can happen when the patients are not provided individually tailored patient-centred care. One-size-fits-all approach is not a choice to achieve favourable outcome. It is a challenge to treat FM as the pain may be worse sometimes than others. And it may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. So personalised care based on individual patient’s need and more flexible / dynamic approach is required to manage Fibromyalgia.

Can I lead a normal life with Fibromyalgia?

It depends on severity of the condition. People with mild to moderate cases of fibromyalgia are usually able to live a normal life, given the appropriate treatment. If symptoms are severe, people may need some life-style modification and activity management.